World Mental Health Day

On October 10th every year, the World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day. The purpose of this day is to provide an opportunity to anyone with mental health issues to talk about what they’re going through. The day also highlights what more needs to be to make mental health care a reality for people. The specific agenda for this year’s day is young people and mental health in a changing world.

We’ve dedicated this week’s blog to World Mental Health Day to help raise awareness.

Please find a list of helplines for specific problems Whether you're concerned about yourself or a loved one, these helplines and support groups can offer expert advice.

Anxiety UK Charity

Providing support if you've been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm) Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Bipolar UK

A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.

Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk

CALM CALM

 A campaign against living miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.

Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight) Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Depression Alliance

Charity for sufferers of depression. Has a network of self-help groups.

Website: www.depressionalliance.org

Men's Health Forum 24/7

Stress support for men by text, chat and email.

Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind

Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm) Website: www.mind.org.uk

No Panic

Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD.

Includes a helpline. Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm) Website: www.nopanic.org.uk OCD Action Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources. Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm) Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk

OCD UK

A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.

Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm) Website: www.ocduk.org

PAPYRUS Young suicide prevention society

Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon to Fri,10am to 5pm & 7 to 10pm. Weekends 2 to 5pm) Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Rethink Mental Illness

Support and advice for people living with mental illness. Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm) Website: www.rethink.org

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline) Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

SANE

Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.

SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm) Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: http://www.sane.org.uk/textcare Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum Website: www.sane.org.uk/support

YoungMinds

Information on child and adolescent mental health.

Services for parents and professionals. Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm) Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)

NSPCC Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.

Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline) 0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline) Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Refuge Advice

On dealing with domestic violence. Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline) Website: www.refuge.org.uk Addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling)

Alcoholics Anonymous

Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline) Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Gamblers Anonymous

Website: www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

Narcotics Anonymous 

Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily 10am to midnight) Website: www.ukna.org

Alzheimer's Alzheimer's Society

Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines. Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm) Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

Bereavement Cruse

Bereavement Care Phone: 0844 477 9400 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm) Website: www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk Crime victims

Rape Crisis

To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm) Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk Victim Support Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline) Website: www.victimsupport.org

Eating disorders

Beat Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s) Website: www.b-eat.co.uk

Learning disabilities

Mencap Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm) Website: www.mencap.org.uk

Parenting Family Lives

Advice on all aspects of parenting including dealing with bullying. Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 9pm. Sat to Sun, 10am to 3pm) Website: www.familylives.org.uk

Relationships Relate

The UK's largest provider of relationship support. Website: www.relate.org.uk