Other Support Services
CAMHS
- For all general enquiries, please call 0800 953 0222
- For all referral emails, please email: SET-CAMHS.referrals@nelft.nhs.uk
- For out of hours and weekend Crisis Support Service, please call NELFT Mental Health Direct on 0800 995 1000 to be put through to immediate crisis support help
Young Minds Charity
Young person looking for help and support
Text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
- If you need urgent help text YM to 85258
- All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors
- Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
For parents
Speak to our experts at the Parents Helpline – call 0808 802 5544
Winstons Wish
If you’re a young person who is finding it hard to cope with their grief or an adult who needs help to support a grieving child, give our support line a call.
We’re here to listen, offer support and provide information and resources. We can speak to grieving young people, parents, teachers and anyone who is supporting a grieving child. On our Helpline, we can use interpreters if you need to speak to us in a language other than English, and we can use the Relay UK app if you have hearing or speech difficulties.
https://www.winstonswish.org/helpline/
Call our Freephone Helpline on 08088 020 021. We are open between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Grief Encounter
Founded by Dr Shelley Gilbert MBE, our mission is to give every child and young person access to the best possible support following the death of someone close.
We work closely with individuals, families, schools and professionals to offer a way through the anxiety, fear and isolation so often caused by grief. Our services include:
- One-to-one counselling
- Group workshops
- Music, art and drama therapy
- Residential's and Family Fun Days
- A National, free and confidential helpline called grief talk offering web chat service too
- Bespoke support for schools, universities and colleges
- A dedicated Trauma Team for support following a sudden or traumatic bereavement.
FOR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT
Please call our FREE grief talk helpline
open Mon-Fri
9am-9pm
or Chat to us using our live chat
grieftalk@griefencounter.org.uk
Survivors of bereavement by suicide
UK-based organisation offering peer-led support to adults impacted by suicide loss. We help individuals support each other, at the time of their loss and in the months and years that follow. We aim to provide safe, confidential environments where people can share their experiences and feelings, giving and gaining support from each other.
National supportline 0300 115065
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
Self-harm and suicide
Self-harm is a struggle often shared with our Suicide Prevention Advisers at HOPELINE247. More than half of people who die by suicide have a history of self-harm (NHS 2018).
Self-harm may, or may not, be a sign that someone is feeling suicidal – it is very important to ask and not make assumptions. If you are a young person having thoughts of suicide – or you are concerned about a young person who may be suicidal – you can call HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 41 41 for practical advice and support.
If youre concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm), email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697.
OCD UK
Around three quarters of a million people are thought to be living with severe, life impacting and debilitating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) here in the UK.
OCD — it's more than you think!
If you feel you might be affected by OCD you can find out about the problem and how OCD is diagnosed https://www.ocduk.org/ocd/
Support Queries
If you have a query you can contact the OCD-UK advice line which is usually available between 5:00pm - 8:00pm (Mon - Thu).
General Queries
Our office deals with questions about membership, donations and general administrative queries about OCD-UK. Please note we are unable to take support calls via this number 0800 0487012
Tourettes Syndrome
Tourettes Syndrome
Tourette Syndrome is an inherited, neurological condition, the key features of which are tics, involuntary and uncontrollable sounds and movements. TS is a complex condition and a large number of people with the condition will also experience occurring features and conditions.
www.tourettes-action.org.uk
- Live chat: Instant support via our website available Monday to Friday 10am – 3pm
- Contact the Helpdesk: Send a contact form and we will get back to you
- Request a callback: Email us at help@tourettes-action.org.uk and we will get back to you
(We will endeavour to get back to you within 48 hours)
SNAP
SNAP is an Essex charity for families with children and young people who have any additional need or disability. SNAP's aims are to inform, encourage and support parents and carers so that they can grow in strength and knowledge and become better equipped to give the best possible help to their children.
SNAP offers a helping hand to thousands of families who need support in a variety of ways.
No formal diagnosis or professional referral is necessary to access SNAP services, available to families with children and young people aged 0 to 25 who live under Essex County Council, Thurrock and Southend. Facilities at the centre include a training room, a multi-purpose activity hall, multi-sensory room and specialist IT suite.
SNAP’s aims are to inform, encourage and support parents so that they can grow in strength and knowledge and become better equipped to give the best possible help to their children.
Helpline: 01277 211300
Fundraising: 01277 245345
The SNAP Centre, Pastoral Way, Brentwood, Essex CM14 5WF
BEAT
Disordered eating helpline support workers are trained to:
- Offer a supportive space for you to explore your feelings and thoughts around eating disorders.
- Provide information about eating disorders. When we do not have the information that someone is looking for, we might be able to give you some ideas about who might be able to help.
- Explore options for help with eating disorders and to enable you to come to your own decisions about what might be best for you. This might include NHS treatment, private therapy, support from charitable organisations, peer support or self-help.
Our Helplines are open 365 days a year from 1pm – 9pm during the week, and 5pm–9pm on weekends and bank holidays.
Support on the Helpline is available by phone, email, webchat (live link) through our social media accounts and by letter. Calls to the helpline are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills.
Sometimes our lines are busy. If you can't get through immediately, please do try again or try our one-to-one web chat or send us an email.
If you are in need of urgent help or medical advice for yourself or someone else please contact 999 or the Samaritans on 116 123 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. If you are looking for medical advice contact your GP or 111.
Beat provides Helplines for people of all ages, offering support and information about eating disorders no matter where you are in your journey. These Helplines are free to call from all phones.
The Laurence Trust
Raising awareness and supporting boys & men with disordered eating https://www.thelaurencetrust.co.uk/
The Laurence Trust offers a hub of online information to support those with eating disorders and provide insight and guidance for their loved ones through our confidential information line. While we cannot directly offer therapeutic care through our helpline, our personal experience makes us a compassionate ear. We can guide you towards the best next steps to seek assistance, with a network of services and crisis options to help you receive the best care possible.
Our goal at The Laurence Trust is to provide men and their family members, friends and carers with a safe space where they can seek information, access support, and feel assured they are not alone. We’re the first stepping stone in the process – a friendly ear to listen and provide you with a connection to many different services and support systems to get the help you need. Whether you’re struggling with an eating disorder or you have a loved one you’re concerned about, we provide information and guidance to access the necessary support and care.
Email: TheLaurenceTrust@hotmail.co.uk
Switchboard
Switchboard is the national LGBTQIA+ support line. For anyone, anywhere in the country, at any point in their journey. We can discuss anything related to sexuality and gender identity. Whether it’s sexual health, relationships or just the way you’re feeling. This is your space – to explore, talk and be truly heard.
If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you can call Switchboard on 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day), email chris@switchboard.lgbt or use their webchat service. Phone operators all identify as LGBT+.
Childline
GET SUPPORT
You can contact Childline about anything. Whatever your worry, it's better out than in. We're here to support you.
There are lots of different ways to speak to a Childline counsellor or get support from other young people.
https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/
National domestic abuse helpline
Contact the National Domestic Abuse
Refuge womens helpline 0808 2000 247. https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/en/How-can-we-support-you
Respect Mens advice line for male victims of domestic abuse Freephone 0808 8010327 https://mensadviceline.org.uk/
CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse)
CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) works with victims and survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support and promoting and representing their rights and needs ESSEX based only.
If you are a victim or survivor of any type of sexual violence you can access our services by:
emailing info@caraessex.org.uk
telephone 01206 769795
CARA is a registered charity working with adults of all genders, young people and children from across mid and north Essex. We work from our head office in Colchester and from outreach premises in Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Great Dunmow and Harwich.
CARA recognises that women who have experienced sexual violence may need safe, women only spaces.
We provide women only referral pathways; meaning when you initially contact CARA you will only ever talk with, or meet women workers. Most of our team are women, but support from a male counsellor can be provided on request.
CARA is a support service for victims and survivors. For enquiries about training, consultancy or evaluation and research services, we direct you to our partner, ICENA. ICENA delivers education and consultancy to businesses, organisations and schools to promote gender equality and prevent gender based violence. To find out more, visit ICENA’ s website.
Kooth
Kooth PLC is a digital mental health and wellbeing company working to provide a welcoming space for digital mental health care, available to all.
1 in 5 children and young people suffer from mental health illness in any given year. At Kooth, we believe every young person has the right to thrive and to access high quality mental health care.
MIND
We change minds across England and Wales by making mental health an everyday priority. By standing up to the injustices – in healthcare, in work, in law – which make life harder for those of us with mental health problems.
We support minds by offering help whenever you might need it through our information, advice and local services.
And we connect minds. Bringing together an unstoppable network of individuals and communities and people who care about mental health to make a difference.
SANEline
If you're experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day).
Samaritans
To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Welsh Language Line on 0300 123 3011 (7pm–11pm every day).
The Mix
The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via our online community, on social, through our free, confidential helpline or our counselling service.
If you're under 25, you can call The Mix on 0808 808 4994 (Sunday-Friday 2pm–11pm), request support by email using this form on The Mix website or use their crisis text messenger service.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Mens mental health support.
From advice on our website about issues you might be facing; through to free, confidential chats with our helpline staff, online or on the phone, we’re here for anyone who’s struggling, every single day of the year. No matter what.
Our helpline and webchat are open 365 days a year, offering practical suggestions for all of life’s problems - whether that’s anxiety, relationship concerns, health worries, money worries or suicidal thoughts. Our staff answer a call every 59 seconds - they listen, talk and help people struggling with life to make a plan so they can begin to look to the future.
If you identify as male, you can call the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) or use their webchat service.
Nightline
If you're a student, you can look on the Nightline website to see if your university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.
C.A.L.L.
If you live in Wales, you can call the Community Advice and Listening Line (C.A.L.L.) on 0800 132 737 (open 24/7) or you can text 'help' followed by a question to 81066.
NHS mental health
Mental health services are free on the NHS.
- To get urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service, or call 111 if you’re unable to get help online. Only available in mainland UK.
- For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance
Helplines Partnership
For more options, visit the Helplines Partnership website for a directory of UK helplines. Mind's Infoline can also help you find services that can support you. If you're outside the UK, the Befrienders Worldwide website has a tool to search by country for emotional support helplines around the world.