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Support Lines

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: pat@papyrus-uk.org 
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.  

Infoline0300 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.   

SANEline0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)  
Textcarecomfort 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: info@supportline.org.uk 

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: info@bipolaruk.org
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  
Studentline0808 801 0811  
Youthline0808 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: help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk 

Studentline email support is open to all students:  studentline@beateatingdisorders.org.uk  

Youthline email support is open to anyone under 18:  fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk  

LGBTQ+ 

Switchboard 

For people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. 

Helpline: 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day) 
Email: chris@switchboard.lgbt  
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: ess4m@btinternet.com
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: info@myh.org.uk 
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: enquiries@junowomensaid.org.uk  

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: enquiries@nightline.ac.uk 

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: helpline@cruse.org.uk 

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: helpline@tcf.org.uk 
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 

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