The UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life

Counselling Directory

Electronic database of UK counsellors, with information on their training and experience, areas of counselling covered, fees and contact details. This service is free and confidential.

Cruse Bereavement Care

Specialising in bereavement. Cruse can provide information and counselling for people affected by a death and they have a wide range of leaflets and books about bereavement.
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Manic Depression Fellowship - The Bipolar Organisation

A user led charity working to enable people affected by Bipolar disorder / manic depression to take control of their lives. Runs self-help groups throughout the UK.
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Mental Health Foundation

UK-wide charity that provides information, carries out research, campaigns and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health problems, whatever their age and wherever they live. Has a range of information about mental health such as how to get help, specific problems, issues and treatment options, news articles, organisations and events.

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Relate

Offers advice, relationship counselling, sex therapy, workshops, mediation, consultations and support face-to-face, by phone and through the website. Relate has 82 Centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  You can fill in an enquiry form on their website as well as find out about books and guides written especially for older people.
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Samaritans

Provides 24 hours a day confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

UK helpline:
ROI helpline:

1 in 4 Forum

The 1 in 4 Forum is an online discussion forum on issues affecting people with mental health problems. The Forum brings together people working with people with mental health problems, national and local policy makers, service providers and purchasers, parents and carers, and people who have or are experiencing mental or emotional distress. It is a forum where you can ask questions, find answers, and share ideas with others with similar interests.

Anxiety Care
A registered charity based in East London that specialises in helping people to recover from anxiety disorder and to maintain that recovery. Services include mutual support groups, support and structured recovery groups, confidence building groups, a home visiting service, telephone helpline, and a one to one counselling service offering a variety of disciplines.

Helpline: (Monday & Wednesday, 10am - 3pm)

General enquiries:

Maytree

A refuge for people in extreme suicidal distress and despair. Support and befriending is offered during a single, short stay of up to four nights to help people get through a crisis. The centre is based in North London, with 6 bedrooms for guests of all backgrounds and ages (over 18) coming from all over the UK. Referrals and self-referrals are wlecome.

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Mind

Offers many services including: MindinfoLine, confidential help on a range of mental health issues; Mind Link, a network for users of mental health services; and other services such as drop-in centres, supported housing, counselling, befriending, advocacy, employment and training schemes.

MindinfoLine:

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Rethink

Provides a wide range of services includes advocacy, carer support, community support, employment and training, helplines, housing, nursing and residential care and services dedicated to black and minority ethnic communities. Operates 10 helpline services, including an Asian mental health helpline service, that offer practical and emotional support and signposting to those experiencing severe mental illness, their carers and relatives.

National advice service:

General enquiries: 5.

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 

Holds details of individual counsellors registered with them as members, and lists their qualifications. It has strict rules of membership and is a place to start if you are looking for a qualified counsellor.

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Sane

Aims to raise awareness for people with mental illness, undertake research into the causes of serious mental illness, and provide information and emotional support to people with mental health problems. Operates a national helpline SANELINE offering information, crisis care and emotional support from 1pm to 11pm every day.
Helpline:
General enquiries:

Threshold

Women's mental health organisation providing a national women’s mental health  infoline, fact sheets and free to low cost counselling service for women on low incomes living in the Brighton and Hove area.
Infoline:

Aware NI

Supports people experiencing or at risk of experiencing depression or manic depression and their carers throughout Northern Ireland through providing information and advice, promoting self help, instigating and supporting research and working for changes in public attitude and statutory health care provision. Self-help groups run in Belfast, Ballymena and Magherafelt.

Helpline: (Mon-Fri 10am - 4pm)

General enquiries:

CAUSE (Carers and Users Support Enterprise)

Northern Ireland charity providing practical and emotional support to relatives and carers of people with mental illness through Carer Advocates, telephone helpline, educational courses, support groups and representation of carers' views.
General enquiries:

Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health

Provides local support, including housing schemes, home support, advocacy services and information, for those with mental health needs. The information section of the website includes fact sheets and articles on a range of mental health issues as well as a useful links to a wide spectrum of organisations working in the area of mental health. Each fact sheet contains a list of relevant organisations offering support for specific problems.
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Rethink Northern Ireland

Operates a range of services including Advocacy, Carer support, Community support, Housing, Employment and training, and Voices Forum (NI).

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Bipolar Fellowship Scotland

Bipolar Fellowship Scotland aim to provide information, support and advice for people affected by bipolar disorder/manic depression.

Breathing Space Scotland

A free and confidential phoneline service for any individual, who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to.

Helpline: (6pm-2am)

Depression Alliance Scotland

Depression Alliance Scotland works to relieve and to prevent depression by providing information, support and understanding to those who are affected by it via publications and a range of services, including self help support groups and and information servcice for people affected by depression.

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The Highland Users Group (HUG)

The Highland Users Group (HUG) is a network of users of mental health services who live in the Highlands. HUG’s main aim is to improve the way in which we, as users of mental health services, are treated by campaigning to improve the rights, services and treatments of people with mental health problems.
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The National Schizophrenic Fellowship

National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland) works to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of those affected by schizophrenia and other mental illness, including families and carers. Operates 19 mutual support groups, drop-in centers, provides information, advice and support, outreach, employment and training and carer support.

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Scottish Association for Mental Health

Campaigns and provides services across Scotland for people with mental health problems, homelessness, addictions and other forms of social exclusion.
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CALL Helpline Wales

Confidential listening and support service for people in Wales.
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Hafal

Delivers a range of services to people with severe mental health illness including direct support and advice, support in a crisis, contact with others by phone, advocacy, support in a group setting, introductions for befriending, and employment and training projects.

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West Wales Action for Mental Health

A mental health development project, providing a range of services to voluntary groups, carers and individuals who have used or are using mental health services and living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

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