Increasing alcohol awareness over the festive season

Too much alcohol can have a negative effect on both our body and mind, but there is help and support you can access during the festive season.

In the short term, drinking too much can make us vulnerable and more likely to take risks that may result in significant harm. In the longer term, excessive use of alcohol can lead to lasting physical damage, increase our likelihood of experiencing anxiety and depression and damage our relationships with loved ones.

Local support available

You can use our DrinkChecker website to help you stay safe. Drinkchecker can help you to:

• Set goals to drink less 
• Understand how much you can save in money and calories by reducing your drinking
• Find out more information about local support services if you need extra support

If you are concerned about your drinking you can contact Richmond Community Drug and Alcohol Service (RCDAS), a confidential service for anyone over the age of 18. You can call the free support service on 020 3228 3020.

If there is a young person in your life who might need support, the Young People’s Substance Misuse Service aims to provide specialist substance misuse treatment to young people aged 13 to 19 years and their families. You can contact the service by emailing smsreferrals@achievingforchildren.org.uk or calling 020 8547 6920.

If you are feeling down, stressed or have problems sleeping, check out the local mental health resources available to you below, as well as the Good Thinking website for further help and support.

Access to local mental health support 24/7

The South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust’s Mental Health Support line is open at any time of day or night on 0800 028 8000, offering emotional support and advice to people who are affected by urgent mental health issues. This service is open to everyone, both children and adults of all ages and those who have not previously accessed mental health services.

You can also access a freephone helpline 24/7 through Samaritans at 116 123.

Support for children and young people

If you are concerned about children and young people’s mental health, there are a range of services available through Richmond and Kingston Safeguarding Partnership.