Mental health and wellbeing support
Mental health and wellbeing can sometimes feel like difficult topics to talk about. Here are some services that can help support you, and your family’s, mental health and wellbeing.
Support with mental health and wellbeing
Disabled children and young people can be more likely to experience a mental health problem. And caring for a disabled child can be stressful, with a greater need for support.
The Council for disabled children aims to ensure the best outcomes for disabled children and young people. Their website has lots of useful resources, and services, to help you feel confident discussing mental health and wellbeing, and find out where to go for support.
If you’re worried about someone’s mental health and wellbeing, and think they need immediate help, please call NHS 111. Or for emergencies, call 999.
Mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people
YoungMinds aims to make sure every young person gets the mental health support they need, when they need it. Their website provides mental health advice and guidance for young people as well as their families.
Call 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm) or visit the YoungMinds website.
The Mix is the UK’s leading online support service for young people under 25. They provide a safe online messaging community for young people and a confidential helpline, to discuss any worries. The Mix connects young people to experts, and their peers, to talk about everything from money to mental health, homelessness to jobs, break-ups to drugs, and more.
Call 0808 808 4994 (Monday to Saturday, 4:00pm to 11:00pm) or visit The Mix website.
Childline helps anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. Whether it’s something big or small, their trained counsellors are there to provide support. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night.
Call 0800 1111 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) or visit the Childline website.
Parentzone has created Ollee, a digital friend for ages 8 to 11 years old. Ollee helps children explore feelings around school, family, friends, the world and much more. Children and parents can both create, and connect, Ollee accounts to share advice together. Find out more on the Parentzone website.
Visit the NHS website for information on how to support a child or young person’s mental health diagnosis.
Beat are the UK’s eating disorder charity. They exist to provide information and support on eating disorders through their website, national helpline and through local services.
To call in England 0808 801 0677
Call in Scotland 0808 801 0432
If you’re calling from Wales 0808 801 0433
Shout is a free confidential 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope.
Visit the Shout website
Mental health and wellbeing for adults
Being a carer can be tough. Finding the time to look after your own mental wellness and knowing when to ask for help, with your own mental health, is hard.
Contact is a support charity for families with disabled children. They help parents and carers feel confident and informed on the challenges of raising a disabled child. They provide guidance and advice on topics including benefits, education, health and social care services.
As well as providing online advice and information, Contact runs a free listening ear service. This offers one-to-one telephone appointments with a family support adviser. If you are a parent carer looking for a listening ear, the service can offer reassurance and practical and emotional support.
Call 0808 808 3555 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:00pm or visit Contact’s website.
Mind provides information and support on all aspects of living with a mental health condition. The charity can help support you online with guides, covering topics like self-care and how to understand mental health conditions. They can also provide local mental health support from one of their 125 local hubs in England and Wales.
Call 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm) or visit Mind’s website.
Rethink Mental Illness aims to improve the lives of people impacted by mental health. The charity provides online advice and support around the topic of mental health. They can also provide information for anyone caring for someone with a mental health condition.
Call 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm) or visit the Rethink Mental Illness website.
Samaritans provides essential support through their online chat service and free 24/7 phone line. If you feel like you need to talk to someone, call Samaritans. A trained advisor will be there to listen, however big or small the problem.
Call 116 123 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) and visit the Samaritans website.
If you, your child or somebody you know, has recently received a mental health diagnosis; find expert advice and practical tips at NHS Every Mind Matters. There are information guides on topics like looking after a child’s mental health and self-care tips for young people. They can help you make your own personalised Mind Plan, to help you deal with stress and boost your mood.
Visit the Every Mind Matters website.
SANE provides confidential emotional support to anyone over 16 affected by mental illness.
The charity provides support, through trained and experienced staff and volunteers, over the phone, email and text, 365 days a year.
Call 0300 304 7000 (seven days a week 4:00pm to 10:00pm) and visit the SANE website.