Useful Contacts
CDARS
Crisis Helpline: 07944 506036, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Community Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services (CDARS) is the charity that Dorothea Bickerton founded and still flourishes today, under this new title. Nearly 40 years on, CDARS leads the way, being recognised as one of the top support agencies in the UK, helping over 1200 people each year by providing a variety of services designed to support vulnerable people with complex needs, including drug and alcohol misuse, mental health, neurodiversity, veterans and perpetrators of domestic violence. CDARS upholds the same values upon which Dorothea and David built the organisation: people-centred, inclusive, respectful, non-judgemental, confidential and holistic to the needs of the individual, providing support to improve the mental, physical, social, emotional health and well-being of service users.
CDARS manage the David Bickerton Memorial Fund, established in 1995 to provide emergency relief for families facing desperate times. The fund continues to operate today with the same benevolent mission helping families in crisis. You can donate directly to this fund via the 'Donate' link.
The programme is targeted for UK residents in the South London Boroughs of Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston, and Richmond aged 16 years or over, experiencing extreme emotional distress.
FRANK
If you are concerned about a friend or relative, you can call FRANK 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 0300 123 6600
Text 82111
There is also a live online chat service that operates from 14:00-18:00, 7 days a week.
Confidential advice and information about drugs, their effects and the law. Useful A-Z reference with information about every drug. Find details of local and national services that provide counselling and treatment in England.
The National Addiction Treatment & Rehabilitation Directory
For Immediate Confidential Help and Advice call: 02038 115 619
Contains over 700 addiction treatment services, as well as an extensive directory of information about different types of addiction, drugs, alcohol, support services and therapies.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
National free helpline: 0800 9177 650
Email for support: help@aamail.org
The website also has a chat box.
AA provides help and support for anyone with alcohol problems. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other to solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. There are local meetings all over the UK that can be found using the search function on the main website. AA is a global organisation and details of AA meetings around the world can be found here: https://www.aa.org/find-aa
Alcohol Change UK
Information and support options for people worried about how much alcohol they are drinking or those who are worried about someone else’s drinking.
Cocaine Anonymous
CAUK helpline: 0800 612 0225 open from 10:00 to 22:00, 7 days a week.
Email CAUK: helpline@cauk.org.uk
Offering help and support for anyone who wants to stop using cocaine with regular local meetings held throughout England and Wales, as well as online.
Narcotics Anonymous
Helpline 0300 999 1212 (10:00-24:00, 7 days a week)
General email: pi@ukna.org
Email to enquire about meetings near you: meetings@ukna.org
Narcotics Anonymous offers support for anyone in the UK & Channel Islands who wants to stop using drugs. If you have a problem, NA is run by recovering drug addicts who can help you get and stay clean.
Release
Helpline: 020 7324 2989 (11:00-13:00 & 14:00-16:00, Monday to Friday. A message service is available 24 hours)
Email helpline: ask@release.org.uk
National charity that offers free and confidential advice about drugs and the law.
Samaritans
Call: 116 123 - it's FREE (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Email: jo@samaritans.org.uk
Offering emotional support 24 hours a day for anything you are going through. There is an online chat available on the website and a self-help app. You can even write a Samaritan a letter: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS.
The Compassionate Friends
0345 123 2304 - helpline (10:00 – 16:00 and 19:00 – 22:00, every day of the year)
A charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.
Mind
Infoline: 0300 123 3393 (not free)
Legal line: 0300 466 6463 (not free)
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Mind offers extensive resources, information, advice and answers to questions about types of mental health problems, where to get help, drug and alternative treatments, advocacy.
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
0800 689 5652 (18:00-03:30, 7 days a week)
Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. The website provides useful information for anyone worried for themselves or someone else.
Mental Health Foundation
Mental Health Foundation is involved with research, advocacy and projects connected to mental health. They run a wide range of programmes covering families, young people, children, pregnancy, later life, refugees, poverty, Covid, workplace mental health and more. The website provides information about all aspects of mental health with a useful A-Z directory.
Rethink Mental Illness
Advice and information helpline: 0808 801 0525 (09:30-16:00, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays)
Webchat service (10:00-13:00, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays)
Email advice@rethink.org (response within 3 working days)
Write to: Rethink, PO BOX 18252 Solihull B91 9BA (response posted within 3 working days)
Advice and information line for practical advice on: types of therapy and medication; benefits, debt, money issues; police, courts, prison; your rights under the Mental Health Act.
Shout
Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258: Shout Crisis confidential text line – for support in a crisis.
This is a free service from all major networks in the UK. Available 24/7 and messages will not appear on your phone bill. Responses are usually within 5 minutes.
If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support; if you’re feeling low, anxious, worried, lonely, overwhelmed, suicidal or not quite yourself, Shout can help with urgent issues such as: suicidal thoughts; abuse or assault; self-harm; bullying; relationship.
CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably
Call 0800 58 58 58 (17:00-24:00 – 365 days a year)
Webchat via the website (17:00-24:00 – 365 days a year)
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. You can talk to CALM about anything. Offering an A-Z directory of guides on a vast range of issues, such as abuse; addiction; anger; bipolar disorder; body image and many more.
Papyrus HOPELINEUK
HOPELINEUK - 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10:00-22:00, weekends 14:00-22:00)
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Text 07786 209 697
If you're under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, contact Papyrus.
Citizens Advice Bureau
For advice about benefits, debt problems, legal issues, housing, health and local services. The Citizens Advice Bureau website has a directory listing its local offices.
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline
LGBT+ helpline - 0800 0119 100 (10:00-22:00 every day)
Email chris@switchboard.lgbt
If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you can contact Switchboard or use the webchat service. Phone operators all identify as LGBT+.
Nightline
Nightline offers a unique listening service, providing emotional support and information to students across the country. It’s the only service of its kind dedicated to students in higher and further education. Run by students, our listening volunteers ensure every student has the opportunity to talk about their feelings in a safe, non-judgemental environment. If you're a student, you can look on the Nightline website to see if your university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.
National Autistic Society
UKs leading charity for autistic people and their families. Website provides useful information, advice, educational resources, as well as information about mental health and addiction.
The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity
The ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity advocates for and actively improves the life chances of those living with and impacted by ADHD, Autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia (DCD), Tourette’s syndrome, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and any related physical and psychological health concerns. Website provides information, advice, education, training, screening clinic and further support.
Hub of Hope
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time. Use the search function to find support near you for whatever challenge you are facing.