Alternative Options
If you don’t think Counselling is right for you at present, or you are in crisis, many national organisations provide specialised support.
Crisis & NHS Support
If you or a loved one might imminently attempt suicide or has already seriously harmed themselves, you can contact 999 or go to the nearest Accident & Emergency department. Mental health emergencies are serious, you are not wasting anyone’s time.
If you need urgent support for your mental health but it is not life-threatening, you can contact 111 who will tell you how best to get support. In England, you can also search for local helplines for urgent support: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline
Samaritans Helpline also provides non-judgmental listening and support to people in times of need.
Call or Text: 116 123
Email: Jo@Samaritans.org
Website: https://www.samaritans.org/
Support Organisations (A to Z)
Alcoholics Anonymous
Support for the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics.
Phone: 0800 917 7650 | 24/7
Email: help@aamail.org
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk (including finding a local AA meeting or confidential live chat)
Anxiety UK
Providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Call: 03444 775 774 | Mon to Fri, 9.30am – 10pm; Sat to Sun, 10am – 8pm
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Beat
Supporting people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members.
Call: 0808 801 0677 (Adults) | 0808 801 0711 (Under-18s) | Weekdays 12pm – 8pm; Weekends 4pm – 8pm
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk (Find online support groups and access Live Chat)
Bipolar UK
Helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably for anyone who needs to talk about life’s problems.
Call: 0800 58 58 58 | Daily 5pm – 12am
Website: www.thecalmzone.net (Including Live Chat)
Combat Stress
Helping former servicemen and women deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
Call: 0800 138 1619 (Veterans and families) | 0800 323 4444 (Serving personnel and families) |24/7
Text : 07537 404 719
Email: helpline@combatstress.org.uk
Website: www.combatstress.org.uk (Find peer-to-peer support groups and treatment programmes)
Cruse Bereavement Care
Offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.
Call: 0808 808 1677 | Daily with varying hours (see website for details)
Email: info@cruse.org.uk
Website: www.cruse.org.uk (find local Cruse area for details of face-to-face or group support)
LGBT Foundation
Supporting the needs of the diverse range of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans.
Call: 0345 3 30 30 30 | Weekdays 10am – 6pm
Email: helpline@lgbt.foundation
Website: www.lgbt.foundation
Mind
Providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Call: 0300 123 3393 | Mon to Fri, 9am – 6pm (Information and signposting service).
Website: www.mind.org.uk
National Gambling Helpline
Providing support for anyone who is worried about their or someone else’s gambling.
Call: 0808 8020 133 | 24/7
Website: www.begambleaware.org (Live chat available)
Narcotics Anonymous
A non-profit fellowship or society of people for whom drugs had become a major problem.
Call: 0300 999 1212 | Daily, 10am – 12am
Website: www.ukna.org (Find a meeting)
OCD UK
National OCD charity, run by and for people with lived experience of OCD.
Call: 03332 127 890 | Mon – Fri, 10am – 4:45pm
Email: support@ocduk.org
Website: www.ocduk.org/
Papyrus Hopeline
Confidential support and advice service for Children and Young People under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned a young person is thinking of suicide.
Call: 0800 068 4141 | Weekdays, 9am – 10pm; Weekends, 2pm – 10pm
Text: 07860 039967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Refuge
Confidential, non-judgmental support and information as well as access to specialist domestic violence services across the country.
Call: 0808 2000 247 | 24/7
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Relate
Providing relationship support to people to strengthen their relationships.
Website: www.relate.org.uk (Find local support or access Live Chat)
Victim Support
Offering help and support to anyone affected by crime, regardless of whether it has been reported to the police.
Call: 0808 168 9111 | 24/7
Website: www.victimsupport.org (Find local support or access Live Chat)