Together, UK Mental Health Charity working alongside each person with mental health issues on their journey towards greater wellbeing. Trusted experts in service user involvement
‘I’ve found my niche at Together. It’s not judgmental; everybody can be who they are...’
Specific mental health problems
Anxiety UK
Anxiety UK is the UK's leading anxiety disorders charity. It provides information, help and support to individuals suffering with anxiety and related conditions, along with providing affordable, high quality therapy services. Their website contains a host of free resources to download, aimed at sufferers and their carers.
www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Anxiety Disorder Resource Centre
This website offers a concise insight into the truth, the symptoms and thoughts associated with anxiety disorders. With so much misinformation, so many prescription and non-prescription anxiety drugs, anxiety 'cures' and bogus practices available through the Internet, it is vital that anxiety sufferers are spared the constant search for accurate and productive resources.
www.anxiety-uk.org
Beat
A charity for people affected by eating disorders, the website contains extensive information for sufferers, parents and carers. For details of the charity’s helplines for adults and young people, its text-phone services, and its Youthline TEXT service, click on 'Looking for support or treatment?' and then 'EDA telephone helplines'. The 'Self help network' section has details of local support groups.
www.edauk.com
Bipolar Organisation
A service-user-led charity (formerly the Manic Depression Fellowship) working to enable people whose lives are affected by bipolar disorder/manic depression to take control of their lives. Click on 'Bipolar' for information about bipolar disorder, including diagnosis, treatment and NHS services. Members' services include self-help groups, self-management training and a 24-hour legal advice line for employment, legal, benefits and debt issues.
www.mdf.org.uk/
Borderline
A service-user-led network of people who meet the criteria for, or who have been diagnosed with, borderline personality disorder. The site provides information on causes, diagnosis, medication, therapy and how to get help. Click on 'Services' to find out how to join one of Borderline UK's Yahoo net-based support groups.
www.borderlineuk.co.uk
Breathing Space Scotland
A free confidential phoneline in Scotland for anyone experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried. Targets specifically (but not exclusively) young men experiencing difficulties and unhappiness. Call 0808 83 85 87 between 6pm and 2am. Website provides information and advice about moods and problems (click on 'Your mood' or 'Your problems'); a 'Self-help Toolkit' discusses how to get help.
www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk
Bristol Crisis Service for Women
Voluntary organisation that supports women in emotional distress, particularly women who self-injure or harm themselves. Runs a national confidential helpline at weekends (click on 'Helpline' for details); also runs and supports self-help groups.
www.users.zetnet.co.uk/bcsw/
The Calm Zone
Targeted at young men aged between 15 and 35 who may be depressed or find it hard to talk about their problems. The campaign offers help, information and advice via a phone and web service. It encourages young men to 'open up' and sort out their problems rather than try to deal with them alone. Launched in 1997, the campaign has operated as a regional service in Manchester and Merseyside, but is due to launch as a national charity in 2006. Website includes details of Calm's free confidential helpline, which is open every day of the year.
www.thecalmzone.net/
Depression Alliance
A charity for people affected by depression. It organises self-help support groups in England, Wales and Scotland, an internet email group, and a pen-friend scheme. The website has information about the symptoms of depression and treatments, and downloadable publications.
www.depressionalliance.org
Depression Alliance Scotland
A sister organisation of Depression Alliance, this website is due to be launched during National Depression Week (17-24 April) 2006.
www.depressionalliancescotland.org
Entendendo a Esquizofrenia
Brazilian website for people affected by schizophrenia. The site is translated into English here.
www.entendendoaesquizofrenia.com.br/
Fellowship of Depressives Anonymous
Small UK self-help charity for people who suffer from depression. The charity has about 600 members and is run entirely by volunteers. Runs pen-friend and phone-friend schemes, and operates a telephone information line.
www.depressionanon.co.uk/
First Steps to Freedom
Charity offering practical help to people who suffer from phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, general anxiety, panic attacks, anorexia, bulimia, as well as those wishing to come off tranquillisers. Runs a confidential helpline between 10am and 10pm every day, and a panic advice line between 10pm and 10am; also one-to-one telephone counselling and befriending, and telephone self-help groups. Also offers support to carers of those with borderline personality disorder.
www.first-steps.org
Hearing Voices Network
Network providing information, support and understanding to people who hear voices, see visions and have tactile sensations, as well as those who support them. Supports self-help groups and runs a Hearing Voices confidential helpline on 0845 122 8642.
www.hearing-voices.org
Kings College - Eating Disorders Research
Part of the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of London. The website describes the unit's research programme and has information about clinical issues and the treatment of eating disorders. It also has information for service-users, carers and families.
www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/iop/Departments/PsychMed/EDU/index.shtml
Lifesigns
A voluntary organisation that raises awareness about self-injury in the UK. It publishes an awareness booklet for people who self-harm and those who care for them, as well as a newlsetter. The website has an online message board.
www.lifesigns.org.uk
Making Space
A charity that aims to help those affected by schizophrenia and other forms of serious mental distress, including carers and family members. Provides a range of services in Yorkshire and the north-west of England, including befriending, day care, family support and self-help groups; click on 'Services' for details. A series of downloadable information leaflets can be found under 'Information'.
www.makingspace.co.uk/
National self Harm Network
A survivor-led charity that provides support to people who self-harm and people indirectly affected by self-harm, such as families and friends. It is committed to campaigning for the rights and understanding of people who self-harm. You can access its online forum from the home page.
www.nshn.co.uk
National Phobics Society
Charity supporting people who have anxiety or phobias. The charity is run by sufferers and ex-sufferers. It provides a members-only advice, information and support helpline during the week. Details of services, including online bulletin boards and chatrooms, can be found under 'Member services'. Under 'Treatment and help' you will find contact details for self-help groups across the UK.
www.phobics-society.org.uk
No Panic
Charity that supports people suffering from panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorders and other related anxiety disorders, including tranquilliser withdrawal. It runs a confidential freephone helpline between 10am and 10pm every day on 0808 808 0545 (and a night-time anxiety crisis line answer-phone service). Other services include telephone recovery groups.
http://nopanic.org.uk/
Torture Care
Voluntary organisation that provides survivors of torture living in the UK with medical treatment, practical assistance and psychotherapy support. Also works to ensure that Britain honours its international obligations towards survivors of torture, asylum seekers and refugees. Details of support services, including counselling, group therapy, family therapy and welfare advocacy, can be found by clicking on 'About' and then 'Our services'.
www.torturecare.org.uk
OCD Centre
London-based organisation offering support and services for people living with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and for their carers, families and friends. Publishes information sheets and audio guides to help people with OCD; other services include day workshops, telephone workshops, one-to-one therapy sessions, telephone therapy courses, and a nutrition programme. For details, click on 'People with OCD', next click on 'About our services', then click on 'Services'.
www.ocdcentre.com/
Papyrus
Founded by parents who have lost a son or daughter to suicide, PAPYRUS is a voluntary organisation committed to the prevention of suicide by focusing on the emotional wellbeing of children, teenagers and young adults. The website provides advice and support for young people, their parents and friends. HOPELineUK is a PAPYRUS telephone service offering support, information and practical advice to anyone concerned that a young person they know may be at risk of suicide; call 0870 170 4000 (7-10pm weekdays; 2-5pm weekends).
www.papyrus-uk.org
Students Against Depression
Website offering information about depression, including how depression works, how to tackle it and how to get outside help. The site has been developed with the help of students who have been affected by low mood, depression or suicidal thinking and have found ways to tackle those feelings or overcome them. Many of their personal stories can be read on site.
www.studentdepression.org/
Stress Watch Scotland
Voluntary organisation providing advice, information and support to people who suffer from stress, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks or obsessive compulsive disorder. Stresswatch runs a helpline and a telephone recovery group, and gives help and advice on setting up self-help groups in Scotland.
www.stresswatchscotland.org/
UK Trauma Group
The UK Trauma Group is a network of UK traumatic stress clinical services. However, the home page contains links to some useful information leaflets and web pages about post-traumatic stress disorder.
www.uktrauma.org.uk
Veterans Affairs
US organisation created in 1989 in response to a Congressional mandate to address the needs of veterans with military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the website also includes extensive information and research findings about PTSD in the community more generally.
www.ncptsd.va.gov
Also in this section
