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.
