Mental Health Helplines
Here’s a list of useful organisations and charities that can help you – or a loved one – with a variety of mental health issues. We also list organisations that can help with issues that impact on mental health such as abuse, addiction, bereavement and relationships. (Please note: The phone numbers are for people living within the UK).
Anxiety UK: Charity providing support for people with anxiety. Tel: 08444 775 774 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.30pm) www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous: Tel: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline) www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Alzheimer's Society: Information on dementia. Tel: 0300 222 1122 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. Weekends, 10am-4pm) www.alzheimers.org.uk
Beat: For help with eating disorders. Tel: 0845 634 1414 (adults) or 0345 634 7650 (for under-25s) www.b-eat.co.uk
Bipolar UK: Charity for people with manic depression or bipolar disorder. www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) for people with all sorts of mental health issues. www.thecalmzone.net
Childline: a free service for children with any type of problem. Tel: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care: Tel: 0844 477 9400 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Family Lives: Advice on all aspects of parenting including dealing with bullying. Tel: 0808 800 2222 (Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm. Sat-Sun, 10am-3pm) www.familylives.org.uk
Gamblers Anonymous www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Mencap: Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Tel: 0808 808 1111 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) www.mencap.org.uk
Men's Health Forum: 24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email. www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Mental Health Foundation: Info and support for those with mental health problems or learning disabilities. www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Mind: For people with mental health problems. Tel: 0300 123 3393 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm) www.mind.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous: Tel: 0300 999 1212 (daily until midnight) www.ukna.org
No Panic: Charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and OCD. Tel: 0844 967 4848 (10am-10pm) www.nopanic.org.uk
NSPCC: Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty. Tel: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline) or 0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline) www.nspcc.org.uk
OCD Action: info and support for people with obsessive compulsive disorder. Tel: 0845 390 6232 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm) www.ocdaction.org.uk
OCD UK: Charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Tel: 0845 120 3778 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) www.ocduk.org
PAPYRUS: Young suicide prevention society. Tel: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon-Fri,10am-5pm & 7-10pm. Weekends 2-5pm) www.papyrus-uk.org
Rape Crisis: To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12-2.30pm, 7-9.30pm) www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Refuge: Advice on dealing with domestic violence. Tel: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline) www.refuge.org.uk
Relate: Relationship counselling and support. Tel: 0300 100 1234. www.relate.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness: Support and advice for people living with mental illness. Tel: 0300 5000 927 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm) www.rethink.org
Samaritans: Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Tel: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline) www.samaritans.org
Sane: Charity offering support & carrying out research into mental illness. Tel: 0845 767 8000 (daily, 6-11pm) www.sane.org.uk
Student Space: Helping connect students with mental health services. Tel: 0808 189 5260 studentspace.org.uk
Victim Support: Tel: 0808 168 9111 (Mon-Fri, 8pm-8am. Weekends, Sat 5pm-Mon 8am) www.victimsupport.org
Women’s Aid: Providing advice for women and children experiencing domestic abuse: www.womensaid.org.uk
Young Minds: Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals. Parents' helpline : 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4pm) www.youngminds.org.uk
For in-depth information on mental health and wellbeing, free meditations and expert advice from a National Health Service therapist/psychiatric nurse - click on the button below to access the LightHearts UK free mental health courses: