If you're looking for advice or specialist support for a particular issue, these organisations may be able to help.
Due to the impact of the coronavirus, callers are experiencing longer wait times for support services. Where possible, please check the relevant websites for up to date information. If you're worried about your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic, we've gathered some resources that might be helpful.
Tips and resources to help you look after your mental health
You can browse a range of different organisations using the categories below, where we have contact details and information on where they work.
Organisations
Addiction
Alcoholics Anonymous (Republic of Ireland)
For anyone with a desire to tackle their own drink problem.
Tel: 01 842 0700
W: see website for online meetings
Al Anon (Republic of Ireland)
Offers understanding and support for families and friends of problem drinkers in an anonymous environment, whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not.
Tel: 01 873 2699
Open 10am–10pm 7 days a week. All group meetings cancelled.
Dan 24/7 (Wales)
Support with drug and alcohol problems.
Tel: 0808 808 2234
Text: 81066
24/7, 365 days a year.
UK-wide helpline for anyone concerned about their alcohol use or someone else’s.
Tel: 0300 123 1110
W: webchat available (check website)
Charges and hours vary.
Drugs.ie (Republic of Ireland)
Provides support, information, guidance and referral to anyone with a question or concern related to drug and alcohol use and/or HIV and sexual health.
Tel: 1800 459 459 (Freephone)
Mon-Fri 09.30-17:30.
Dunlewey Addiction Services (Northern Ireland)
Confidential counselling and mentoring program for those experiencing difficulties with their own, or other people’s substance misuse or gambling issues.
Tel: 028 9039 2547
Tel: 0800 886 725
Support available 7 days a week, 09:00-23:00
Friendly, confidential drugs advice.
Tel: 0300 123 6600
Text: 82111
W: webchat available (check website)
Gamblers Anonymous (Republic of Ireland)
Group meeting support for those who wish to recover from gambling at locations around the country
Tel: 01 872 1133
Meeting locations available on the website for each county.
Information, advice, support and free counselling for the prevention and treatment of problem gambling.
Tel: 0808 802 0133
W: webchat available (check website)
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Know the Score (Scotland)
Free, confidential information about drugs.
Tel: 0333 230 9468
W: webchat available (check website)
Email available
8am–11pm, 7 days a week.
Benefits and Rights
Impartial advice on rights and responsibilities across the UK.
Tel: 0344 411 1444 (England and Wales)
Tel: 0808 800 9060 (Scotland)
Tel: 0344 477 2020 (Welsh Speaker)
Tel: 0800 028 1881 (N.Ireland)
9am–5pm Mon–Fri. Charges and hours vary within nation.
Confidential help and advice to those within the farming community.
Tel: 0300 011 1999
Email: [email protected]
Support available 7 days a week, 07:00-23:00
Bereavement
Child Bereavement UK supports families when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
Tel: 0800 028 8840
Email: [email protected]
Support available 9am–5pm Mon–Fri.
Offers support for bereaved people. Also supports those bereaved by pets.
Tel: 0808 808 1677
Tel: 0845 600 2227 (Cruse Scotland)
Email: [email protected]
Charges and hours vary within nation.
The Irish Hospice Foundation (Republic of Ireland)
Offers information and resources to support bereaved persons. Website provides info re: Covid-19 including funeral information.
Tel: 01 679 3188
Carers
Support for unpaid carers for family or friends.
Tel: 0808 808 7777 (England, Scotland, Wales)
Tel: 028 9043 9843 (NI)
Email: [email protected]
Hours and charges vary within nation.
Family Action (England & Wales)
Provides emotional and practical support around family pressures.
Tel: 0808 802 6666
Text: 07537 404 282
Email: [email protected]
W: Webchat available (check website)
Free call Mon-Fri, 09:00-15:00 & 18:00-21:00
Family Carers Ireland (Republic of Ireland)
The Carers Association provides a number of services nationwide, to family carers, which are aimed at helping to increase the quality of life for the carer and the person receiving care at home.
Tel: 1800 240 724
Freephone, 09.00 – 20.00 Mon–Fri, 10.00 - 12.00 Sat.
Children and young people
ChildLine (18 years and younger)
Free help and support for children and young people in the UK.
Tel: 0800 11 11
W: webchat available (check website)
Mon - Sun, 09.00 - 00.00
ChildLine (Republic of Ireland)
Part of the ISPCC (The Irish Society for the prevention of cruelty to Children)
Tel: 1800 666 666 (Under 18’s only- Freephone)
Tel: 01 676 7960 (Parents can ring)
Text: 50101 (free text)
The freephone telephone service is available 24 hours and the texting service is available every day 10:00 – 16:00
Jigsaw (Republic of Ireland)
Jigsaw strives to ensure that no young person feels alone, isolated and disconnected from others around them, providing vital support to young people with their mental health by working closely with communities across Ireland.
Tel: 01 4727 010
The Mix (25yrs and under)
Free help and support for children and young people in the UK.
Tel: 0808 808 4994
W: webchat available (check website)
Support available 7 days a week 16:00-23:00
Counselling
Connect Counselling (Republic of Ireland)
Counselling service for any adult who has experienced abuse, trauma or neglect in childhood. The service is also avilable to partners or relatives of people with these experiences.
Tel: 1800 477 477
Freephone. Wed–Sun 6pm-10pm
Pieta House (Republic of Ireland)
Provides a specialised treatment programme for people who have suicidal ideation or who engage in self-harming behaviours. They also provide support and help to people bereaved by suicide.
Tel: 1800 247 247
Freephone
Crisis pregnancy
Positive Options (Republic of Ireland)
State funded organisation that offers a range of crisis pregnancy counselling services to women with a crisis pregnancy and their partners.
Tel: 1800 828 010
Text: 50444 (free text list)
Support available Mon-Fri 09:00-21:00 & Sat 10:00-14:00
Debt, poverty and social exclusion
Citizens Information Board (Republic of Ireland)
Statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services.
Tel: 0761 07 4000
Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm
MABS (Republic of Ireland)
A national, free, confidential and independent service for people in debt or in danger of getting into debt.
Tel: 0761 07 2000
Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm
Society of St Vincent DePaul (Republic of Ireland)
Exists to fight poverty and their network gives practical support to those experiencing poverty and social exclusion by providing a wide range of services to those in need.
Tel: 01 884 8200
Comprehensive debt advice for people in the UK.
Tel: 0800 138 1111
W: webchat available (check website)
Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm, Saturday: 8am–4pm
Eating disorders
Support and information relating to eating disorders.
Tel: 0808 801 0677 (adults over 18)
Email: [email protected] (adults over 18)
Tel: 0808 801 0711 (youth line under 18)
Email: [email protected] (youth line under 18)
The BEAT phone helplines are free and open 365 days a year from 9am – 8pm during the week, and 4pm – 8pm on weekends and bank holidays.
See website for students
Bodywhys (Republic of Ireland)
Provides a range of support services for people affected by eating disorders, including specific services for families and friends.
Tel: 01 210 7906 (Lo-call number)
Email: [email protected]
Support available 2 hours per day, 6 days per week (see website for further details)
Emotional text support
Support for anyone in crisis and struggling to cope.
Text: 85258
Free 24/7 text service on all major mobile networks.
Housing and homelessness
Shelter (England, Scotland &Wales)
Housing and homelessness charity offering advice and information.
Tel: 0808 800 4444 (England, Scotland)
Tel: 08000 495 495 (Wales)
Tel: 028 9024 5640 (Northern Ireland)
W: Webchat available (check website)
Hours and charges vary within nation.
Threshold (Republic of Ireland)
National Charity providing independent advisory and advocacy services, working in collaboration with others for those disadvantaged by the housing system and their aim is to provide long-term solutions for people who are homeless.
Tel: 1800 454 454
Mon-Fri 09.00-21.00.
Loneliness and isolation
Alone (Republic of Ireland)
Supporting older people who are socially isolated, homeless, living in poverty or crisis and support them to age at home. It offers befriending, housing support, support co-ordination and technology.
Tel: 081 822 224
Email: [email protected]
Freephone Mon-Fri 9:00-17:00.
Mental health
Aware (Northern Ireland)
Confidential helpline and email service for people who are experiencing depression.
Tel: 028 9035 7820 (free in Northern Ireland)
Email: [email protected]
Aware (Republic of Ireland)
The organisation undertakes to create a society where people with depression are understood and supported, are free from stigma, and have access to a broad range of appropriate therapies to enable them to reach their full potential.
Tel: 1800 804 848 (Freephone)
10:00–22:00
BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
BACP is a membership organisation that sets standards for therapeutic practice. Their online directory can be used to locate a professional counsellor, who will usually charge for their services.
Tel: 01455 883300
Email: [email protected]
Phoneline available Mon - Fri, 10.00 - 16.00
GROW (Republic of Ireland)
A mental health organisation which helps people who have suffered, or are suffering, from mental health problems.
Tel: 1890 474 474
Lo-call number. 9am–2pm Mon–Fri.
Mind (England and Wales)
Advice, support and information around mental health issues including self-harm. Mind has a legal advice line in England and Wales.
Tel: 0300 123 3393
Text: 86463
Email: [email protected]
9am–6pm Mon–Fri, call charges may apply.
SAMH (Scotland)
Mental health information and signposting to local services (Not a listening service or suitable for people in crisis)
Tel: 0141 530 1000
Email: [email protected]
Mon - Fri 9.00 - 17.00 call charges apply
Shine (Republic of Ireland)
National organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and addressing the needs of all those affected by enduring mental illness including, but not exclusively, schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder and bi-polar disorder, through the promotion and provision of high-quality services. No
helpline but information available at website
Military
Veterans’ Gateway is the first point of contact for veterans/military personnel and families seeking support.
Tel: 0808 802 1212
Text: 81212
W: webchat available (check website)
NHS Staff (Only)
Confidential service to provide grief, loss and trauma support to NHS staff.
Tel: 01609 710510
Mon - Sun 08:00-20:00
Offers NHS employees with guidance and resources to help support and protect them during Covid-19
Tel: 0207 799 6666 / 0113 306 3000
Email: [email protected]
Helping NHS staff manage their own health and wellbeing. Access to free online resources and support.
W: Online support (visit website)
Practitioners Health (Doctors & Dentists only)
Free confidential NHS service for doctors and dentists with mental health and addiction issues
Tel: 0300 030 3300
W: visit website for ebooking
Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 & Sat 08:00-14:00
Older people
Support for older people.
Tel: 0800 679 1602 (England)
Tel: 0800 022 3444 (Wales)
Tel: 0800 124 4222* (Scotland)
Tel: 0808 808 7575 (Northern Ireland)
Calls and hours vary within nation.
* Age Scotland operates its helpline in partnership with The Silver Line.
Information, friendship and advice to older people.
Tel: 0800 470 80 90
Open 24 hours
Relationships
Counselling and workshops on relationships and family issues.
Tel: 0300 100 1234 (Relate)
Tel: 028 9032 3454 (Relate NI)
W: webchat available (check website)
Services are usually provided at a cost. Hours vary in each nation; call charges may apply.
Counselling, family mediation and child contact centres.
Tel: 0345 119 2020
Services usually provided at a cost. Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm call charges may apply.
Sexuality
Switchboard, the LGBT+ helpline
Free support and information to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-binary communities.
Tel: 0300 330 0630
Email: [email protected]
W: webchat available (check website)
10am-10pm daily. Call charges may apply.
LGBT (Republic of Ireland)
Supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Tel: 1890 929 539
W: webchat available (check website)
Lo-call number 6.30–10pm Mon–Thu, 4–10pm Fri, 4–6pm Sat/Sun.
Sexual/domestic abuse (abused)
AnyMan (Republic of Ireland) (men only)
National service supporting Men experiencing Domestic Violence in Ireland, supplying support and information.
Tel: 01 554 3811
Email: [email protected]
Mon-Fri 09:00–17:00
Mens Advice Line (men only)
Confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence in any relationship.
Tel: 0808 801 0327
Email: [email protected]
W: webchat available (check website)
Helpline is free from most landlines and mobiles and is open Mon–Fri 09.00 – 17.00
NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood)
Offers support to 18+ adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse.
Tel: 0800 801 0331
Mon, Wed, Fri 10.00 - 16.00 / Tue & Thu 14.00 - 21.00
Rape Crisis (women only)
Tel: 0808 802 9999 (England & Wales) (12pm-2.30pm and 7-9.30pm every day, and 3-5.30pm weekdays)
Tel: 0808 801 0302 (Scotland) (6pm–12am daily)
Tel: 1800 778 888 (N. Ireland) (24hrs Helpline)
Calls are free from landlines and some mobiles.
Refuge National Domestic Violence Helpline (women only)
Support for women experiencing domestic violence (inc. forced marriages/tech abuse/modern slavery).
Tel: 0808 200 0247
24 hrs, free from landlines/mobiles.
Rape Crisis Centre (Republic of Ireland)
The Centre takes calls from women and men of all ages who have experienced or want to talk about the effects of any kind of sexual violence.
Tel: 1800 778 888
Freephone, 24hrs.
Women’s Aid (Republic of Ireland)
Committed to the elimination of violence and abuse of women through effecting political, cultural and social change. Women’s Aid provides direct support services to women experiencing male violence and abuse.
Tel: 1800 341 900
Freephone, 24hrs.
Sexual/domestic abuse (abuser)
Confidential and anonymous helpline for anyone concerned about their violence and/or abuse towards a partner or ex-partner.
Tel: 0808 802 4040
W: webchat available (check website)
Helpline is free from most landlines and mobiles and is open Mon– Fri 09.00 – 17.00
Helpline available for adult perpetrators of child sexual abuse, and concerns about other adults abusing children.
Tel: 0808 1000 900
Email: [email protected]
Mon-Thu 09.00 - 21.00 / Fri 09.00 - 17.00
Victims of crime
Help for victims of crime, witnesses and their families and friends.
Tel: 0808 168 9111 (England, Wales)
Tel: 0800 160 1985 (Scotland)
Tel: 028 9024 3133 (Northern Ireland)
Hours and call charges vary in each nation.