Phone24/7Anyone, any age
Samaritans
Talk to someone any time about whatever is troubling you. Free and confidential.
- Phone
- 116 123
- Opening hours
- 24/7
CrisisListeningFree
Visit siteYou're not on your own
Get support.
Free, confidential helplines and services across the UK for young people, parents and carers. Whatever you're going through, someone is ready to listen.
If you need help right now
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. These services are free and open around the clock.
Phone24/7
Text24/7Anyone, any age
Shout
Free, confidential text support if you're struggling to cope and would rather not speak out loud.
- Text
- Text SHOUT to 85258
- Opening hours
- 24/7
CrisisText supportFree
Visit site
Phone24/7Under 35s and those worried about them
Papyrus HOPELINE247
Advice and support for anyone having thoughts of suicide.
- Phone
- 0800 068 4141
- Text
- Text 88247
- Opening hours
- 24/7
Suicide preventionCrisisFree
Visit siteAnyone in the UK
NHS 111
Urgent medical or mental health help when it isn't a 999 emergency. Select the mental health option.
- Phone
- 111
- Opening hours
- 24/7
Urgent careNHSFree
Visit siteSupport for young people
Somewhere to talk, text or chat — about anything from anxiety and low mood to bullying, identity and life at home.
Phone24/7Under 19s
Childline
Free, private support about anything at all — by phone, online chat or email.
- Phone
- 0800 1111
- Opening hours
- 24/7
Under 19sChat & emailFree
Visit site
Text24/7Young people
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger
Free 24/7 crisis text support, plus guides on coping with your mental health.
- Text
- Text YM to 85258
- Opening hours
- 24/7
CrisisText supportGuides
Visit siteUnder 25s
The Mix
Support with mental health, money, housing, relationships and more, via phone, chat and forums.
- Phone
- 0808 808 4994
- Opening hours
- Every day, 4pm–11pm
Under 25sPhone & chatForums
Visit site
PhoneLGBTQ+ people of all ages
Switchboard
A safe space to talk about sexuality, gender identity and mental health.
- Phone
- 0800 0119 100
- Opening hours
- Every day, 10am–10pm
LGBTQ+IdentityListening
Visit site
PhoneAnyone affected by an eating disorder
Beat
Helplines and online support for people with eating disorders and their families.
- Phone
- 0808 801 0677
- Opening hours
- Every day, 3pm–8pm
Eating disordersFamiliesHelpline
Visit site
Online24/7Everyone
Reasons to Stay
Reasons to Stay is a global suicide prevention project reaching people at difficult moments through anonymous letters written by volunteers from all over the world. Each letter on this site was written by a real person and delivered to you at random when you visited this page. This space exists as a reminder that we are not alone, even when it feels that way. There is someone, somewhere who wrote you a letter because they care. If you’d like to, you can write your own letter to a stranger, offering warmth, hope and connection to someone when they need it most.
- Opening hours
- 24/7
CrisisHopeReasons to StaySuicide
Visit siteSupport for parents & adults
Guidance for the adults supporting a young person — and for looking after your own wellbeing too.
PhoneAnyone
Mind Infoline
Information on mental health problems, treatment options and where to get help locally.
- Phone
- 0300 123 3393
- Opening hours
- Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm
InformationLocal servicesAdvice
Visit site
PhoneParents and carers
YoungMinds Parents Helpline
Advice if you're worried about a child or young person's mental health or behaviour.
- Phone
- 0808 802 5544
- Opening hours
- Mon–Fri, 9:30am–4pm
Parents & carersAdviceFree
Visit site
PhoneAnyone struggling, especially men
CALM
Confidential helpline and webchat from the Campaign Against Living Miserably.
- Phone
- 0800 58 58 58
- Opening hours
- Every day, 5pm–midnight
Men's mental healthWebchatEvenings
Visit site
PhoneParents and carers
Family Lives
Support with family life, from behaviour and bullying to relationships at home.
- Phone
- 0808 800 2222
- Text
- WhatsApp via 07441 444125
- Opening hours
- Mon–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat–Sun 10am–3pm
Family lifeBullyingParenting
Visit siteA note on these services
Spark UK does not run these helplines and is not responsible for the content or availability of external services. Details such as opening hours can change — please check each organisation's website for the latest information. Sparks of Knowledge is a resource library, not a crisis or counselling service.