Support lines
Wellbeing > Support lines
This page lists helplines, webchat services and text services that can support you if you’re in a crisis, have a mental health condition, or just need to talk to someone.
Skip straight to the support you need:
Mental health problems
Specialist support
If you’re in a crisis
Shout Out
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.
Text: 85258 (24 hours)
Website: https://www.giveusashout.org/
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
For people under 35 struggling with suicidal feelings.
Phone: 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm)
Email: [email protected]
Text: 07786 209 697
General mental health and support lines
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably. Their helpline is 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.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Infoline: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
Support Line
Emotional support, advice and information particularly for people who are socially isolated, vulnerable, at risk or experiencing any form of abuse. Subjects include relationships, child abuse, anger, bullying, eating disorders, self-harm, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault. Emotional support is provided by telephone, email and post.
Phone: 01708 765200
Website: https://www.supportline.org.uk/
Email: [email protected]
Anxiety
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
Text: 07537 416905
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0300 7729844 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
Bipolar
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Email or use web-chat to arrange a peer support chat.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
OCD
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD, carers and anyone who is concerned about OCD or a related disorder. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0300 636 5478 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 8pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org
Gambling & addiction
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)
Website: www.begambleaware.org
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)
Website: www.ukna.org
Eating disorders
Beat Eating Disorders
Eating disorder helpline – offers a supportive space for people to explore their feelings and thoughts around eating disorders. Provide information about eating disorders and signpost to services that can help.
Helpline: 0808 801 0677
Studentline: 0808 801 0811
Youthline: 0808 801 0711
Helplines open 365 days a year from 12.00pm-8.00pm during the week and 4,00pm-8.00pm weekends and bank holidays
Webchat: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services/helplines
Email support
Adult email support is open to anyone over 18: [email protected]
Studentline email support is open to all students: [email protected]
Youthline email support is open to anyone under 18: [email protected]
LGBTQ+
Switchboard
For people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
Helpline: 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day)
Email: [email protected]
Webchat: https://switchboard.lgbt/
Phone operators all identify as LGBT+.
LGBT Foundation
Runs a free support line for anyone who identifies as LGBT. Currently supporting people who are worried about the coronavirus and need support with their wellbeing during this time.
Helpline: 0345 3 30 30 30
Lines open 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Faith
Muslim Community Helpline
Confidential, non-judgemental listening and emotional support service.
Helpline: 020 8908 6715 and 020 8904 8193
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://muslimcommunityhelpline.org.uk/
Open Monday to Thursday 10 am to 1 pm, Friday 10 am to 4 pm (core hours)
Male counsellor available 6-8 PM (please email for appointment).
The Muslim Youth Helpline (MYH)
A charity which provides pioneering faith and culturally sensitive services to Muslim youth in the UK.
Email: [email protected]
Helpline: 0808 808 2008
Open 7 days a week, 4pm-10pm, 365 days a year including Bank Holidays and Eid.
Jewish Helpline
Phone: 0800 6529249
Website: http://www.jewishhelpline.org/
Sunday-Thursday 12.00 pm to 12.00 am
Friday 12.00pm-3.00pm in Winter
Friday 12,00pm-6,00pm in Summer
Premier Lifeline
Helpline providing a listening service, information, emotional and spiritual support from a Christian perspective
Phone: 0300 111 0101
Website: www.premier.org.uk/lifeline
Parents
Young Minds Parents’ helpline
Confidential online and telephone support, including information and advice, to any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person up to the age of 25.
Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Women
Juno Women’s Aid
24 hour freephone helpline providing support to women with or without children affected by domestic violence and abuse. Range of support services for women and children including refuges, outreach, drop in children’s services and a pet fostering service. The Team is experienced in working with women from all backgrounds including Black, Minority Ethnic and Refugee communities. Can also deal with honour-based violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, unsettled immigration status and no recourse to public funds.
Phone: 0808 800 0340
Website: www.junowomensaid.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Self-Injury Support
Confidential and anonymous helpline run by women offering emotional support, listening and signposting for women affected by self-injury. Calls are not recorded, and no personal information is passed on. Helpline number will not appear on telephone bills and is free to call from mobiles and landlines.
Helpline: 0808 800 8088
Website: www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk
Young People
The Mix
For callers under 25. Get support via email, 1-2-1 chat or Crisis Messenger
Phone: 0808 808 4994 (7 days a week, 3pm–12 midnight)
Website: www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team
Nightline Association
Provide emotional support to students in distress. The telephones are manned throughout the night during term time when other specialist university welfare services are closed. Nightline is confidential and anonymous. It can help with issues including academic stress, bullying, debt, loneliness, depression, bereavement, arguments with flatmates, concerns about friends, addictions, eating disorders or self-harm, relationship and family problems, sexuality, sexual abuse or abortion.
Search website for UK-wide contacts: www.nightline.ac.uk
Email: [email protected]
Childline
This is a service provided by the NSPCC for children and young people under the age of 19.
Phone: 0800 1111. The number will not show on phone bills
Website: https://www.childline.org.uk/
Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care
Offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies.
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Open Monday-Friday 9.30-5pm – excluding bank holidays – with extended hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, when the line is open until 8pm.)
Email: [email protected]
The Compassionate Friends
UK National Helpline open every day of the year from 10:00am-4.00pm and 7.00pm- 10:00pm
Phone: 0345 123 2304
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.tcf.org.uk/content/helpline/
Sobs – Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
National helpline and other support services run by a self-help group for people bereaved by suicide. Helpline provides listening support and will put people in touch with their nearest local group. Monthly group meetings in various locations.
Phone: 0300 111 5065
Website: www.sobs.admin.care4free.net
