Samaritans
To talk to someone right now, you can call Samaritans anonymously on 116 123. The line is for everyone going through a difficult moment, whether you are thinking of hurting yourself or not.
Sane
+442038051790 (General enquiries)
In addition to running Saneline, Sane also aims to improve the lives of anyone affected by mental illness through campaigning work, research and online support services.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid’s Find an Adviser tool helps people in England and Wales locate legal aid solicitors and family mediators in their area who can assist with issues like housing, family, immigration or debt. You can check if you qualify for legal aid based on your income and case type, then get connected with nearby advisers who offer legal aid services.
NSHN (National Self Harm Network)
The National Self Harm Network offers an online moderated support forum for people affected by self-harm.
Drinkline
+443001231110 (Freephone. 9am – 8pm, Mon-Fri; 11am – 4pm Sat-Sun)
Drinkline is a free, confidential national helpline for people who are concerned about their own or someone else’s drinking.
The Compassionate Friends
+443451232304 (National helpline, see website for opening hours)
The Compassionate Friends is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to providing peer support for other bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents.
PTSD Resolution
+443003020551 (9am – 5pm, Mon – Fri)
PTSD Resolultion helps veterans, TAs and reservists who are struggling to reintegrate into a normal work and family life because of military trauma suffered during service in the Armed Forces. Coordinate a network of 200 accredited therapists with a focus in military PTSD.
Pension Wise
Unbiased is a service that helps you find and connect with qualified financial advisors, mortgage brokers and accountants in your local area who can provide professional advice about your finances. They match you with suitable professionals based on your specific needs, though unlike some other services mentioned, these advisors will charge for their services.
Lullaby Trust
+448088026868 (Freephone helpline, see website for opening hours)
The Lullaby Trust provides specialized support for bereaved families and anyone affected by a sudden infant death.
Citizens Advice consumer helpline
The Citizens Advice consumer helpline provides free advice to UK residents about their consumer rights and problems with goods or services. They explain your legal rights and can refer serious cases to Trading Standards officers who can take action against businesses.
Women’s Aid
+448082000247 (Freephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Women’s Aid are a grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous runs self-help groups across the UK for anyone affected by addictive gambling behaviours who wants to change, based on a 12 step model of recovery.
NAPAC
+448088010331 (Freephone, see website for opening hours)
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood provides support for people affected by sexual abuse in childhood through a dedicated support line, free online resources and training.
Pension Wise
Pension Wise offers free, impartial guidance appointments for people aged 50 and over to help them understand their pension options and make informed decisions about their retirement savings. Their specialists explain the different ways you can take your pension money, the tax implications, and what factors to consider when planning for retirement.
No Panic
+448449764848 (Helpline, 10am – 10pm, 7 days a week)
+441753840393 (Youth helpline for 13 to 20 yr olds, 4-6pm, Mon-Fri)
No Panic is a charity which helps people who experience any kind of anxiety disorder. It specialises in self-help based recovery via their helpline and resources available on their website.
Rethink Mental Illness
+441215227007 (General enquiries)
Rethink Mental Illness provide a range of support, advice and information services relating to mental illness, as well as conducting national campaigns and research. Rethink runs over 200 mental health services and 150 support groups across England, including therapy, peer support groups and many more.
Dual Recovery Anonymous UK & Ireland
Organisation running self-help groups for those with dual diagnosis (a substance use issue alongside diagnosed mental health issue), based on a 12 step model of recovery.
Cruse Bereavement Care
+448088081677 (Helpline, see website for opening hours)
Cruse Bereavement Care offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. They run a helpline and bereavement counselling as well as facilitated self-help groups across the country.
Cocaine Anonymous
Organisation running self-help groups for those with substance use issues relating to cocaine, based on a 12 step model of recovery.
Harmless
Harmless is a user led organisation that provides a range of services about self-harm, including support, information, training and consultancy to people who self-harm, their friends and families and professionals. Includes resources on alternative coping strategies.
Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire
+442074030888 (Helpline, 10am – 10pm, 7 days a week)
Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking, regardless of whether that person is still drinking or not. Run a wide range of self-help groups for relatives and friends of alcoholics.
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes provides direct support for wounded, injured and sick veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces and their families, including mental health support.
UK SMART Recovery
Provides training to help people manage their recovery from any type of addictive behaviour, including alcohol and substance use as well as gambling, sex, eating, shopping etc. through a range of self-help meetings.
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity
ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the national charity of the British Army, providing support for every soldier or veteran and their families for life.
Drink Aware
Independent charity working to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK. The website has free drink trackers and tools to assess your own drinking levels.
Advocate
Advocate connects people who can’t afford legal help with volunteer barristers who provide free legal advice, representation and assistance for cases in England and Wales. The charity reviews applications and matches eligible people with barristers who can help with their specific legal problem.
Together for Mental Wellbeing
Together is a national charity working alongside people with mental health issues. It provides a range of specialist support services, including peer support services, accommodation based support, criminal justice mental health services and advocacy.
Stonewall
+448000502020 (Freephone information service)
Stonewall supports all lesbian, gay bi and trans people with a range of help and advice services and by working in partnership with businesses and communities to tackle issues related to discrimination.
Alcohol Concern
Alcohol Concern is a charity working to help people understand the dangers of drinking too much and to advocate for better treatment for those affected by alcohol use issues.
Narcotics Anonymous UK
+443009991212 (Helpline, 10am-12am, 7 days a week)
Narcotics Anonymous runs self-help groups across the UK for anyone affected by drug use who wants to change, based on a 12 step model of recovery.
Progress
Progress are a consortium of consultant nurses working in dual diagnosis and substance use settings. Their website provides information on dual diagnosis for people in treatment, carers and professionals.
Anxiety UK
+443444775774 (Infoline, 9.30am – 5.30pm, Mon-Fri)
Anxiety UK is a national charity run by people with lived experience of anxiety, aiming to support everyone affected by anxiety through information and support. This includes talking therapies and self-help groups.
Alcohol Health Network
A UK-based social enterprise which aims to improve alcohol-related health in the workplace and in communities. Provides a range of alcohol harm reduction services, including policy advice, employee and manager training, online health checks and counselling.
Depression UK
Depression UK is a national self-help organisation that offers support to everyone affected by depression.
Survivor’s UK
Survivors UK provides help and support for men who have experienced sexual violence or abuse. This includes counselling and online and SMS chat support services run by professionals who specialise in the field of male sexual violence.
Association for Postnatal Illness
+442073860868 (10am – 2pm, Mon-Fri)
APNI provides support for all women who experience postnatal depression. Provide peer support services via phone and email.
Rape Crisis
+448088029999 (Freephone helpline, see website for opening hours)
Rape Crisis is a national charity supporting anyone who has experienced rape, child sexual abuse and/or any other kind of sexual violence. It runs local Rape Crisis helplines and centres across England and Wales, details of which can be found on their website.
Bereavement Advice Centre
+448006349494 (Freephone helpline, 9am – 5pm, Mon – Fri)
The Bereavement Advice Centre supports and advises people after a death in England and Wales. Their website and helpline provides help with the wide range of practical issues that need to be managed after a bereavement as well as signposting to other support.
OCD Action
OCD Action is the national charity focusing on obsessive compulsive disorder. It provides support and information to those affected by OCD, and works to increase awareness of it. Runs a variety of self-help groups across the country as well as online support groups and advocacy series.
Winston’s Wish
+448452030405 (Helpline)
Winston’s Wish is the leading childhood bereavement charity in the UK. Offers practical support and guidance to bereaved children, their families and professionals.
NSPCC
+448088005000 (Freephone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – for adults concerned about a child)
The NSPCC is the children’s charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty. Runs Childline and also a dedicated helpline for adults concerned that a child might be at risk of abuse.
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust
The Trust was set up in 1998 in memory of Charlie Waller, a young man who took his own life due to depression. His family founded the Trust in order to educate young people on the importance of staying mentally well and how to do so. The Trust delivers training in a wide range of settings to raise awareness of depression and to remove the stigma attached to mental ill health.
Triumph over Phobia
Triumph over Phobia is a UK charity which aims to help sufferers of phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and other related anxiety to overcome their fears.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Switchboard
+443003300630 (Local call rates, 10am – 11pm, 7 days a week)
Confidential support, information and referral services for the LGBT community, including online chat services.
Law Works
LawWorks supports a network of free legal advice clinics across England and Wales where people who cannot afford legal help can get face-to-face advice from volunteer solicitors. The clinics operate at local venues like community centers and can help with various legal issues including housing, employment and small claims.
MGEDT (Men Get Eating Disorders Too!)
National charity raising awarenss of eating disorders in men. Also provides peer support services for men affected by eating disorders.
ACAS
ACAS provides free advice to workers and employers in the UK about workplace rights, rules and best practices, offering both a helpline and detailed guidance about issues like pay, contracts and dismissal. They also provide mediation services to help resolve workplace disputes before they reach an employment tribunal.
SSAFA
+448007314800 (Freephone helpline)
SSAFA is an independent charity which provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force, including running free and confidential helpline support.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
+443001115065 (Helpline, 9am – 9pm, 7 days a week)
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is the national charity to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide. A self-help organisation which provides support via a range of means, including through a national helpline, via email and through running self-help groups.
Addaction
Addaction supports adults, children, young adults and older people to make positive behavioural changes around alcohol, drugs, mental health and wellbeing.
DrugScience
DrugScience is an independent, science-led drugs charity which provides objective information on drugs and drug harms to the public, educators and academics.
Beat
+443456341414 (Helpline, for anyone over 18)
+443456347650 (Youthline, for anyone under 25)
help@b-eat.co.uk (18 or over)
fyp@b-eat.co.uk (25 or under)
Beat is the UK’s leading charity supporting anyone affected by eating disorders. Runs helplines for adults and young people, online support as well as peer support groups across the country.
National Debtline
National Debtline provides free, confidential advice to people in England, Wales and Scotland about dealing with debt, offering guidance over the phone and through online tools about solutions like debt management plans, bankruptcy and budgeting. Their expert advisers can explain your rights and options, help you create an action plan, and guide you through completing important forms and documents.
Combat Stress
+448001381619 (Freephone, 24 hour helpline, 7 days a week)
The UK’s leading Veteran’s mental health charity, providing treatment and support services for all ex service personnel, through a helpline, community and outreach support and several dedicated treatment centres.
Refuge
+448082000247 (Freephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
helpline@refuge.org.uk (Only monitored Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Refuge provide help and information about domestic violence. It runs a 24/7 domestic violence helpline in partnership with Women’s Aid. Refuge runs a number of safe houses for women and children escaping domestic violence as well as other services.
One in Four
One in Four is a charity that supports people who have experienced child sexual abuse through long-term low cost therapy (one to one and in groups), advocacy and through education and workshops.
Mind
Mind provide a wide range of services relating to mental health, including information, support as well as research and campaigning work. The national Mind organisation also acts as an umbrella organisation to many local Mind organisations, which provide different services across the country, e.g therapy services, self-help groups and alternative therapies.
PANDAS Foundation
+448432898401 (9am – 8pm, 7 days a week)
The PANDAS Foundation provides support services for everyone affected by perinatal mental health issues (including perinatal depression and psychosis), via the phone, online communities and in-person support groups. It also provides support for partners affected by caring for someone with perinatal mental health issues.
Alcoholics Anonymous
+448009177650 (Freephone, national helpline)
Alcoholics Anonymous runs self-help groups across Great Britain for anyone affected by alcohol use issues who wants to change their drinking behaviours, based on a 12 step model of recovery.
Adfam
Adfam provides information and support for families affected by drugs and alcohol. Their website includes listings of helplines and local support groups available across England, as well as training and information for drug and alcohol professionals.
BudgetSmart
BudgetSmart helps people review their entire financial situation to identify opportunities to save money across all aspects of their spending and bills. They provide personalized guidance to help maximize your income and reduce expenses to improve your financial wellbeing.
The Royal British Legion
+448088028080 (8am – 8pm, 7 days a week)
The Royal British Legion helps members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. They also campagin to improve their lives, organise the Poppy Appeal and remember the fallen.
Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness is a not-for-profit creating a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society, by helping people to take practical action drawing on the latest scientific research. Their vision is a happier world, with fewer people suffering with mental health problems and more people feeling good, functioning well and helping others. Its website provides many resource and evidence-based ideas for actions we can take to feel happier and help to reduce and prevent mental ill health – personally, in our communities, workplaces and schools.
Talk to Frank
+443001236600 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Talk to Frank is the national drug education service established in 2003. It provides information on legal and illegal drugs for teenagers and adolescents, including a confidential information line and live chat services on its website.
Dying Matters
A coalition of 32,000 members across England and Wales which aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.
OCD-UK
OCD-UK is a national charity working with and for children and adults affected by obsessive compulsive disorder. Provides a wide range of information on OCD, and runs self-help services including telephone support groups, online chats and support forums.
Self injury Support
+448088008088 (Freephone helpline, 7pm – 10pm, Mon – Fri)
Self injury Support is a national organisation that supports girls and women affected by self-injury or self-harm. They run a dedicated self-injury helpline, as well as text and email support for girls and young women under 24 years of age and supports self-injury self-help groups.
Marijuana Anonymous UK
Organisation running self-help groups across the UK for those with substance use issues relating to marijuana, based on a 12 step model of recovery.
ABC (Anorexia and Bulimia Care)
+443000111213 (Helpline)
Anorexia and Bulimia Care is a national UK eating disorders organisation providing ongoing care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders. Includes nutritional guidance/support and befriending services.
Child Bereavement UK
+448000288840 (Freephone helpline, 9am – 5pm, Mon – Fri)
Supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any ages dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement. Runs a dedicated helpline as well as individual, couples and family support sessions and groups across the country.
Step Change
StepChange Debt Charity offers free, expert debt advice and practical solutions to help people in the UK tackle their debt problems, including creating personal budget plans and recommending debt solutions like debt management plans or bankruptcy. They provide support through online tools and phone consultations, helping people take control of their finances and work towards becoming debt-free.
selfharmUK
selfharmUK is a project dedicated to supporting young people impacted by self-harm, providing a safe space to talk, ask any questions and be honest about what’s going on in their lives. It allows people to share their personal stories around self-harm and receive answers online. Run by national charity Youthscape.
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