When should I seek help?
Seeking help is often the first step towards getting and staying well, but it can be hard to know how to start or where to turn to. It’s common to feel unsure, and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own. But it’s always ok to ask for help – even if you’re not sure you are experiencing a specific mental health problem.
You might want to seek help if you’re:
- worrying more than usual
- finding it hard to enjoy your life
- having thoughts and feelings that are difficult to cope with, which have an impact on your day-to-day life
- interested to find more support or treatment.
Who can I turn to?
There are lots of options for support out there, although you might find some are more suitable for you, or more easily available. There’s no wrong order to try things in – different things work for different people at different times.
Your doctor (GP)
For many of us, our local GP practice is the first place we go when we’re unwell. Your doctor is there to help you with your mental health as well as your physical health.
They could:
- make a diagnosis
- offer you support and treatments (such as talking therapies and medication)
- refer you to a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist
- recommend local support options.
Friends, family, carers and neighbours
Sometimes it can help to talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling. They could:
- help you to find information
- discuss your options with you
- come with you to appointments
- help out with everyday tasks
- give encouragement and support.
Seeking help isn’t always easy, especially when you’re not feeling well. It can take time and may not be straightforward. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and that you deserve support. If you’re finding it difficult to access these services, or you’ve already tried these options and aren’t sure where to turn next, Mind have a helpful page on facing and overcoming barriers.
As well as your GP there are many services other services available. Some of them are listed below.
General Mental Health
MIND | Phone – 0300 123 3393
The UK’s leading mental health charity with a wide range of help, resources and guidance. Available Mon/Fri 9am – 6pm.
Rethink Mental Illness | Phone – 0300 5000 927
Rethink improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through their network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning. Rethink’s goal is to make sure everyone affected by severe mental illness has a good quality of life.
Available Mon/Fri 9am – 4:30pm.
Preventing the onset of mental health problems before they occur, and supporting people to stay well, is an important approach to improving mental health in our communities.
Making better choices today can have a big impact on your health. One You is here to help you get healthier and feel better with free tips, tools and support. Whether it’s moving more, eating more healthily or checking yourself – One You can help you make small, practical changes that fit in with your life.
Advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.
Find tools and resources to help yourself and others to feel better.
From managing your anxiety to meeting like-minded people, whatever it is that you need, Good thinking want to help you find it.
Crisis and Emotional Support
OCD Action | Phone – 0845 390 6232
Largest UK Charity providing information, support and advice for sufferers of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Living with schizophrenia was launched in 2013 in the UK to provide a platform for those living with schizophrenia in the wider sense: sufferers, carers and relatives, to try to bring a fresh insight to the subjects of schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder and to provide information about the condition to all those living with it.
ASSIST Trauma Care employs experienced therapists trained to work with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the after-effects of trauma in line with current evidence-based practices.
Alcohol
Drinkline
The national alcohol helpline
0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am – 8pm, weekends 11am – 4pm)
A free self-help group.
These groups help participants decide whether they have a problem, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.
Anxiety
Anxiety UK | Phone – 03444 775 774 (Mon-Fri 9:30am – 5.30pm) Text – 07537 416 905
Anxiety UK provide support and help if you’ve been diagnosed with, or suspect you may have an anxiety condition.
Anxious Minds | 01912620305
email – anxious.minds@yahoo.co.uk
Depression
Depression UK are a National Self-Help Organisation helping people cope with their depression.
PTSD
Combat Stress | 0800 138 1619
Victim Support | 0808 168 9111
Self-Harm
User-led organisation for people, who self-harm, and their friends and families.
email – info@harmless.org.uk
User-led self-harm guidance and support network.
email – help@lifesigns.org.uk
The Mix | 0808 808 4994 (helpline)
Helpline and online support for people aged 16–25.
National Self Harm Network (NSHN)
Survivor-led closely monitored forum for people who self-harm, and their friends and families.
Samaritans – Available 24/7 | Phone – 116 123
The Samaritans are working together to make sure fewer people die by suicide.
Every six seconds, they respond to a call for help. No judgement. No pressure. Samaritans are here for anyone who needs someone.
SANE | Phone – 0300 304 7000
SANE provides emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers.
Suicide
Samaritans – Available 24/7 |Phone – 116 123
The Samaritans are working together to make sure fewer people die by suicide.
Every six seconds, they respond to a call for help. No judgement. No pressure. Samaritans are here for anyone who needs someone.
CALM (for men) 5pm til Midnight | Phone – 0800 58 58 58
CALM are the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and are leading a movement against suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK.
Papyrus | 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 5pm. Text 07786 209697
For people under 35
If U Care Share | 01913875661
Loneliness
Samaritans – Available 24/7 |Phone – 116 123
The Samaritans are working together to make sure fewer people die by suicide.
Every six seconds, they respond to a call for help. No judgement. No pressure. Samaritans are here for anyone who needs someone.
MIND | Phone – 0300 123 3393
The UK’s leading mental health charity with a wide range of help, resources and guidance. Available Mon/Fri 9am – 6pm.
Bipolar
Bipolar UK | Phone – 0333 323 3880
Bipolar UK are dedicated to supporting individuals with the much misunderstood and devastating condition of bipolar, their families and carers. Each year they reach out to and support over 80,000 individuals through their range of services.
Counselling
MIND | Phone – 0300 123 3393
The UK’s leading mental health charity with a wide range of help, resources and guidance. Available Mon/Fri 9am – 6pm.
Panic Attacks
MIND | Phone – 0300 123 3393
The UK’s leading mental health charity with a wide range of help, resources and guidance. Available Mon/Fri 9am – 6pm.