Contacts for help

If you're experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide, Samaritans provides confidential non-judgmental emotional support. Lines are open 24 hours a day. Calls are charged at the local rate.

If you're a child or young person and urgently need help, call Childline. Lines are open 24 hours a day. All calls from the UK are free.

Mind is a mental health charity working in England and Wales. The MindinfoLine offers confidential help on a range of mental health issues. Lines are open 9.15am-5.15pm, Monday to Friday. Calls are charged at the local rate.

SAMH, Scotland's leading mental health charity, works to support people who experience mental health problems, homelessness, addictions and other forms of social exclusion.

Depression Alliance works to relieve and prevent depression by providing information and support services including a network of self-help groups. They don't offer a helpline but you can call to request an information pack.

SANE works to improve the quality of life for people affected by mental illness. SANEline is a national out-of-hours telephone helpline offering confidential emotional support and information for people affected by mental health problems. Lines are open 6pm-11pm, every day. Calls are charged at the local rate.

YoungMinds is a national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people. If you're a worried parent, call the confidential YoungMinds Parents Information Service. Lines are open 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, and 6pm-8pm, Wednesdays. All calls from the UK are free.

Together is a national charity working for mental wellbeing offering a wide range of services to support people with mental health needs.

The Mental Health Foundation is a UK charity that provides information, carries out research, and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health issues.

Time To Change is a groundbreaking and diverse programme of national and local activity to combat stigma and discrimination linked to mental health, and improve wellbeing. Their aim is to have a positive impact on the way in which people in England understand mental health.

Rethink works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.

Harmless is a user led organisation that provides support, information, training and consultancy to people who self harm, their friends and families and professionals.

The National Self Harm Network is a national charity which offers support for people struggling with self harm, as well as their friends, family and carers.

Contact a Family provides advice and information to families whose children have any kind of disability or additional need, including ADHD.

OCD-UK is the leading national charity, independently working with and for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Anxiety UK offers advice and support as well as access to therapies for sufferers of all anxiety disorders and phobias.

PAPYRUS - Prevention of Young Suicide - is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists produces information leaflets on a wide range of mental health problems and treatments. The leaflets are aimed at anyone who is worried about themselves, a friend or relative.

Talk to Frank offers a confidential helpline for straight up, unbiased information about drugs or alcohol. Lines are open 24 hours a day. All calls from the UK are free.

If you seem to be having trouble with your drinking, you may be interested to know more about Alcoholics Anonymous. They offer a confidential helpline. Lines are open 24 hours a day. Calls are charged at the local rate.

Drinkaware aims to increase awareness and understanding of the role of alcohol in society, enabling individuals to make informed choices about their drinking.

Drinkline offers confidential information and self-help materials to callers worried about their own drinking, support to family and friends and advice on where to go for further help. Lines are open 9am-11pm, Monday to Friday. All calls from the UK are free.

GamCare provides support, information and advice to anyone suffering through gambling related problems.

Anorexia and Bulimia Care offers a professional, personal and caring service, from a team of staff with experience in eating disorders, providing encouragement, advice and support for all involved (sufferers and family members) to help make full recovery possible.

beat is a UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. There are separate confidential helplines - one for adults and one for young people under 25. Under 25s can also text or chat online to a member of the youth team. The adult helpline is open 10.30am-8.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 1pm-4.30pm, Saturdays. The young people's helpline is open 4.30pm-8.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 1pm-4.30pm, Saturdays. All calls from the UK are free.

BBC Health gives online advice on how to choose a six-week exercise and diet plan to suit you.

Active Places allows you to search online for sports facilities anywhere in England. It also has ideas and inspiration to help you find a sport to suit you.               

TimeBank aims to match potential volunteers with volunteering opportunities to match their interests and the time they have available. Registration is free and you can sign up online or over the telephone.

do-it! is a charity offering a free national database of volunteering opportunities in your area and abroad. You can use do it! to search for a voluntary role or read more about volunteering in general.

The BBC Breathing Places campaign offers inspiration to create and care for nature-friendly green spaces where you live.

Mind is a mental health charity working in England and Wales. Their site offers specific advice about the causes of low self-esteem and how it can affect you.

BBC Lifestyle suggests practical exercises to boost your self-esteem and advice on how to improve your self-confidence.