- This guide is indicative only and there may well be very local services in your area which are more appropriate to the below, or represent alternative options.
- In the first instance, individuals can be signposted to their GP for a detailed list of available local services, or they could be listed via the website of the local Clinical Commissioning Group. << This link just requires postcode or area to identify the relevant CCG area.
- NHS Direct – tel: 111; website: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk << 24hrs a day, 7days a week.
- Samaritans – tel: 08457 909090; email: jo@samaritans.org.uk << 24hrs a day, 7days a week.
- Mind general helpline (9am – 6pm) – tel: 0300 123 3393; email: info@mind.org.uk; website: http://www.samaritans.org
- Mind legal helpline (9am – 6pm) – tel: 0300 466 6463; email: legal@mind.org.uk; website: http://www.mind.co.uk << Particular advice around mental health law.
- SANEline (6pm – 11pm) – tel: 0845 767 8000; website: http://www.sane.org.uk
- No Panic (10am – 10pm) – tel: 0800 138 8889; website: http://www.nopanic.org.uk
- Alcohol Concern – tel: 0800 917 8282 << Includes where the find local alcohol related services.
- Childline – tel: 0800 1111; website: http://www.childline.org.uk << 24hrs a day, 7days a week.
- National Domestic Violence Helpline – tel: 0808 2000 247 << run by Women’s Aid and Refuge.
- Men’s Advice Line (domestic violence) – tel: 0808 801 0327, email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
This post is the unfinished article – will be adding to it as suggestions roll in.
Winner of the President’s Medal, the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Winner of the Mind Digital Media Award
All opinions expressed are my own – they do not represent the views of any organisation. (c) Michael Brown, 2019
I try to keep this blog up to date, but inevitably over time, amendments to the law as well as court rulings and other findings from inquests and complaints processes mean it is difficult to ensure all the articles and pages remain current. Please ensure you check all legal issues in particular and take appropriate professional advice where necessary.
Government legislation website – www.legislation.gov.uk
Mental Health Cop 
how about signposting carers to a Carers organisation as well?
Very happy to – which would you recommend? (Preferably a national one?)
carersuk.org might be a good place to start or just google carerssuffolk or whichever county
carers uk will also give a link to finding help where you live, ie by regions
wasn’t sure who this was for geographically, but you mentioned national, so if you were intending it for use in whole of UK, Mind doesn’t operate in Scotland and doesn’t advise people living in Scotland (different mental health act in Scotland so their legal advice line won’t cover here either unfortunately), also NHS Direct is NHS24 in Scotland, with a different number 0845 4 24 24 24.
For people in Scotland there is a free listening service allied to NHS: Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87 6pm-2am weekdays, 6pm Friday-6am Monday http://www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk/bspace/252.html
Eating disorders: B-eat: 0845 634 1414 (Mon-Fri 1330-1630) http://www.b-eat.co.uk/
Samaritans also have an SMS support service – they don’t advertise it as it’s very busy service and they don’t want big increases in use which they can’t support, but the number exists for new users still so if a person you are thinking of signposting won’t phone but will text: 07725 90 90 90
Lots of other suggestions, but I think signposting lists are sometimes best when focussed and possible to recheck regularly and maintain (surprising how often helpline numbers or hours change)?