Useful helplines and websites
Services that may be helpful alongside psychotherapy. At times, medical help, crisis support, or practical support may also be needed.
If you need urgent support now (UK)
Mental health emergencies are serious. You are not wasting anyone’s time.
If you need help now, or feel unable to stay safe, please use one of the options below.
If you cannot do this by yourself, ask someone to help you.
Immediate danger
If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent emergency help.
If you need urgent in-person medical or mental health support.
Urgent health advice
NHS 111
Call 111 or use the NHS 111 service for urgent medical or mental health advice.
If you need urgent help for your mental health but it is not an emergency, call 111 and select the mental health option.
Someone to talk to (24/7)
Call 116 123 for free, any time.
This can help if you need someone to listen, especially if things feel intense, unmanageable, or lonely.
Mental health support
These organisations offer information, emotional support, and, in some cases, guidance about further help.
Mental health support and information.
Support for people severely affected by mental illness and for those who care about them.
A national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance, and information to anyone affected by mental illness.
Practical help
Practical pressures such as housing, debt, or benefits concerns can have a real impact on mental health.
Free advice and information on practical problems including benefits, work, debt and money, consumer issues, housing, family, law and courts, immigration, and health.
Information and advice about housing problems.
National Debtline — 0808 808 4000
Free and independent support for debt problems.
Other useful helplines and websites (by topic)
Expand a section below to find support by topic.
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NHS: Low mood / sadness / depression (advice + when to seek help)
NHS: Anxiety, fear or panic (practical tips + when to get help)
NHS Berkshire Talking Therapies (self-referral)
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Rape Crisis England & Wales — 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line (16+) — 0808 500 2222
The Survivors Trust (helpline) — 0808 801 0818 (text 07860 022 956)
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge, 24/7) — 0808 2000 247
Men’s Advice Line (male victims of domestic abuse) — 0808 801 0327
The Freedom Programme (domestic abuse education programme) — 01942 262 270
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Combat Stress (24/7 mental health helpline for veterans and families) — 0800 138 1619 —
(Text 07537 173683 • Email helpline@combatstress.org.uk.)
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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – GB helpline — 0800 917 7650
Narcotics Anonymous (UK) – helpline — 0300 999 1212 — (meeting info + support)
Gamblers Anonymous (England, Wales & Ulster – information line) — 0330 094 0322
WithYou (formerly Addaction) – free, confidential support — (webchat + find local service)
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Macmillan Cancer Support (Support Line) — 0808 808 00 00
Cruse Bereavement Support (helpline) — 0808 808 1677
National AIDS Trust (general enquiries) — 020 7814 6767
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mentalhealthcare.org.uk (plain-English mental health info + signposting)
BBC Action Line (directory of support organisations; see “More Support”)
If your situation is not urgent
If your situation is not urgent, and therapy may be useful, you are welcome to explore the site further.
You do not need to be in crisis for support to matter.
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