Sources of help
Explore the themes in 10:10
Really useful website packed with helpful information on a wide range of different mental health topics helping you to make sense of how you are feeling and helpful tips on how to cope. Great for young people, parents and professionals. There is also provided a parent’s helpline.
Part of Young Minds they provide a free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors. Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
Text YM to 85258.
Childline (part of the NSPCC) offers telephone, online chat and email support for service for young people. Their website is also packed with lots of helpful information and video clips on a range of issues effecting young people.
Advice and information on bullying with sections on their website for young people, parents and professionals.
Kooth is a wellbeing community for young people offering helpful articles, discussion boards and online chat services.
Support to anyone in the UK who is feeling down and needs to talk. They offer a helpine and online chat. They also have a useful search tool for other charities offering support on a range of issues.
A charity that specialises in supporting young people who are suicidal. Lots of useful information for young people and adults supporting them. They also provide a helpline.
Samaritans provide a helpline 24 hours a day. You can email them if you prefer and they also offer a self-help app.
Be Headstrong is operated by the charity Youthscape and is great place for talking, sharing and reading about all kinds of topics. The website is packed with articles and information around wellbeing.
Calm Harm is an award-winning app for young people that provides tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm. You can make it private by setting a password, and personalise the app if you so wish. You will be able to track your progress and notice change.
MeeToo is a moderated chat app aimed at young people aged 11–25, making it easy to talk about difficult things. It’s free, safe and anonymous.
Empowers students and members of the university community to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to look after their own mental health, support others and create change. There website is full of practical guidance and sources of information of where to get support. For young people age 18+.
Check out your local NHS mental health services online as they will often list details of their own and other services in your area. You can also sign-post young people to their local GP, or visit Hub of Hope the UK’s leading mental health support database.
It is worth checking and knowing what provision is being offered in schools and through local youth work organisations. In some circumstances it may be helpful to offer parents details of private counsellors in your areas. The Counselling Directory and the Association of Christian Counsellors offer search facilities so you can locate those closest to you.
Important: If you or someone you know needs medical advice you can book an emergency GP appointment with your GP surgery. If you or someone you know needs urgent medical advice call the NHS 111 or if you need immediate medical help or attention call 999 or visit Accident and Emergency.
Our Sources of Help page is here to signpost you to organisations that, to the best of our knowledge, are known to offer information and services that may be helpful to young people as well as youth workers, parents and teachers. We cannot however be held responsible for any inaccurate or incomplete information; or the quality of anything contained on the sites or services listed. Our inclusion of any organisation or service listed does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation or favouring by the Ugly Duckling Company (the charity that has published 10:10).