This is a helpline you can call if you’re concerned about a child or young person. If you’re a parent, a teacher or a professional who’s looking for advice, guidance or information, this is the helpline to contact! You can call Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm or 9am – 4pm at the weekends. It’s free and you don’t have to say who you are.
Crisis Text Line
The Crisis Text Line is just that! A place you can text if you’re in crisis; if you’re feeling painful emotions and need some support. Just start your first text with ‘HELLO’
It usually takes less than five minutes to connect you with a Crisis Counselor. (It may take longer during high-traffic times).
When you’ve reached a Crisis Counselor, they’ll introduce themselves, reflect on what you’ve said, and invite you to share at your own pace.
The goal of any conversation is to get you to a calm, safe place.
Sometimes that means providing you with a referral to further help, and sometimes it just means being there and listening. A conversation usually lasts anywhere from 15-45 minutes.
Hub of Hope
Hub of Hope isn’t a helpline in itself, but it helps you quickly & easily find support in your area. Head to the website, enter your postcode (or let it use your location) and you’ll find a bunch of helplines, support groups, and places to go near you.
7 Cups
7 Cups connects you with people who can listen and offer you emotional support online. You’ll find online group support, free chats 24/7, and the option to pay for online sessions with a therapist. 7 Cups is great for helping you explore what you’re feeling and experiencing without needing to talk out loud.
Mermaids
Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
Transgender and gender-variant children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face.
Live Fear Free
Live Fear Free can provide help and advice to:
- anyone experiencing domestic abuse
- anyone who knows someone who needs help. For example, a friend, family member or colleague
- practitioners seeking professional advice.
All conversations with Live Fear Free are confidential and are taken by staff that are highly experienced and fully trained.
All their support lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Beat
Beat exists to end the pain and suffering caused by eating disorders. They are a champion, guide and friend to anyone affected, giving individuals experiencing an eating disorder and their loved ones a place where they feel listened to, supported and empowered. Their helpline support workers are trained to offer a supportive space for you to explore your feelings and thoughts around eating disorders.
There’s a few different helplines available too:
Helpline: 0808 801 0677 (for anyone over 18)
Studentline: 0808 801 0811 (for students)
Youthline: 0808 801 0711 (for anyone under 18)
Helplines are open 365 days a year from 12pm–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays.
Switchboard
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.
There are about 160 trained telephone volunteers at Switchboard who all identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, who are there to listen to all sorts of calls.
Here are some of the things people might contact Switchboard about:
- Information about support groups for someone who is struggling with their gender identity
- Support for a man who has been a victim of homophobic abuse, but has previously had a bad experience going to the police.
- Contact details for an LGBT-friendly therapist.
- Support for a lesbian teenager thrown out of her home by her parents, and who needs somewhere to stay.
- Information on how to get to local gay pubs for someone with mobility issues.
- Times and places for a local bisexual social group.
- Listening to some of the concerns a mother has about her child who is trans.
Phone line is open 10:00 – 22:00 daily
Emails aim to be answered within 72 hours
Online chat available from 18:00
Music Support
“Our mission at Music Support is to make sure that nobody in the UK music industry is left to suffer alone with mental or emotional health issues or addiction.
We believe that those in our industry who are susceptible to ,mental, emotional and behavioural health disorders (including but not limited to alcohol and drug addiction), are particularly vulnerable due to the environments, lifestyles and stresses that exist within.
Wherever in the industry the individual may be, stigmas surrounding these conditions are still so strong that they can go ignored, unrecognised or untreated until it is too late. We believe that everybody is entitled to confidential, sympathetic and non-judgemental support.
Music Support is run by people from the music industry, for people in the music industry. Our trustees and founders have all suffered personally from mental health and addiction issues and have seen friends, colleagues and heroes lose their careers, their families and even their lives to these problems. Our mission is to provide the best possible support, assistance and advice to those in need.
We operate a 24/7 telephone helpline offering peer support from volunteers with personal experiences of the music industry and mental health and addiction matters.”
