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Christmas and mental health

Explains how the period around Christmas and new year might affect your mental health. Gives tips on how to cope and suggestions for supporting someone else.

Useful contacts 

Mind's services

  • Helplines – our Infolines provide information and support by phone, email and text.
  • Local Minds – provide face-to-face services across England and Wales. These might be talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.
  • Side by Side – our supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

Other organisations

Beat

0808 801 0677 (adult helpline)
0808 801 0711 (youthline)
0808 801 0811 (studentline)
beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Offers information and advice on eating disorders, and runs a supportive online community. Also provides a directory of support services at HelpFinder.

Beat's helpline services will be open 4pm–9pm from 24 December to 1 January.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

0800 58 58 58
thecalmzone.net
Provides listening services, information and support for anyone who needs to talk, including a web chat.

CALM's helpline services are open 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year.

The Compassionate Friends

0345 123 2304
tcf.org.uk
Provides support to bereaved families after the death of a child.

The Compassionate Friends helpline is open 10am–4pm and 7pm–10pm every day.

Cruse Bereavement Care

0808 808 1677
cruse.org.uk
Information and support after a bereavement.

Cruse's helpline opening hours will vary over the Christmas period, although it will be open at least 10am–2pm each day.

LGBT Foundation

0345 3 30 30 30
lgbt.foundation
Advice, support and information for people identifying as LGBTQ+.

We're not sure what the LGBT Foundation are doing over Christmas. You could try calling their helpline, or send them an email.

Men's Advice Line

0808 801 0327
mensadviceline.org.uk
Confidential advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse by a current or ex-partner or family member.

The Men's Advice Line will be closed on 25 and 26 December, and on 1 January. Otherwise, it will be open 9am–8pm Monday to Friday, as usual.

Money Advice Service

0800 138 7777
moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Provides free and impartial money advice.

The Money Advice Service helpline will be open 8am–3pm on 24 December and 31 December and closed from 25 to 28 December and on 1 January.

Otherwise it will be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, as usual.

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)

0808 801 0331
napac.org.uk
A charity supporting adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse. Provides a support line and local support services.

NAPAC's support line will be closed from 3pm on 24 December to 10am on 4 January. 

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

0808 2000 247
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Free 24-hour helpline for women who have experienced domestic abuse, run by domestic violence charity Refuge. It is run by female advisors.

The women's helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can contact them online and they will ask for a safe way to respond to you.

NHS 111 (England)

111
111.nhs.uk
Non-emergency medical help and advice for people in England.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

NHS 111 Wales

111 (Hywel Dda, Powys, Aneurin Bevan and Swansea Bay (including Brigend) Health Boards)
0845 46 47 (all other areas of Wales)
111.wales.nhs.uk
Non-emergency medical help and advice for people living in Wales. The contact number for this service differs depending on which area of Wales you are in.

NHS 111 Wales is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

NHS UK

nhs.uk
Information about health problems and treatments, including details of local NHS services in England.

The NHS website is always available.

Relate

0300 003 0396
relate.org.uk
Provides help and support with relationships, including counselling, telephone counselling and anonymous live chat.

We're not sure what Relate are doing over Christmas, and it might vary depending on which branch. It may help to find your nearest Relate and contact them directly.

Samaritans

116 123 (freephone)
[email protected]
Chris, Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK
PO Box 90 90
Stirling FK8 2SA
samaritans.org

Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).

Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).

Shout

85258 (text SHOUT)
giveusashout.org
Confidential 24/7 text service offering support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.

Shout's textline is available 24/7, if you are struggling to cope and need to talk.

The Silver Line

0800 4 70 80 90
thesilverline.org.uk
Provides support, information, friendship and advice for older people (over 55) who may feel lonely or isolated.

The Silver Line's helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Stand Alone

standalone.org.uk
Charity supporting adults who are estranged (not in contact) from their family.

Stand Alone don't have a helpline but their online festive guide might be useful.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)

0300 111 5065
uk-sobs.org.uk
Emotional and practical support and local groups for anyone bereaved or affected by suicide.

The SOBS helpline is open 9am–9pm every day.

Switchboard

0300 330 0630
switchboard.lgbt
Listening services, information and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

The Switchboard LGBT+ helpline is open 10am–10pm every day. 

Tommy's

tommys.org
Information and support for people affected by stillbirth, miscarriage and premature birth.

Tommy's don't have a helpline. If you want to ask one of Tommy's midwives about your pregnancy, you can email [email protected].

The Trussell Trust

trusselltrust.org
Emergency food and support for people in need. Includes a searchable list of local foodbanks.

Each foodbank will arrange its own Christmas hours. You need a voucher from their referral agency first, so find your nearest foodbank, and find out when their referral agency is open too.

This information was published in December 2020. We will revise it in 2021.

References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.

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