Centre for Mental Health cannot advise about individual queries or offer any mental health support.
If you are at all concerned about your health or the health of a friend or family member, you may find useful information from one of the sources below.
If you need immediate help:
In an emergency:
- Call 999 or go to your local A&E department
If you’re in crisis and need to speak to someone:
- Call NHS 111 (for when you need help but are not in immediate danger)
- Contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment
- Contact the Samaritans (details below)
- Use the ‘Shout’ crisis text line – text SHOUT to 85258
Samaritans
Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.
- www.samaritans.org
- 116 123 (free to call from within the UK and Ireland), 24 hours a day
- Email: jo@samaritans.org
Other sources of advice and support
Mind
Mind offers advice, support and information to people experiencing a mental health difficulty and their family and friends. Mind also has a network of local associations in England and Wales to which people can turn for help and assistance.
Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm (except bank holidays).
- www.mind.org.uk
- InfoLine: 0300 123 3393 to call, or text 86463
- Email info@mind.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink Mental Illness works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, recover a better quality of life. It provides effective services and support and campaigns for change through greater awareness and understanding.
- www.rethink.org
- National Advice Service: 0300 5000 927 (Open 9:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday)
- Email advice@rethink.org
(Rethink was formerly called the National Schizophrenia Fellowship)
PAPYRUS UK
PAPYRUS is the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. They support young people under 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, as well as people concerned about someone else.
Their HopelineUK service is open 9am – midnight every day of the year (including weekends and bank holidays).
- www.papyrus-uk.org
- Helpline: 0800 068 4141
- Text: 07860039967
- Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
YoungMinds
- www.youngminds.org.uk
- Parents helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri from 9.30am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays)
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
A helpline for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
- www.thecalmzone.net
- Helpline: 0800 58 58 58
- Webchat: www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/
5pm to midnight, every day of the year
Sane
SANE services provide practical help, emotional support and specialist information to individuals affected by mental health problems, their family, friends and carers.
- Support Forum: www.sane.org.uk
- Call 07984 967 708 and leave a message, giving your first name and a contact number, and someone will call you back as soon as possible
- Saneline: 0300 304 7000 (currently unavailable)
- Textcare: https://www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/textcare/
NHS mental health services
Find information, advice and local services on the NHS website. You can also get advice from the NHS 111 phone service.
Other sources of mental health help and information
- List of mental health helplines from the Helplines Partnership
- Mental Health Foundation provides useful information on a range of mental health difficulties, as well as resources to support your wellbeing
- Mentally Healthy Schools has a wide range of information for schools and teachers to support young people’s mental health
- Mental Health and Money Advice provides practical advice and support for people experiencing issues with mental health and money
- Me and My Mind has some useful information for young people who may be having unusual experiences, such as paranoia or hearing voices