Counselling self-help resources

Free agencies and helplines

These services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult.

Free Urgent Help

Samaritans - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year helpline. Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. Call [116 123](tel:116 123) to talk to Samaritans, or email jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours

Shout Crisis Text Line - Text “SHOUT” to 85258, or text “YM” if you’re under 19

NHS - Urgent mental health helplines

NHS - Accident and Emergency (A&E) - call 999 or 111 depending on the urgency. This is for mental help too, not only for physical emergencies.

Free Specialised Help

The Hospice of the Good Shepherd - Family Support & Bereavement Services

Cruse – Bereavement Support

RASAC - Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre

Mind - Advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem

NSPCC - Children’s charity if you have concerns about a child

Tes - To help power schools and enable great teaching worldwide by creating intelligent online products and services to make the greatest difference in education.

Motherwell - A service provided for women offering a range of educational services, holistic therapies and mental health support.

Free Resources

Please note that the following free resources available to you are not an alternative to professional help.

Rape Crisis Scotland - Support Resources

CEOP - Information and advice about online sexual abuse

Self Help Guides produced by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust - Covers a range of mental health issues

Mind - Covers a range of mental health issues

Get.gg - Free CBT self-help course

Overcoming - Self-help books and courses covering a wide variety of issues including trauma, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks

Rethink Mental Illness – Information about self-harm

NSPCC - advice to help you understand why children and teenagers self-harm, and what you can do to support them

Calm Harm – App to help with self-harm