Mental Health Help & Support Lines

Where to Get Further Help and Support

If you're experiencing mental health problems, feeling distressed, or need urgent support, there are lots of places you can go for help.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department.

If you need urgent mental health support in England, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option (option 2). This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Mental Health Support Lines

• Samaritans: Call 116 123 — free, confidential emotional support, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Mind Infoline: Call 0300 123 3393 — information and support about mental health problems, treatment and finding help. Open Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, except bank holidays.

• Rethink Mental Illness: Call 0300 5000 927 — information and advice for people affected by severe mental illness, including family members and carers.

• SANEline: Call 0300 304 7000 — emotional support for anyone affected by mental health problems, including family, friends and carers. Open 4pm–10pm every day.

• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably): Call 0800 58 58 58 — support for people aged 18 and over affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts. Open 5pm–midnight every day.

• Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258 — free, confidential mental health text support, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the UK.

Crisis and Suicide Support

• Samaritans: 116 123 — available 24/7.

• NHS 111: Call 111 and select the mental health option (option 2) for urgent mental health support in England, 24/7.

• Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential 24/7 text support.

• PAPYRUS HOPELINE247: Call 0800 068 4141 or text 07786 209 697 if you are under 35 and experiencing thoughts of suicide, or if you are concerned about a young person. Open 10am–10pm on weekdays and 2pm–10pm at weekends and on bank holidays.

Anxiety, Panic and OCD

• Anxiety UK: Call 03444 775 774 — support and information for people affected by anxiety and anxiety disorders.

• No Panic: Call 0300 772 9844 — support for people experiencing panic attacks, phobias, OCD and other anxiety-related conditions. Open 10am–10pm every day.

• No Panic crisis message: Call 01952 680835 for a recorded breathing and calming message available outside the main helpline's opening hours.

• OCD Action: Call 0300 636 5478 — information and support for people with OCD and their families, carers and friends. The helpline operates Monday–Friday, 9:30am–8pm.

• OCD-UK: Call 01332 588112 — information and support for people affected by OCD. Current telephone support is available on a limited basis, so check the OCD-UK website before calling.

Eating Disorders

• Beat: Call 0808 801 0677 in England — support for anyone affected by an eating disorder, including family and friends. Telephone helplines are currently open 3pm–8pm, Monday to Friday. Beat also provides webchat and email support.

• Beat also has separate helpline numbers for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:

  • Scotland: 0808 801 0432

  • Wales: 0808 801 0433

  • Northern Ireland: 0808 801 0434

Addiction and Substance Misuse

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Call 0800 9177 650 — free national helpline for people seeking help with alcohol problems.

• Narcotics Anonymous UK: Call 0300 999 1212 — support for people affected by drug addiction. Open 10am–midnight, 7 days a week.

• FRANK: Call 0300 123 6600 or visit the FRANK website for information and support about drugs and alcohol.

• Drinkline: Call 0300 123 1110 — national alcohol helpline.

• Cocaine Anonymous: Call 0800 612 0225 for support relating to cocaine addiction.

• National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa): Call 0800 358 3456 — confidential support for people affected by a parent's drinking, including children and adults.

LGBTQ+ Support

• Switchboard LGBT+: Call 0300 330 0630 — confidential information, support and referral for LGBTQIA+ people. Open 10am–10pm every day.

Support for Carers and Families

• SANEline: 0300 304 7000 — emotional support for people affected by mental health problems, including family members, friends and carers. Open 4pm–10pm every day.

• Mencap Learning Disability Helpline: 0808 808 1111 — information and support for people with a learning disability and their families and carers in England.

• Family Lives: 0808 800 2222 — support and advice on parenting and family life.

Domestic Abuse

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge): 0808 2000 247 — free, confidential support for women experiencing domestic abuse and for people supporting them. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327 — confidential information, advice and support for men experiencing domestic abuse. Open Monday–Friday, 10am–1pm and 2pm–5pm.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Sexual Violence and Abuse

• Rape Crisis England & Wales: 0808 500 2222 — free, confidential support for people affected by rape, sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence. The support line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Victims of Crime

• Victim Support: 0808 168 9111 — free, confidential support for victims and witnesses of crime. The support line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Embrace Child Victims of Crime: 0345 60 999 60 — support for children, young people and families affected by serious crime. Telephone support is available Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.

Bereavement

• Cruse Bereavement Support: 0808 808 1677 — free emotional support for anyone affected by bereavement.

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9:30am–5pm

  • Tuesday: 1pm–8pm

  • Saturday and Sunday: closed

Dementia and Alzheimer's Support

• Alzheimer's Society Dementia Support Line: 0333 150 3456

  • Monday–Wednesday: 9am–8pm

  • Thursday–Friday: 9am–5pm

  • Saturday–Sunday: 10am–4pm

Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar UK: 0333 323 3880 — information and support for people affected by bipolar disorder. You can also contact Bipolar UK through its website to arrange support.

Support for Young People

• Childline: 0800 1111 — free, confidential support for children and young people. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• PAPYRUS HOPELINE247: 0800 068 4141 or text 07786 209 697 — suicide prevention support for young people.

• YoungMinds Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 — support for parents and carers concerned about a child's or young person's mental health.

  • Monday, Thursday and Friday: 9:30am–4pm

  • Tuesday and Wednesday: 9:30am–6pm

• NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 — for adults concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child. Open Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm.

• Family Lives: 0808 800 2222 — advice and support on parenting and family life.

Emergency Services Employees

• Mind Blue Light Infoline: 0300 303 5999 — information and signposting for emergency service staff, volunteers and their families. You can also text 84999.

Important

Helpline opening times can change, particularly around bank holidays and Christmas. Please check the organisation's website for the latest information before publishing or distributing this list widely.

This information is intended to help people find support and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If someone is in immediate danger or needs emergency medical assistance, call 999.