First of all, well done for reaching out for support. That takes courage.
Whysup is not a treatment provider, but through the work we do, people often come to us looking for help. When they do, we always aim to signpost to trusted organisations and services that can offer the right support.
All of our facilitators, and many of their loved ones, have been in a position where they’ve needed help. You are not alone in this.
What’s important is not just saying “I need help,” but following it up. Whatever route you choose, give it a proper go. Support works best when you stick with it.
We wish you all the best with your next steps. We hope this is a real turning point for you.
If you feel unsafe or at risk of harming yourself or someone else, it’s important to get help straight away.
Call emergency services or go to your nearest A&E
Contact a 24/7 helpline
Reach out to someone you trust
Talk to Frank – Support near you
www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you
The NHS
www.nhs.co.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous UK
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous UK
www.ukna.org
Cocaine Anonymous
www.cocaineanonymous.org.uk
Add Action – one of the leading drug, alcohol and mental health organisations
www.addaction.org.uk
The NHS
www.nhs.co.uk
Mind – Mental Health Charity – Providing Mental Health information, support and advice.
www.mind.org.uk
Rethink Mental Health
www.rethink.org
The Samaritans – 24 hour helpline
www.samaritans.org
Call 116 123 (free service)
SANE – For People and Families affected by Mental Health
www.sane.org.uk
Saneline: 0300 304 700 (daily from 4:30pm – 10:30pm)
NHS Therapy and counselling services (self referral)
www.gmmh.nhs.uk/iapt-services-in-manchester
MHIST local charity with face to face groups and other support
www.mhist.co.uk
BAND mental health Charity that has a mental health cafe, helping with social matters and social contacts for people
www.family-action.org.uk
Self Injury Support – UK self harm & self injury charity
www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk
0117 927 9600 or email info@selfinjurysupport.org.uk
Anxiety UK – Charity providing support for those diagnosed with Anxiety condition.
www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Helpline: 03444 775 774 or text support: 07537 416 905
Mens Health Forum – 24/7 Stress Support for men by text, phone and email.
www.menshealthforum.org.uk
(+44) 0330 097 0654
No Panic – Charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCP)
www.nopanic.org.uk
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily 10am – 10pm) calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone providers access charge.
OCD UK – Charity run by people with OCD for people with OCD
www.ocduk.org
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm)
Gamblers Anonymous
https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
GamCare
https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/
Gordon Moody Association
https://www.gordonmoody.org.uk/
National Debt Line
https://www.nationaldebtline.org/
Citizens Advice Bureau
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Bereavement support
www.cruse.org.uk
Support when someone sadly ends their life.
www.uksobs.org
Kooth
www.kooth.com
Young Minds – Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
www.youngminds.org.uk
Quit Vaping
https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping
Papyrus – Prevention of young suicide
https://papyrus-uk.org
0800 068 4141
The Samaritans – 24 hour helpline
www.samaritans.org
Call 116 123 (free service)
CALM – campaign against living miserably
https://www.thecalmzone.net
help line 5pm – midnight – 0800 585858
Families Anonymous – For the Family and loved Ones of Addicts
www.famanon.org.uk
Al Anon – For the families and loved ones of Alcoholics
www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Ad Fam – for the families of drug and alcohol users
www.adfam.org.uk
SANE – For People and Families affected by Mental Health
www.sane.org.uk
Saneline: 0300 304 700 (daily from 4:30pm – 10:30pm)
BEAT – Offers Help for Young People and Adults with Eating Disorders.
www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Help for adults:
Beat Adult Helpline
Helpline: 0808 801 0677
Email: help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Help for Youths:
The Beat Youthline is open to anyone under 18.
Youthline: 0808 801 0711
Email: fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Your thoughts, feelings, and body are all connected. Things like school, friendships, family, social media, or big changes can affect how you feel.
Sometimes emotions can feel really strong or confusing. That doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It just means you might need some support.
You don’t have to fix everything at once. Small steps can make a difference:
You might not have the exact words for it and that’s okay. Some common feelings people experience include:
Whatever you’re feeling, it matters.
There are lots of organisations that offer support and also some with free, confidential text or phonelines. There are a few below:
YoungMinds provides young people with guides and tools to support their mental health. Click the logo to access their website.
Papyrus is a charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide in young people. If you or a young person you know is struggling to cope with life and having thoughts of suicide, call Papyrus on 0800 068 41 41. You can also text 88247 or email by clicking the logo.
Shout is a 24/7 text service for young people struggling with their mental health. Text ‘Shout’ to 85258 for free confidential support.
It can feel scary to open up, but you don’t have to go through things alone. You could talk to:
You can start small, just saying “I’m not feeling okay” is enough and will open the conversation. This is a really brave thing to do and there will always be someone who wants to help you.
No. Asking for help is a good thing.
You deserve to be listened to and supported.
Whatever you’re feeling, it matters.
If things aren’t improving or feel too difficult to manage alone, it may help to speak to a professional. You could consider:
Seeking help is a positive and practical step. There are some fantastic organisations that offer support:
Samaritans provides confidential, nonjudgmental listening and support for anyone struggling to cope. You can call Samaritans on 116 123 or you can chat online by clicking the logo.
mind.org.uk has lots of useful information about all things mental health, and where to go for support.
the NHS website explains how you can access support with mental health, and there is also a link to self-refer to Talking Therapies, which can help with anxiety and depression, access by clicking the logo.
Your mental health can be affected by many things: work, relationships, finances, physical health, or life changes. Struggling doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It’s a sign that something in your life may need attention or support.
You might notice that you are feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed, or that you are eating or sleeping a lot more or a lot less than usual. You might have difficulty concentrating, or you may feel irritable or withdrawn.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but some strategies that may help include:
Start with what feels manageable.
You don’t need to have everything figured out today. Reaching this page is already a step forward. Support is available whenever you’re ready.
For addiction, there are Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous meetings happening across the UK and also online. You can find a meeting by clicking the links here:
