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We appreciate that some people visiting our site may already be suffering with poor mental health and need help right away. On this page you can find information on how to access your GP, what to do if you feel suicidal, what self-help you can give yourself and sources of help online, via email, text and telephone.

 

How to access your GP:

If you are struggling with poor mental health and it is interfering with your daily life, then the first thing to do is to seek help from your family doctor or GP. ​You can contact your GP using the normal telephone number for your GP practice. If the surgery is not open, you will either be re-directed automatically to the out-of-hours GP service or you will be given another number to call. You can also phone 111 to access the NHS 111 service, which provides access to local NHS healthcare services in England, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have difficulties accessing your GP due to COVID-19 then do consider trying the helpful websites and helplines below. 

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Help if you are feeling suicidal:

If you have been thinking about suicide or about hurting yourself, we strongly recommend that you contact your general practitioner or family doctor RIGHT AWAY for advice and tell them how you are feeling. 

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If you don't think you can stay safe, please go to the nearest hospital accident and emergency room. If none of these options are available, please contact a family member or a trusted friend, so that you won't be alone right now. It’s important to seek out the company of people who can support you and who will help to keep you safe.

 

If you're feeling like you need to harm yourself, take steps to keep yourself safe:

• It’s important to seek out the company of people who can support you and who will help to keep you safe.

• Try to commit to a plan of action that does not involve suicide.

• If you have items that may be dangerous for you at home, please consider giving them to a trusted friend, neighbour, the police or a pharmacist for safe-keeping until you feel stronger.

• Try to minimise the use of alcohol or illicit drugs, as using these substances are likely to make your recovery harder.

• It is important to remember that these feelings and urges do pass, and when individuals feel better, they are glad that they did not act on them.

• There are effective treatments that can help, and there is no need to struggle alone.

• There may be reasons for hope that you have yet to consider.

• Sometimes the smallest reasons for living can get you through a difficult time.

• It can also be helpful to think about your faith, loved ones, family and pets.

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The Samaritans offer a confidential service so you can talk about your feelings. Call: 116 123 (available 24-7 free to call)

Email: jo@samaritans.org (response time 24hrs)

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Helpful Self-Care

There are several things that you can do to help look after yourself.

• Seek help: Talk to your doctor or another health professional or a school/university counsellor to get the best help.

• Talk to someone: It is a good idea to not keep problems and upsets to yourself – talking to someone close to you, and telling them how you feel, sharing your concerns, and asking for help can help to come to terms with upsetting events.

• Do something: It is a good idea to be active. Being physically active can improve mood, and exercise can itself have antidepressant effects. Getting outside and seeing the natural world can be beneficial. As best you can, try and do things that you enjoy and value. It is easy to stop doing positive things when depressed, so it is a good idea to build these up. Try and build things up in small steps.

• Look after yourself physically: As best you can, try to eat regularly and healthily. When feeling unwell, it is easy to either skip meals or eat badly, which only worsens how you feel. Similarly, be careful with alcohol and drugs like cannabis – many people use alcohol and drugs to relax and numb their distress, but they actually make moods worse. Try and have a regular sleep routine – going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time.

• Connect with others: When feeling down, it is easy to withdraw from others. Mixing with others and getting involved with friends and family can help your mood. Helping other people can also improve your mood.

• Tackle problems: If there is an underlying difficulty, trying to solve this problem might help. Write down the problem, all the different things you could to tackle it and then try the option that is most likely to help.

• Stay hopeful: Whilst it may not feel like it, you will eventually feel better – most people recover and there are helpful treatments.

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Helpful Websites:

YoungMinds are there to make sure all young people get the best possible mental health support and have the resilience to overcome life’s difficulties. www.youngminds.org.uk/find-help

 

Mind the Mental Health Charity provide information, advice, and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and tips for everyday living. www.mind.org.uk

 

Rethink Mental Illness Provide expert advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems, and provide services and groups; including resources specific to young people www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/young-people

 

For bipolar disorder: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/bipolar-disorder

 

For psychosis: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/psychosis

 

For schizophrenia: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/schizophrenia

 

Bipolar UK: National charity dedicated to supporting individuals with bipolar, their families and carers. Their website has information leaflets and links to support, including a peer support line: www.bipolaruk.org.uk

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Useful helplines:

The Samaritans offer a confidential service so you can talk about your feelings. Call: 116 123 (available 24-7 free to call). Email: jo@samaritans.org (response time 24hrs)

 

Papyrus offer national support to young people up to age 35 who are feeling suicidal. Available Mon-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm & 7:00pm-10:00pm and Weekends 2:00pm-5:00pm. Call: 0800 068 4141 Text: 07786209697 Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

 

Maytree are a registered charity supporting people in suicidal crisis. Call: 020 7263 7070 (Available 24-7). Email: maytree@maytree.org.uk

 

Young Minds Crisis Messenger provides crisis support across the UK. Text:YM to 85258 (Available 24/7. Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.)

 

CALM offers support to young men in the UK who are down or in a crisis. Call: 0800 58 58 58 (Available Daily 5:00pm – midnight)

 

ChildLine offer confidential calls, emails, or online chats for anyone under 19 for support with any problem big or small. Call: 0800 1111(Available 24-7 free). You can also sign up for a childline account on the website to be able to message a counsellor anytime without using your email address and can Chat 1:1 with an online advisor

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​You can find a link to more mental health information here.