Support Directory
Real services. Real people. Free, confidential help for whatever you are dealing with.
Support shaped by your industry
Find advice, warning signs and specialist services for the pressures common in your line of work.
999 Emergency Services
For immediate danger or life-threatening emergencies.
Use this if: You or someone else is in immediate danger right now.
Samaritans
Free, confidential emotional support for anyone in distress.
Use this if: You need someone to listen right now. No judgement, no advice. Just someone there.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Support for men in crisis. Phone and webchat.
Use this if: You are a man in crisis and need to talk to someone who understands.
5pm to midnight, every day
Shout
Free, confidential 24/7 crisis text support.
Use this if: You cannot speak on the phone but need immediate support.
24/7
Text SHOUT to 85258
NHS 111
Urgent mental health advice and support.
Use this if: You need urgent mental health advice but it is not a 999 emergency.
24/7
StepChange Debt Charity
Free, expert debt advice. They will help you find a way through.
Use this if: Debt is overwhelming you and you do not know where to start.
Andy's Man Club
Free, peer-to-peer talking groups for men. No pressure, no judgement — just men talking it out.
Use this if: You need to sit with other men who get it, face to face.
Mondays 7pm, nationwide locations
National Debtline
Free, confidential debt advice from experts.
Use this if: You need practical advice about what to do about your debts.
Mind Infoline
Mental health charity providing information, advice and support.
Use this if: You want to understand what you are feeling and find local support.
Mon-Fri 9am-6pm (except bank holidays)
SANEline
Emotional support and information for people experiencing mental health problems.
Use this if: You need to talk to someone trained when other lines have closed.
Every day 4pm-10pm
NHS Talking Therapies
Free NHS talking therapy service (formerly IAPT) for adults in England with common mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Self-refer online — no GP needed.
Use this if: You want free, professional NHS therapy for anxiety, depression or stress and want to refer yourself.
Self-refer online anytime; service hours vary by local area
Relate
Relationship counselling for individuals and couples, including by phone and online.
Use this if: Your relationship is breaking down and you need help figuring out what to do.
Mon-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm
Shelter
Urgent housing and homelessness advice and support.
Use this if: You are facing eviction, homelessness, or housing problems.
8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. 9am to 5pm weekends.
Both Parents Matter
Support for parents — especially fathers — to maintain relationships with their children after separation.
Use this if: You are a father worried about losing contact with your kids after a split.
Helpline varies — see website
Families Need Fathers
Helps fathers and mothers stay involved in their children's lives after separation.
Use this if: You are facing family court or losing time with your children.
Helpline Mon-Fri 9am-10pm
National Family Mediation
Family mediation to help separated parents agree on arrangements without court.
Use this if: You and your ex are stuck and want to avoid a court fight over the kids.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Men's Advice Line
Confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic abuse from a partner or ex.
Use this if: You are a man being abused by a partner and do not know where to turn.
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm
Age UK Advice Line
Free advice and support for older people.
Use this if: You are an older man dealing with loneliness, health, benefits, or housing.
ManKind Initiative
Support for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence.
Use this if: You need help understanding abuse you are experiencing as a man.
Helpline Mon-Fri 10am-4pm and 7pm-9pm
Respect Phoneline
Confidential helpline for anyone concerned about their behaviour towards a partner.
Use this if: You are worried your behaviour is hurting someone you love and want to change.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (Wed until 8pm)
Galop Domestic Abuse Helpline
Support for LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse.
Use this if: You are LGBT+ and experiencing abuse from a partner or family member.
Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Citizens Advice
Free local advice on benefits, debt, housing, employment, and more.
Use this if: You need practical help with benefits, debt, housing, or employment rights.
FRANK
Confidential information and advice about drugs, their effects and the law.
Use this if: You are using drugs and want honest, non-judgemental information.
24/7
Alcoholics Anonymous
Fellowship of men and women helping each other recover from alcoholism.
Use this if: Drink is controlling your life and you want to stop.
24/7
Turn2us
Helps people access benefits, grants, and financial support.
Use this if: You need help finding benefits or grants you may be entitled to.
SMART Recovery
Science-based, mutual-aid support groups for any addiction, online and in person.
Use this if: You want a practical, non-spiritual alternative to 12-step groups.
Meetings daily — see website
Universal Credit Helpline
Government helpline for Universal Credit queries. Admin: verify current number before publishing.
Use this if: You need help with your Universal Credit claim.
We Are With You
Free, confidential support with alcohol, drugs or gambling, online and locally.
Use this if: You want support for alcohol, drugs or gambling without walking into a meeting first.
Online chat available 24/7
GamCare
National helpline for anyone affected by problem gambling.
Use this if: Gambling is taking over your life and you need to talk now.
24/7
Cruse Bereavement Support
Free, confidential support for anyone grieving, in person, by phone and online.
Use this if: Someone has died and you cannot process it on your own.
Helpline Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm (until 8pm Tue/Thu), Sat-Sun 10am-2pm
WAY (Widowed and Young)
Peer support network for men and women widowed under 51.
Use this if: You lost your partner young and feel like no one your age gets it.
Online community 24/7
The Compassionate Friends
Support for anyone grieving the death of a child of any age.
Use this if: Your child has died and you need to talk to other parents who have been there.
Helpline daily 10am-4pm and 7pm-10pm
Child Bereavement UK
Support for families when a child is grieving or has died.
Use this if: A child in your life is grieving, or you are grieving a child.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Combat Stress
Mental health support for veterans dealing with trauma, PTSD and related issues.
Use this if: You served and are struggling with trauma, nightmares or the transition to civilian life.
24/7
SSAFA Forces Help
Practical and emotional support for serving personnel, veterans and their families.
Use this if: You are ex-forces and need practical or emotional help.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (24/7 for operational emergencies)
Op COURAGE
NHS specialist mental health service for veterans, service leavers and reservists.
Use this if: You want NHS mental health support tailored to veterans.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Veterans' Gateway
First point of contact for veterans and their families seeking support.
Use this if: You do not know which service you need — start here.
24/7
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger
Free 24/7 crisis support for young people, by text.
Use this if: You are 25 or under and in a mental health crisis.
24/7
Text YM to 85258
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
Suicide prevention helpline for young people under 35 and anyone worried about them.
Use this if: You are under 35 and having thoughts of suicide, or worried about someone who is.
Mon-Fri 9am-midnight, weekends 2pm-midnight
The Mix
Support for under-25s on anything from mental health to money and relationships.
Use this if: You are under 25 and need to talk through anything, not just crisis.
Phone 3pm-12am daily, online chat 3pm-12am
Kooth
Free, safe, anonymous online counselling and emotional support for young people.
Use this if: You want to chat with a counsellor online without anyone knowing.
Mon-Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 6pm-10pm
National Careers Service
Free, impartial advice on careers, training and finding work in England.
Use this if: You have lost your job and need help finding a new path or updating your skills.
Mon-Sun 8am-10pm
Acas Helpline
Free, confidential advice on employment rights, redundancy, unfair dismissal and workplace disputes.
Use this if: You have been made redundant or dismissed and want to know your rights.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Citizens Advice - Work and Redundancy
Help with redundancy pay, notice periods, and what to do if you are dismissed unfairly.
Use this if: You need practical, step-by-step help understanding your redundancy or dismissal.
Online advice 24/7
Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service
Support for people facing redundancy, including help finding new work and claiming benefits.
Use this if: You are being made redundant and need help moving into new work fast.
Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
Redundancy Payments Service
Government service that pays statutory redundancy and handles unpaid redundancy claims when an employer is insolvent.
Use this if: Your employer has gone bust and you have not been paid what you are owed.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Age UK - Work and Retirement
Advice and support for older workers and people approaching or adjusting to retirement.
Use this if: You are retired, retiring, or an older worker who has lost their job.
Mon-Sun 8am-7pm
Retirement Living Information Service
Independent guidance on housing, care, finance and wellbeing in later life.
Use this if: You have retired and feel lost, isolated, or unsure where to turn next.
Online advice 24/7
Prospects (now The Career Development Institute)
Career guidance for adults changing direction after redundancy or in later life.
Use this if: You need to retrain or change careers after losing your job or retiring.
Online advice 24/7