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Mental Health Resources for the UK and Europe

Mental Health Resources

For the UK

For an urgent helpline you can use the NHS website, by inputting some basic information it will direct you to a local number to call in a mental health emergency.

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline

All Information up to date as of September 2018

Anxiety UK

Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)

Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Bipolar UK

A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.

Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.

Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)

Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men's Health Forum

24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.

Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind

Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)

Website: www.mind.org.uk

No Panic

Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.

Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge

Website: www.nopanic.org.uk

OCD Action

Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.

Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge

Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk

OCD UK

A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.

Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website: www.ocduk.org

PAPYRUS

Young suicide prevention society.

Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm, and 2pm to 5pm on weekends)

Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Rethink Mental Illness

Support and advice for people living with mental illness.

Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

Website: www.rethink.org

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)

Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

SANE

Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.

Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare

Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum

Website: www.sane.org.uk/support

YoungMinds

Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.

Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

NSPCC

Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.

Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)

0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Refuge

Advice on dealing with domestic violence.

Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.refuge.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous

A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves getting sober with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.

Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Al-Anon

Al-Anon is a free self-help “12 step” group for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else's drinking

Phone: 0800 0086 811 (daily, 10am to 10pm)

Website: https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/

Drinkline

A free confidential helpline for people worried about their own or someone else's drinking.

Phone: 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)

National Association for Children of Alcoholics

National Association for Children of Alcoholics offers free confidential advice and information to everyone affected by a parent’s drinking including children, adults and professionals.

Phone: 0800 358 3456 (Friday, Saturday and Monday 12pm to 7pm and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12pm to 9pm)

Website: https://www.nacoa.org.uk/

SMART Recovery UK

SMART Recovery UK face-to-face and online groups help people decide whether they have a problem with alcohol and drugs, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.

Phone: 0330 053 6022 for general enquiries about SMART Recovery UK (9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday)

Website: https://smartrecovery.org.uk/

Alzheimer's Society

Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.

Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on weekends)

Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website: www.cruse.org.uk

Rape Crisis

To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)

Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Victim Support

Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.victimsupport.org

Cocaine Anonymous

A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.

Phone: 0800 612 0225 (daily, 10am to 10pm)

Website: https://cocaineanonymous.org.uk/

FRANK

Free, confidential information and advice about drugs, their effects and the law. FRANK's live chat service runs daily from 2pm to 6pm.

Phone: 0300 1236600 (24-hour helpline)

Text a question to: 82111

Website: https://www.talktofrank.com/

Marijuana Anonymous

A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using marijuana with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.

Phone: 0300 124 0373 (callback service)

Website: http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org.uk/

Narcotics Anonymous

A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping using drugs with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.

Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)

Website: www.ukna.org

SMART Recovery UK

SMART Recovery UK face-to-face and online groups help people decide whether they have a problem with alcohol and drugs, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.

Phone: 0330 053 6022 for general enquiries about SMART Recovery UK (9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday)

Website: https://smartrecovery.org.uk/

Beat

For eating disorders

Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)

Website: www.b-eat.co.uk

Gamblers Anonymous

A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme involves stopping gambling with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.

Phone: 0330 094 0322 (24-hour)

Website: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/

Gam-Anon

A free self-help group. Its "12 step" programme is for those affected by someone else’s gambling with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.

Phone: 08700 50 88 80

Website: www.gamanon.org.uk

National Gambling Helpline

Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)

Website: www.begambleaware.org

National Problem Gambling Clinic

A specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers aged 13 and over.

Phone: 020 7381 7722 (callback)

Website: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-services/addictions-and-substance-misuse/national-problem-gambling-clinic

Mencap

Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.

Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website: www.mencap.org.uk

Family Lives

Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.

Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm)

Website: www.familylives.org.uk

Relate

The UK's largest provider of relationship support.

Website: www.relate.org.uk

Mental Health resources for Europe

Mental Health Europe

The largest independent network organisation representing mental health uers, professionals and service providers across Europe

Rue de la Presse 4 | 1000 Brussels

phone: +32 2 227 27 08

email info(at)mhe-sme.org

Website: https://www.mhe-sme.org/

World Health Organisation: Regional office for Europe

Website: https://www.euro.who.int/en/home

[lovebug-lethecus]

Mental Health Coping Techniques

Handling Negative Thoughts 

Be conscious of your thoughts: As soon as you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop yourself from thinking it. Think of something positive. A place you love, a person you love, or even just a colour you love.

Avoid Triggers: Minimising contact with negative people and avoiding negative situations if you can. If you are in one of these situations, remember its just temporary.

Face Reality: don’t fight it and don’t overestimate what is happening.

Set boundaries: Its healthy to set yourself boundaries on what you will and will not allow.

Get Rest: create a solid bedroom routine. Lack of sleep will greatly affect your mood causing irritability, anger, and anxiety.

Listen to music: Listening to your favourite will lift your mood.

Daily Meditation: meditation will help reduce anxiety and give you the ability to ground yourself when you need to. Make it a daily habit.

Remember you cannot control a situation, but you can control your response

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Ways to practice mindfulness

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When you are talking to someone, rather than trying to work out what you are saying whilst they are talking, listen to them and be present in the conversation. Really hear what they are saying. Pay attention to how you are feeling and respond in a mindful manner.

There are many activities you can take part in to be mindful. Walking or gardening, even whilst eating food. Pay attention to what you are putting inside your body to fuel it. Whilst performing these tasks you will have a heightened sense of awareness.

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By focusing on the present, you can tune into physical sensations and let go of thoughts about the future or having anxiety because of the past.

Another way to practice mindfulness is by listening to music. Focus on what you are hearing, the vibrations and sounds of each note, the emotions it causes you to feel.

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When your mind starts to wander you will start to notice and be able to bring yourself back to the present moment. This gets much easier over time.

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Try putting some pauses into your day. Just one moment to breathe in and out and bring yourself back to the present. If you make it a habit to be mindful for a couple of minutes every day, like at mealtimes, it will soon become a natural part of your schedule.

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Practicing meditation or yoga are excellent ways to be mindful. Learning breathing techniques can have an excellent calming effect and will help you stay grounded in the present moment.

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No one is good at mindfulness to start with, it takes a lot of effort and practicing. When you over think your mind will wander repeatedly but with some patience you will get there and you will feel better mentally, have less stress and overall be much happier.

[lovebug-lethecus]

I found inspirational quotes were a great way to pick myself when I needed a mental pick up. Easy to remember and add to my list of Rules for Living. So I have put together a small collection of quotes I have picked up along the way.

Inspirational Quotes

Stay true to yourself, listen to your heart. The more you listen, the more you will get to know who you are.

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Choices are yours to make, no one else lives out your life, so choose carefully. If it feels right for you, then its right.

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Listen to your elders. An under rated phrase you have probably heard many times before. But they have lived through many experiences already and can offer you good advice.

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The more knowledge you have the better equipped you are to find solutions to your problems.

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Be grateful. Moments come and go so quickly, cherish all that you have now.

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Stop thinking about things that do not matter, focus on the things that are important to you.

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Be your own champion and not your worst enemy. Stop talking yourself out of things, talk yourself up.

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Find what you love doing and keep doing it.

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Practice mindfulness. Bring yourself back to the present moment. Stop regretting the past and worrying about the future.

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Be honest with yourself. We all have flaws, but we all have things we are good at too. If you look at it objectively, you will stop caring what other people think of you.

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Bullying is wrong, you know that, so why do you torment yourself? Stop focusing on things people have said that have upset you, they are still bringing you down.

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Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

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Everyone is equal. No one person is more deserving than another. No one else in this world is like you and that is what makes you special. Your character traits are your beauty.

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Everyone has a story. Stories may be similar in some ways, but none are the same. Everyone is an adventure waiting to be told.

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Never be afraid to ask questions. There is more to afraid of in ignorance than there is seeking knowledge.

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We spend our lives learning so spend your time wisely.

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Nothing is easier. It takes a lot of hard work to get to where you want to be.

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Be brave and reach out. There is always someone waiting to listen.

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There will be many setbacks in life and many obstacles to overcome but they are not reasons to give up. They are reasons to motivate yourself into overcoming them and you will be stronger for it.

[lovebug-lethecus]

Second Life and Me

I have been a resident of Second Life for about twelve years. It is a 3D world of wonder, endless imagination and potential possibilities. It is a world I love to be in.

Second Life is an incredibly unique place where the resources for creativity are in abundance. The opportunity to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds means I can gain an incredible perspective of the real world. As Second Life is simply a microcosm of it.

I have cultured my own skills and gained valuable friendships with people I would not have met in any other walk of life.

My main passion in Second Life, is landscaping, creating digital art using a screen shot as a starting place and I make custom skins and tattoos.

Creativity has always been a major part of my life and in turn became a major part of my healing. By channelling all the pain and negativity into art I could create something beautiful, something meaningful and I contributed to a world I felt I did not belong to anymore.

Suddenly I started feeling more connected. I wasn’t making a huge difference, but I was making some. The way I viewed myself and valued myself meant so much to me, I wanted to share this feeling with other people.

Safe Haven grew from a need. I could see that something needed to be done and I had no choice but to respond. I had the skills required to create Safe Haven and so that’s where it began.

From the beginning there has been some logistical issues but behind it all I have been incredibly busy, and I will soon be able to announce my most ambitious project I have ever undertook.

If you are a Second Life resident, you can visit us in-world in the next few months, for now you can join the Facebook page for updates and follow us on Instagram.

[lovebug-lethecus]

Where it begins...

It begins with me.

For as long as I can remember my mind has been my greatest weapon or my worst enemy. Every single day I would wage a war in my mind, not sure if I would get through another battle. Anxiety told me to be afraid, it convinced me that I was never going to be good enough. Depression told me not to bother, after all, what was the point?

I reached a point in my life where something had to change, because if it didn’t, I wasn’t going to have a life anymore. It was at this point I realised I want to live and it changed everything.

Mental Health disorders had me convinced I was worth nothing and now I knew I was. I was worth the effort of trying to change things. This became the spark in my journey, my turning point.

I am sharing all of this because I believe it is possible for others to learn from this and find some serenity in their lives. And I believe everyone is deserving of that.

I opened my mind to the possibility that I could be the master of my mind and I began to learn as many different coping techniques as I could find and began to build my arsenal, the more techniques I had to employ when I needed them and then putting into practice all that I had learned ,the easier it became to find the place in my mind where everything was still chaotic around me but I was in the centre of it all, breathing calmly, I found my safe haven.

I no longer wake up afraid of the battles I must face. I am ready for them all. I am courageous and resilient, and I have the capacity to overcome whatever life has in store for me. I am grateful for each moment given to me so I can put something back into the world.

Every day I am prepared to fight because I have found my own value and in doing so means I can help others find theirs.