Mental Health & Wellbeing

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (local call rates 9am-6pm, Mon-Fri)
Text: 86463
Provides information on types of mental health issues, where to get help, medication and alternative treatments and advocacy.

Phone: 0300 5000 927
(local call rates, 9.30am-4pm)
Provides practical help and information on issues such as the Mental Health Act, community care, benefits, debt, criminal justice and carers’ rights.

Phone: 0161 705 4304
Email: babcp@babcp.com
Website: www.babcp.com
The British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies is a multi-disciplinary interest group for people involved in the practice and theory of behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy.

Phone: 01455 883300
Email: bacp@bacp.co.uk
Website: www.itsgoodtotalk.org.uk
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy maintains a searchable website of accredited counsellors and psychotherapists, which also includes information on different types of therapy available.

Phone: 0116 254 9568
Email: enquiries@bps.org.uk
Website: www.bps.org.uk
The British Psychological Society promotes excellence and ethical practice in the science, education and practical applications to psychology.

Phone: 0844 8030 240
Website: www.counselling-directory.org.uk
Provides a free, confidential directory of trained, professional counsellors and therapists in the UK. It is possible to check if a counsellor found through this website is also registered with one of the professional/accreditation bodies listed in this section. Alternatively, you can get in touch with the relevant professional body directly once you have found a named professional to check the details of their registration.

Website: www.iapt.nhs.uk
IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) is the NHS programme which supports rolling out NICE guideline recommended talking therapies to people experiencing depression and anxiety disorders. IAPT services usually provide two types of psychological therapy:
- High intensity therapy (usually cognitive behavioural therapy; for people with moderate and severe depression and anxiety) 
- Low intensity therapy (usually cognitive behavioural approaches, including guided self-help and psychoeducational groups; for people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety). In some areas, self-referral to lAPT services is possible; in others referrals need to be made by a person's GP. Local IAPT services can be found via the NHS Choices website. (Follow links on IAPT's main website.) IAPT services often also have employment services or links to other services such as housing, drugs and benefits advice.

Phone: 020 7254 6251
Email: info@family-action.org.uk
Website: www.family-action.org.uk
Family Action transforms lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across England. They aim to strengthen families and communities by building skills and resilience. Their support services include a focus on parental mental health issues, including issues such as perinatal depression.

Email: info@familylinks.org.uk
Website: www.familylinks.org.uk
Family Links is a national charity dedicated to creating an emotionally healthy, resilient and responsible society through a range of training programmes. They train people to run parent groups in local communities and also provide step by step guides for parents on their website.

Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Freephone helpline, see website for opening hours)
Website: www.familylives.org.uk
Family Lives is a national family support charity providing help and support in all aspects of family life. They run a dedicated confidential helpline, and provide a range of information on issues relating to parenting.

Phone: 0300 100 1234
Website: www.relate.org.uk
Relate is a national charity offering a range of services to help with couple and family relationships, including counselling support and therapy focusing on relationship issues.

Website: www.actionforhappiness.org
Action for Happiness is not-for-profit creating a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society, by helping people to take practical action drawing on the latest scientific research. Their vision is a happier world, with fewer people suffering with mental health problems and more people feeling good, functioning well and helping others. Its website provides many resources and evidence-based ideas for actions we can take to feel happier and help to reduce and prevent mental ill health personally, in our communities, workplaces and schools.

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mind Infoline, see above)
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Mind provide a wide range of services relating to mental health, including information, support as well as research and campaigning work. The national Mind organisation also acts as an umbrella organisation to many independent local Mind organisations, which provide different services across the country, e.g. therapy services, self-help groups and alternative therapies.

Phone: 0121 522 7007 (General enquiries)
Email: info@rethink.org
Website: www.rethink.org
Rethink Mental Illness provide a range of support, advice and information services relating to mental illness, as well as conducting national campaigns and research. Rethink runs over 200 mental health services and 150 support groups across England, including therapy services, peer support groups and many more.

Phone: 0207 780 7300
Email: contact-us@together-uk.org
Website: www.together-uk.org
Together is a national charity working alongside people with mental health issues. It provides a range of specialist support services, including peer support services, accommodation based support, criminal justice mental health services and advocacy.