Useful Links for Mental Health Help
Websites & Helplines
Samaritans - UK mental health charity alleviating emotional distress and reducing the incidence of suicidal feelings and behaviour. Call 116 123 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
CALM - the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is an award-winning charity dedicated to preventing male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK. Call 0800 58 58 58 from 5.00 pm to midnight.
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selfharm.co.uk - free online support for 14 to 19-year-olds.
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PAPYRUS - PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional well-being in young people. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINEUK for confidential support and practical advice. Call 0800 068 4141, Text 07860039967 or Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
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NHS 111 Online - get medical help near you. Call 111 in a mental or physical health crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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National Domestic Abuse Helpline - freephone 0808 2000 247.
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Shout - if you’re experiencing a personal crisis, unable to cope, and need support, text Shout to 85258.
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Drinkline (National Alcohol Helpline) - offers information and self-help materials, help to callers worried about their drinking, support to the family and friends of people who are drinking, and advice to callers on where to go for help. Call 0300 123 1110 Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm.
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Beat Eating Disorders - The UK's Eating Disorder charity. Call the Helpline on 0808 801 0677.
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Caraline - a charity based in Luton supporting individuals living with an eating disorder along with their family and friends since 1994.
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Royal College of Psychiatrists - the professional medical body responsible for supporting psychiatrists in the UK. Link to readable, user-friendly, and evidence-based information about mental health problems.
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Human Givens Institute - a membership organisation open to anyone wishing to support and promote the Human Givens approach through all forms of psychological, educational, and social interactions, and the professional body representing the interests of those in the caring, welfare, and teaching professions who work in alignment with the best scientific knowledge available about the givens of human nature.
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Human Givens Publishing - self-help books, CDs, and journals using effective Human Givens psychotherapy and counselling practices to help alleviate mild to moderate mental health problems.
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Reclaim Life - a successful charity in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire providing five free life coaching sessions based on the simple and effective Human Givens approach. All life coaches are volunteers receiving training and supervision with guidance and supervision from Dr Iqbal Mohiuddin.
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East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) - provides a wide range of community and inpatient services to children, young people, adults of working age, older adults, and forensic services to the city of London, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Bedfordshire, and Luton. ELFT was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in September 2016, June 2018, and October 2021.
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ELFT Bedfordshire and Luton Recovery College - part of the Bedfordshire Mental Health Academy which is a formal partnership with East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) and the University of Bedfordshire. The college is open to any adult who lives or works in Bedfordshire and Luton. Free courses and workshops focus on mental health well-being and recovery. People with lived experience and professional experience deliver them.
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UKAAN - the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) provides support, education, research, and training for mental health professionals working with adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Part of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London.
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ADHD UK - the ADHD UK charity was created by people with ADHD for people with ADHD. This is a link to their excellent Useful Resources page.
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AADD-UK - the site for and by adults with ADHD.
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ADISS - the National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service.
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National Autistic Society - the UK's leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families since 1962.
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Aspire Autism Consultancy - Deborah Wortman is an experienced and qualified social worker and counsellor based in Halifax providing private counselling for people with Autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
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Empowering Minds Coaching - Carlene Bantick is a qualified Social Worker and Adult ADHD coach who can help you transform your life. Her coaching enables you to gain control and thrive. She offers a compassionate and practical approach to overcoming ADHD challenges. Her coaching style and knowledge provide the tools and strategies to manage your ADHD, enabling you to thrive in all areas of your life. She has professional and lived experiences of Adult ADHD.
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Aldridge Counselling Services - Gary Aldridge is a BACP registered counsellor having trained in Humanistic approaches to therapy. He covers all areas of counselling including anxiety, depression, panic disorders, addiction and alcoholism.
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The ADDvantage - Pippa Simou is a private Psychologist and Specialist ADHD Coach based in Hertford.
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ADHD Coaches Organization - the worldwide professional membership organisation for ADHD coaches, committed to serving as a resource for ADHD coaches, its members, and the public.​​
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Cannon Psychology - Dr Sarah Cannon-Gibbs is a private Chartered Counselling Psychologist based in Hertford with over ten years of experience working in adult mental health with individuals and couples.
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Practitioner Health - a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating health and care professionals.
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Mind BLMK Crisis Cafes - Mind BLMK works collaboratively with the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) across Luton and Bedford to provide crisis services for individuals over 18 needing mental health support. Crisis Cafes are safe, non-judgemental spaces that you can come to if you find yourself in crisis or mental distress in the evenings. You will be met by a trained mental health worker who will listen and help you identify ways to address the problems you are facing.
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Citizens Advice - a charity providing free, good quality, independent advice on benefits, work, debt and money, consumer rights, housing, family, law and courts, immigration, and health. Helping people to solve problems since 1939.
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NOAH Enterprise - NOAH Enterprise is a charity based in Luton which seeks, out of Christian conviction, to help the most disadvantaged in the local community. Providing a practical, empowering and caring service to people who are homeless.
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Luton Foodbank - if you can't afford to buy food and live in Luton, you can arrange an assessment with this charity to find out whether you qualify for a food voucher. No one should be hungry.
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Getselfhelp.co.uk - this excellent website provides CBT self-help and therapy resources, including worksheets, information sheets, and self-help mp3s. STOPP is CBT in a nutshell.
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The Medical Council on Alcohol - an independent charity of health professionals from all medical specialities, without links to the government or the alcohol industry, is dedicated to improving the understanding and management of alcohol-related health harm.
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Martin Goldwater - Private Drug & Alcohol Therapist based in Hertfordshire.
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Drug Science - detailed, evidence-based information on drugs and their properties, applications, effects, and risks. Based on the latest pharmacological research. Drug Science is an independent, science-led drug charity.
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TonicVault - explore the different legal ways of taking CBD (Cannabidiol), the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis which does not cause a "high" by itself. Now available as CBD oil drops, CBD tinctures, CBD capsules, CBD dabs, CBD isolates, CBD vapes, CBD gummies, CBD chocolates, CBD drinks, CBD creams and CBD for pets. Quality assured.
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Lighthouse Holistic Therapy offers private holistic body treatments, therapies, and wellness packages to assist you in a safe and timely recovery.
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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Cocaine Anonymous (CA) / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Gamblers Anonymous (GA) - a fellowship of men and women sharing their experience, strength, and hope with each other to solve their common problems and help others to recover from addiction. Following the 12-step approach.
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Oxygen Detox and Recovery - is a well-established private residential detox and rehabilitation centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Offering a treatment pathway which aims to meet the needs of clients suffering from substance misuse issues and up to 2 years of supported recovery.
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Abbington House - is a newly established private addiction treatment centre in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. They provide the greatest attention to detail and care for the recovery journey of their clients. Their founding principles are based on helping clients recover from addiction disorders and are based on their own lived and professional experiences.
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Al-Anon - Al-Anon Family Groups UK & Eire is for anyone whose life is affected by someone else’s drinking.
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GamFam - is a registered charity set up by those who have experienced first-hand the devastating effects that gambling can have on family and friends.
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UK SMART Recovery - helping individuals recover from any addictive behaviour and lead meaningful and satisfying lives; using a science-based therapeutic programme of training.
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Drinkaware: Drink tracker - a range of online tools to help you understand your drinking, track your drinks, and change your habits.
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rehab4addiction - helps you connect with more than 70 private addiction treatment providers located across the United Kingdom and abroad. Find treatment clinics in your local area now.
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Rehab Recovery - get the best private alcohol rehab advice available to ensure you and those you love get the help you need to be free of addiction.
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Mental Health First Aid England - address your stress with the "My Stress Container interactive tool".
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Hearing Voices Network - for people who hear voices, see visions or have other unusual perceptions. Between 3 and 10% of the population have experiences like these, increasing to about 75% if you include one-off experiences like hearing someone call your name out loud.
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Depression Alliance - helpful information on anxiety and depression and its effective treatment.
Bipolar UK - UK mental health charity supporting people affected by Bipolar Disorder.
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OCD Action - UK mental health charity providing support and information to anybody affected by OCD.
Mind - UK mental health charity providing help and support for mental health problems.
Mental Health Foundation - UK mental health charity dedicated to finding and addressing the sources of mental health problems.
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SANE - UK mental health charity aiming to raise awareness, fight to improve services, provide emotional support and host research.
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Victim Support - an independent charity working towards a world where people affected by crime or traumatic events get the support they need and the respect they deserve.
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Inspirited Minds - UK Muslim mental health charity providing excellent evidence-based advice on spirituality and mental health.
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Anxiety UK - Anxiety UK is a national registered charity formed in 1970, by Katharine and Harold Fisher, for those affected by anxiety, stress, and anxiety-based depression.
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Five Areas Ltd - provides high-quality, accessible resources that help people to help themselves using award-winning, practical Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) treatment tools.
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BPDWORLD - an excellent online resource founded and created by Joshua Cole in 2003 providing helpful information, advice, and support to those affected by Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
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Patient - one of the most trusted medical resources online, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals.
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Physical Activity and Mental Health - helpful evidence-based information from the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding physical activity.
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How to look after your mental health using exercise - helpful evidence-based information from the Mental Health Foundation regarding exercise.
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Eat well - NHS guidance on eating a healthy, balanced diet, which is an important part of maintaining good health and helping you to feel your best.
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Mindfulness of Emotions Exercise - start to learn Mindfulness skills.
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dogOwner - how dogs can help with Mental Health: mind-boosting benefits of dog ownership.
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Cats Protection - adopt a cat to purr the blues away.
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The Complete Guide to Insomnia - and How You Can Manage It
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Apps
Calm Harm - a free award-winning app providing tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm, using the basic principles of an evidence-based therapy called Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
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Headspace - guided Meditation and Mindfulness app.
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Uplift - Free Depression app from the Human Given Foundation to get yourself out of Depression.
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Mental Health Apps - weblink to numerous helpful mental health apps tested and recommended by the NHS.
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Combined Minds - an app developed for teenage mental health charity stem4 by Dr Nihara Krause, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, to help family and friends support young people with their mental health.
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