What's A Help Line?
What's A Help Line?
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A helpline or support service is a resource that provides assistance and support to individuals experiencing difficulties or challenges. These services can be accessed through various means, such as phone calls, online chat, text messages, or email. Some of out-of-hours services, for example when your GP or SPARK aren't available (such as weekends and after 6PM).
Helpline: This typically refers to a phone service where individuals can speak with a trained professional about their concerns. They offer confidential and non-judgmental support, and can provide information, guidance, and emotional support.
Support Service: This is a broader term that encompasses various forms of assistance beyond phone calls. Support services can include online forums, group therapy sessions, individual counseling, and access to resources like educational materials or financial aid. They cater to a wide range of issues, such as mental health, addiction, domestic violence, and more.
Both helplines and support services aim to empower individuals, provide a safe space to talk, and offer resources to help them cope with their challenges. They are valuable tools for anyone struggling with difficult situations or emotions.
If you feel like you are in immediate danger, from somebody else or to yourself, and you need urgent help, do NOT use any of the below resources—call 999 or make your way to your nearest Accident and Emergency.
The list below is not an exhaustive list, and will be updated over time. There may be other resources that are local to you that are more appropriate.
Kooth is free, safe and anonymous. Users are able to access a range of support services including one-to-one counselling sessions, online discussion boards, articles, journals and goal trackers. Kooth is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year; one to one counselling sessions with a qualified counsellor are available from 12 noon until 10pm on weekdays and from 6pm to 10pm on weekends. Kooth offers text-based conversations with a qualified counsellor, regular booked online counselling sessions, and out of hours next day messaging.
Childline is a free service that provides support and advice for children and young people in the UK up to the age of 19. Childline is run by the NSPCC and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can contact Childline by calling 0800 1111, using 1-2-1 chat, or emailing them. Childline also has a Deaf Zone with services and resources for children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Mix is the UK’s leading digital charity for under 25s, reaching over 6 million young people each year. Whatever issue a young person is facing, The Mix is always there for them – via website, text, or social media. The Mix's support is free, confidential and anonymous and can be accessed wherever young people are. 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. No topic is out of bounds, and The Mix is completely non-judgemental.
Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help. They are there, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.
Samaritans is not only for the moment of crisis, and are taking action to prevent the crisis. We give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others. The Samaritans encourages, promotes and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can save lives, offering listening and support to people and communities in times of need.
Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Shout has had more than two million conversations with people who are sad, worried, lonely or suicidal and who need urgent, in-the-moment support.
As a digital service, Shout became vital during Covid-19, as one of the few mental health services able to operate as normal at this time and have seen the need for our support remain high through the UK's cost of living crisis.
A nationally recognised advice centre, endorsed by The Rt.Hon David Cameron, The Employment Tribunal Service, ACAS, Citizens Advice, OFSTED, The Samaritans, UK Employment Law Solicitors, GP surgeries UK wide, the NHS and other UK employers in the public and private sector. Most of the above, including Childline, refer cases to National Bullying Helpline.
This helpline was founded in 2003 and was the very first UK helpline which provided assistance to individuals struggling with bullying issues, whatever the nature of the abuse. Today, the helpline is unique in that it is the only helpline of its kind, established by qualified employment law professionals, providing operational, timely, support to both adults and children – whether the bullying is in the home, the community, the playground, the workplace or online (ie: Cyberbullying).
Knus is the UK’s first free, confidential, mental health peer support and coaching chat service, connecting adutls 18 and over with trained and experienced peer support coaches.
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide is a UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people.
Suicide is the biggest killer of people aged 35 and under in the UK. PAPYRUS believe that many suicides are preventable. PAPYRUS was founded in 1997 by a group of bereaved parents, who had each lost children to suicide.
Mermaids has been supporting trans, non-binary and gender-questioning children and young people and the important people in their lives since 1995.
Back then, Mermaids was a small group of concerned parents sitting around the kitchen table, coming together to share experiences, find answers and look for ways to keep their children safe and happy.
Today, Mermaids is one of the UK’s leading trans-focused charities providing services directly to trans children and young people, to families, and work to educate and inform professionals and organisations who want to be part of a society where trans children and young people are safe, included and empowered to be their best selves.
Switchboard has been equipping the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies with information and support for five decades. Through all the crises, celebrations and changing attitudes, Switchboard has been a clear and unmistakable voice. Today, they continue to channel this spirit in ways that champion our community, spread vital knowledge and inspire change.
People in crisis with mental health problems can now access services through NHS 111 in England, giving them another way to get urgent help.
This puts much of the UK ahead of other international health services, offering mental health support alongside that for physical problems.
The number connects to a local team of call handlers with mental health training, alongside nurses and clinicians who are available around the clock.
The team can organise a mental health assessment, send out a crisis team and flag up help available in the local area.
Just call 111 and press 2.
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