Helpline Support In A Crisis…

In the UK we are lucky to have a number of support organisations that offer helpline support on the phone or online.

They’re there for the times when someone needs to know at least one person in the world is hearing them. For the times when they need to rant or cry and know someone is with them for those moments. Helplines have helped to prevent many crisis situations from escalating and saved many lives.

Outlined below are nine of the key support organisations in the UK that offer helplines. You’ll find their numbers, the times that they’re available and who they focus on helping. 

If Someone's In Danger Though

Depending on how seriously the situation is escalating, you have a number of options…

  • Go to your Doctor’s Surgery and request an emergency appointment
  • Call your Doctor (GP) and request an emergency appointment
  • Call 999 for the Emergency Services if you need medical help fast
  • Call 111 if it’s not an emergency 
  • Go to an Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at your nearest hospital
  • For some people helplines can be really useful while they wait for the medical services

Support Helplines in the UK

Samaritans Helpline

The Support Service They Offer

The Samaritans offer a helpline for anyone who needs them, 24hrs a day for 365 days of the year.

Who They Help

Anyone who needs a listening ear or simply someone to be there on the end of the line.

How To Contact Them

Call their helpline

116 123

Available 24hrs a day, 365 days of the year

OR

Email them at jo@samaritans.org

They aim to get back to you within 24hrs

Shout Textline

The Support Service They Offer

Shout is the UK’s first free to use text service for anyone in crisis at anytime.

Who They Help

Anyone in a crisis that would prefer to text rather than talk.

How To Contact Them

Send a text

85258 

Available 24hrs a day, 365 days of the year

SANEline (Over 16)

The Support Service They Offer

SANEline is a national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information. As well as a helpline they also have a support forum. 

Who They Help

The information and guidance is for anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers. The helpline is for people over the age of 16. 

How To Contact Them

Call their Crisis helpline

0300 304 7000

Open every day from 4:30pm to 10:30pm

HopelineUK (Under 35)

The Support Service They Offer

PAPYRUS is the UK charity specifically seeking to prevent young suicides. They provide HopelineUK, a telephone support line for people considering suicide and for people who are concerned that others may be suicidal.

Who They Help

Papyrus’s telephone support line is for people under the age of 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide and for anyone that is concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. 

How To Contact them

Call HopelineUK

0800 068 4141

Open from 9am to 10pm, Monday to Friday and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays

OR

You can also send an email asking for support to pat@papyrus-uk.org

Young Minds (Under 25)

The Support Service They Offer

Young Minds provide support and information for young people and their parents. This includes a free crisis text messaging service for young people experiencing a mental health crisis and a survival guide and helpline for parents.

Who They Help 

People under the age of 25 and their parents/guardians

How To Contact them

Text ‘YM’ to

 85258

Open 24hrs a day, every day

OR

Parent’s Helpline

0808 802 5544

Open from 9:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

The Mix (Under 25)

The Support Service They Offer

The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25. They have a helpline, text messaging support service, group chat, online chat service, discussion board and offer email support.

Who They Help

People under the age of 25

How To Contact them

Text ‘THEMIX’ to

85258

Open 24hrs a day, every day

OR

Call the helpline

0808 808 4994

Open from 4pm to 11pm, every day

OR

Email them for support at https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team/email-us 

They aim to get back to you within 24hrs

Silver Line (Over 55)

The Support Service They Offer

The Silver Line is the only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 

Who They Help

Anyone over the age of 55 who is looking for support, advice or friendship. 

How To Contact them

Call the Silver Line

0800 4 70 80 90

Switchboard Helpline (LGBTQ+)

The Support Service They Offer

Switchboard provide an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity. They have a dedicated helpline, online chat service and offer email support. 

Who They Help

Anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional wellbeing

How To Contact them

Call their helpline

0300 330 0630

Open from 10am to 10pm every day

OR

Send an email for support to chris@switchboard.lgbt and they’ll aim to get back to you within 72hrs

C.A.L.M. Helplines

The Support Service They Offer

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. They provide free, confidential helplines for anyone who needs to talk through life’s problems. 

Who They Help

C.A.L.M is often believed to be just for men but they provide support for anyone. 

How To Contact them

Their helplines are open between 5pm and midnight every day of the year.

Telephone (outside London): 0800 58 58 58

Telephone (London): 0808 802 58 58

Webchat: www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/ 

 

Find out more...

If you would like to learn more about how you can help people when they are struggling, take a look at our Mental Health Training Packages. Develop the skills and confidence to really support someone when they need it most. 

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

Categories: Mental Health

Louise Ansell

Louise works with leaders and their teams to give them the knowledge and strategies to SUSTAIN performance and wellbeing – even in the face of adversity. Her career started at the top of mountains training people to lead through life threatening situations. This progressed to lecturing leadership skills and training teachers through to working with rescue teams, NHS senior leaders and business startups to global brands. She writes many of the Sky Bounders courses and articles and works with a range of clients on a personal coaching, training and consultancy basis. Beyond the work context, you'll find her enjoying life’s crazy adventures – whether that’s in the mountains, climbing on sea cliffs, messing about on paddle boards or simply enjoying exploring beautiful places.

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