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Useful contacts – for young people

If you're a young person, this page lists organisations and services that can offer you support and information.

Useful contact details

Stay safe

If you feel overwhelmed, or like you want to hurt yourself, support is available for you to talk things through. You deserve help as soon as you need it.

To talk with someone confidentially about how you feel, you can:

If you feel like you may attempt suicide, or you have seriously hurt yourself, this is an emergency. You can:

  • Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
  • Tell an adult you trust and ask them to call 999 for help.

Mental health emergencies are serious. You aren't wasting anyone's time.

On this page, you can find details of services if you're a young person looking for:

All of the contact numbers listed here are helplines, unless we've noted what they're for instead.

General support for young people

Action for Children

actionforchildren.org.uk
Supports children, young people and families across England with emotional and practical care.

Barnardo’s

barnardos.org.uk
Practical information and emotional support for:

  • Young people
  • Young people leaving care
  • Young carers

Provides local services for further support in some regions.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

0800 58 58 58
thecalmzone.net
Information and support for anyone who is struggling with things and needs to talk. Offers a helpline and webchat.

Childline

0800 1111
childline.org.uk
Information and advice for young people on topics like bullying, your body and relationships. Also provides:

  • A phone helpline
  • 1-2-1 online chats with counsellors
  • Online message boards
  • Welsh-speaking and BSL interpreter counsellors

FRANK

0300 123 6600
82111 (textline)
talktofrank.com
Confidential support, advice and information about drugs, their effects and the law.

Hub of Hope

hubofhope.co.uk
A UK-wide database of mental health charities and organisations offering advice and support.

Kooth

kooth.com
Safe, anonymous online community and counselling for young people. Check on the website if it's available in your area.

Local Minds

mind.org.uk/about-us/local-minds
Local mental health services across England and Wales. Offers talking therapies, peer support and advocacy. Check to see if there is a Local Mind near you and what it can offer young people.

Mencap

0808 808 1111 (Learning Disability Helpline)
mencap.org.uk
Information and advice for people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Services include an online community.

The Mix

0808 808 4994
85258 (crisis messenger service, text THEMIX)
themix.org.uk
Support and advice for people under 25, offering these services:

  • Helpline
  • Crisis messenger textline
  • Discussion board
  • Webchat
  • Short-term counselling by phone and online

NHS Every Mind Matters

nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/youth-mental-health
Information and advice on mental health and wellbeing for young people. Includes videos about dealing with change, social media and sleep.

NHS Go

nhsgo.uk
Confidential health advice and support for people from 16 to 25. Includes information on mental and physical health, plus topics like relationships and sleep.

On My Mind

annafreud.org/on-my-mind
Information, support and resources to help young people understand more about mental health and wellbeing. Search the Youth Wellbeing Directory to find services near you.

Our Time

ourtime.org.uk
Information and workshops for children and young people whose parents or carers experience mental health problems.

Reading Well

reading-well.org.uk/resources/young-people
Self-help books to help people understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing. Also available in Welsh.

Samaritans

116 123
0808 164 0123 (Welsh Language Line)
[email protected]
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for people to talk about any concerns, worries and troubles they’re going through. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person.

YoungMinds

85258 (crisis messenger service, text YM)
youngminds.org.uk
Mental health support for young people, parents and carers. Includes a crisis text messenger service, plus information about mental health problems and medication.

Youth Access

youthaccess.org.uk
Advice and counselling network for young people. Includes a search tool for finding free local services.

Support for mental health problems and difficult feelings

Alumina

selfharm.co.uk
An online, 7-week course to help people from 14 to 19 who self-harm.

Anxiety UK

03444 775 774
07537 416 905 (textline)
anxietyuk.org.uk
Advice, support and information for people who experience anxiety.

Beat

0808 801 0677 (England)
0808 801 0433 (Wales)
beateatingdisorders.co.uk
Helpline, webchat and online support groups for people with eating problems, like anorexia and bulimia.

Calm Harm

calmharm.co.uk
A smartphone app for people over 13, with activities to help resist or manage the urge to self-harm.

Me and My Mind

meandmymind.nhs.uk
Advice and support for young people experiencing possible symptoms of mental health problems, like hearing voices or having unusual thoughts. Some services are only available in certain London boroughs.

No Panic

0330 606 1174
nopanic.org.uk/no-panic-youth-hub
Provides support to young people experiencing panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a 6-week Youth Mentoring Scheme online or by phone.

OCD Youth

ocdyouth.org
Information and resources for young people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Provides an email helpline, support group, online network and discussion group.

The OLLIE Foundation

theolliefoundation.org
Help and advice for young people experiencing suicidal feelings. Provides support and information for anyone worried about another young person.

Papyrus HOPELINEUK

0800 068 4141
07860 039967 (textline)
[email protected]
papyrus-uk.org
Support and advice for people under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts or finding it hard to cope. Provides support for anyone concerned about another young person.

Self-Injury Support

0808 800 8088
07537 432444 (textline)
[email protected]
selfinjurysupport.org.uk
Supports women and girls who self-harm, or have experienced trauma and abuse. Offers information and self-help tools online for anyone to use.

Voice Collective

voicecollective.co.uk
Information and support for people under 25 who:

  • Hear voices
  • See visions
  • Experience other sensory issues or beliefs

Offers peer support, plus support to parents, carers and families.

Support for different identities and communities

Bayo

bayo.ubele.org
An online search tool to find mental health and wellbeing support or services, run by and for the Black community.

Being Gay is OK

bgiok.org.uk
Provides advice and information for LGBTIQ+ people under 25.

Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team Wales

[email protected]
eyst.org.uk
Provides services in Wales for people from 11 to 25 from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Includes support for health and wellbeing, plus support to families.

Kids of Colour

kidsofcolour.com
Online platform for young people to learn about race, identity and culture, and to challenge racism. Offers a YouTube channel, summer school and workshops.

Mermaids UK

0808 801 0400
mermaidsuk.org.uk
Support for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse people up to 18. Runs events, local groups, online courses and a webchat.

Muslim Youth Helpline

0808 808 2008
myh.org.uk
Provides faith and culturally sensitive support to young Muslims by phone, webchat, WhatsApp and email.

The Proud Trust

0161 660 3347
theproudtrust.org
Support for LGBTIQ+ young people through youth groups, peer support, mentoring schemes and a webchat.

Stonewall

0800 050 2020 (information line)
stonewall.org.uk
Information and advice for LGBTIQ+ people on a range of issues, like coming out and hate crimes. Provides an information phoneline for people and their families.

Switchboard

0300 330 0630
[email protected]
switchboard.lgbt
Provides a helpline, webchat and nationwide database of LGBTIQ+ services. A safe space to discuss topics like sexuality, gender identity and wellbeing.

Support for grief, trauma and abuse

Child Bereavement UK

0800 028 8840
childbereavementuk.org
Help for children, young people, parents and families after the death of someone close. Offers support through local services, groups for young people, plus films and blogs.

Help 2 Make Sense

[email protected]
help2makesense.org
An online tool by Winston’s Wish, a charity supporting young people after the death of someone close. Advice and resources for coping with grief, plus an email helpline and webchat.

Hope Again

0808 808 1677
[email protected]
hopeagain.org.uk
Information, resources and support for young people coping after the death of someone close. Also available in Welsh.

Kidscape

kidscape.org.uk
Information and advice for young people, parents and carers with concerns about school bullying and abuse.

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

0800 1111 (Childline helpline if you’re 18 or under)
nspcc.org.uk
Support and information for children who have experienced abuse, or anyone worried about a child. Provides local services to help young people and families overcome abuse.

Refuge

0808 200 0247
refuge.org.uk
Help and support for women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse.

Safeline

safeline.org.uk
Information and support for young people and adults who have experienced sexual abuse and rape. Offers face-to-face services in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Stop Hate UK

0808 801 0576
07717 989025 (textline)
stophateuk.org
Offers a 24-hour phone and text service for people under 18 who have experienced or seen a hate crime. Provides an online service for reporting hate crimes.

Victim Support

0808 168 9111
victimsupport.org.uk/children-and-young-people
Emotional and practical support for people affected by crime and traumatic events. Offers specific information for young people.

Welsh Women's Aid

0808 80 10 800
[email protected]
welshwomensaid.org.uk
Information and support for women and children in Wales who have experienced domestic abuse. Includes a directory of local services.

Women's Aid (England)

chat.womensaid.org.uk (live chat)
[email protected]
womensaid.org.uk
Information and support for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. Provides support by live chat, a directory of local services and a forum.

Support for different living situations

Become

0800 023 2033
becomecharity.org.uk
Information and support for young people in care, and young care leavers.

Carers Trust

carers.org
Information and support for unpaid carers. Includes specific information and local support for young carers.

Centrepoint

0808 800 0661
centrepoint.org.uk
Provides advice, housing and support for people from 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in England.

Children’s Society Young Carers

01962 711511 (information line)
childrenssociety.org.uk/information/young-people/young-carers
Information and advice for young carers, including help with things like education and rights. Offers a local service finder for young carers’ projects.

Coram Voice

0808 800 5792
coramvoice.org.uk/get-help
Information, support and advocacy for young people who are care leavers.

Gingerbread

gingerbread.org.uk/information/children-of-single-parents
Offers information for young people whose parents are splitting up, or who have lost a parent.

Runaway Helpline

116 000 (phone or text)
[email protected]
runawayhelpline.org.uk
Support by phone, text and email for people who:

  • Are running away
  • Have already run away
  • Have returned after running away
  • Are worried about someone who might run away

Also offers online information and a 1-2-1 webchat.

Shelter

shelter.org.uk/youngpeople
Supports people in need of housing by providing independent, expert advice. Includes specific information for young people.

Shelter Cymru

sheltercymru.org.uk
Information and advice for homeless people in Wales, in both English and Welsh.

Legal rights and advocacy support

Citizens Advice

0800 144 8848 (England)
0800 702 2020 (Wales)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Information and advice on your rights, covering topics like money, housing and discrimination. Offers some local branches and an online chat.

Law Stuff

lawstuff.org.uk/not-from-the-uk
Legal information for young people who have come to the UK from a different country. Covers topics like immigration, work and education.

Meic

0808 802 3456
84001 (textline)
meiccymru.org
Information and advice on rights in Wales, for people up to 25. Available in English or Welsh by phone, text or online chat.

NYAS and NYAS Cymru

0808 808 1001
[email protected]
nyas.net (England)
nyas.net/services/our-services-in-wales (Wales)
Advocacy services and helplines to listen to what young people want and empower them to get their voice heard.

POhWER

0300 456 2370
pohwer.net/childrens-and-young-peoples-advocacy
Information, advice, support and advocacy in England for people facing difficult issues who want to make their voice heard. Offers specific advocacy services for young people.

VoiceAbility

0300 303 1660
[email protected]
voiceability.org
A charity which is one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy services. Offers information and advice on how advocates can help.

This information was published in June 2022. We will revise it in 2025.

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