SUPPORT & WELLBEING
The Script Department produces stories that some listeners may find offensive. If you, or someone you know, have been affected by any of the issues raised in our stories, help and support is available.
ADDICTION SUPPORT
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by addiction, the following organisations may be able to help.
Alcohol Addiction
Drinkline
Drinkline is a confidential helpline for those worried about their own or someone else's drinking. They can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre for help and support.
Phone: 0300 123 1110
NHS Information
NHS information on alcohol abuse
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous provides opportunities to share experience, strength and hope to recover from alcoholism.
Phone: 0800 9177 650
Visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website
Inspire
Inspire provides support services including addiction and mental health across Northern Ireland
Phone: 0808 189 0036
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs provides information and support to anyone concerned about someone they care about who is misusing alcohol or drugs.
Phone: 08080 10 10 11
Visit the Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs website
The Wales Drug And Alcohol Helpline
The Wales Drug And Alcohol Helpline is a bilingual helpline providing information or help to individuals, their families, carers, and support workers.
Phone: 0808 808 2234 (24/7)
Visit the Wales Drug And Alcohol Helpline website
We Are With You
We Are With You has services throughout England and Scotland that help adults, young people and their families recover from addiction and substance misuse problems. A webchat facility is available.
Visit the We Are With You website
Al-Anon Family Groups
Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking, through regular meetings throughout the UK, where members share their own experience of living with alcoholism.
Alateen is part of Al-Anon, for teenage (12-17) relatives and friends of alcoholics.
Phone: 08000 086 811
Nacoa
Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) provides information, advice and support for everyone affected by a parent's drinking.
Phone: 0800 358 3456
Visit the Nacoa website
Drug Addiction
FRANK
FRANK provides a confidential service to anyone wanting information, advice or support about any aspect of drugs.
Phone: 0300 123 6600
Online chat facility (2-6pm weekdays)
Know the Score
Know the Score provides confidential drugs information and advice across Scotland.
Phone: 0800 587 5879
Webchat available
Visit the Know the Score website
The following organisations provide opportunities to share experience, strength and hope to recover from addiction to mind-altering substances.
Drug Addicts Anonymous
Phone: 0300 030 3000
Visit the Drug Addicts Anonymous website
Cocaine Anonymous
Phone: 0800 612 0225
CA Scotland: 0141 959 6363
Visit the Cocaine Anonymous website
Narcotics Anonymous UK
Phone: 0300 999 1212
Visit the Narcotics Anonymous UK website
DrugFAM
DrugFAM provides support to families, friends and carers who are struggling to cope with a loved one’s addiction to drugs or alcohol, including addiction related bereavement support.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
Gambling Addiction
The National Gambling Helpline
The National Gambling Helpline, operated by GamCare offers confidential support, advice and free counselling to people concerned about their gambling, or the gambling of friends or family.
Phone: 0808 8020 133
Information and advice for young people
Other sources of information on gambling
These organisations may refer to other support services that the BBC has not necessarily verified.
Gam-Anon
Gam-Anon is a fellowship of men and women who have been affected by someone else’s gambling.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous provides a list of support meetings for promblem gamblers.
Visit the Gamblers Anonymous website (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Visit the Gamblers Anonymous website (Scotland)
Support from the NHS
The London Gambling Service (including the National Children and Young People Clinic)
Central and North West London NHS Foundation
Visit the NHS website
The Northern Gambling Service
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Visit the NHS website
The Southern Gambling Service
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Visit the NHS website
The West Midlands Gambling Service
West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic
Visit the NHS website
HARDSHIP, DEBT & HOMELESSNESS
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by hardship, debt or homelessness, the following organisations may be able to help.
Hardship
Citizens Advice Service
Citizens Advice Service provides information on benefits, employment and housing and help on debt, credit and legal issues.
Visit the Citizens Advice Service website
Turn2us
Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.
Phone: 0808 802 2000 (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm)
The Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust works with local communities to run foodbanks that provide three days’ emergency food and support to people in crisis.
Phone: 0808 208 2138 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm)
Visit the Trussell Trust website
The British Red Cross
The British Red Cross support line provides support in more than 200 languages to people who are lonely, worried and finding it difficult to access food or medication in the UK.
Phone: 0808 196 3651
Visit The British Red Cross website
Debt
MoneyHelper
MoneyHelper brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers:
The Money Advice Service, The Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.
Webchat available (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-3pm)
Phone 0800 138 7777 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)
National Debtline
National Debtline offers free, impartial, debt advice.
Phone: 0808 808 4000 (Mon-Fri 9am- 8pm Sat 9am-1pm)
Visit the National Debtline website
StepChange Debt Charity
StepChange Debt Charity helps people in financial difficulty by providing free, confidential, independent and realistic debt advice.
Helpline: 0800 138 1111
Visit the StepChange Debt Charity website
Homelessness
If you, or someone you know, have been made homeless or are affected by homelessness, the following organisations may be able to help.
Crisis
Crisis works with single homeless people and delivers services including education, employment, housing and well-being services addressing individual needs.
Phone on 08000 384838
Shelter
Shelter helps people struggling with bad housing or homelessness, via their website, helpline and face to face services.
Phone: 0808 800 4444
Shelter Cymru
Shelter Cymru provides free specialist legal advice and advocacy to anyone with housing difficulties in Wales.
Phone: 08000 495 495
Visit the Shelter Cymru website
Streetlink
StreetLink is a website that enables the public to alert local authorities in England about people sleeping rough in their area.
Phone: 0300 500 0914
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, you should contact the NIHE as soon as possible.
Phone: 034 4892 0900
The Welcome Organisation
The Welcome Organisation helps homeless and vulnerable people including housing, health surgeries and activity groups.
Phone: 028 9024 0424 (daily 8am-10pm; out of hours: 07753 807649)
Visit The Welcome Organisation's website
Other sources of information
These organisations may refer to other support services that the BBC has not necessarily verified.
Advice Now
Advice from the Government
England
Visit the UK Government website
Northern Ireland
Visit NI Direct's website
Scotland
Visit the Scottish Government's public services website
Wales
SEXUAL ABUSE
If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, the following organisations offer advice and support.
Samaritans
Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.
Phone: 116 123
SOS Silence of Suicide
SOS Silence of Suicide provides a listening service For children and adults who need emotional support, understanding, compassion & kindness.
Phone: 0300 102 0505
Visit the SOS Silence of Suicide website
Shout
Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone struggling to cope and in need of immediate help.
Text SHOUT to 85258
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 offer support, practical advice and information to young people considering suicide and can also offer help and advice if you’re concerned about someone you know.
Phone: 0800 068 41 41 (24/7)
CALM
CALM, the campaign against living miserably is a suicide prevention charity that offers free, anonymous and confidential support via their helpline and webchat for anyone who is in crisis.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily 5pm-midnight)
Visit the CALM website
Lifeline
Lifeline provides support to people suffering distress or despair in Northern Ireland, regardless of age or district.
Phone: 0808 808 8000 (24/7)
Community Advice & Listening Line
Community Advice & Listening Line offers emotional support and information on mental health and related matters to people in Wales.
Phone: 0800 132 737 (24/7) or text "help" to 81066
Visit the Community Advice & Listening Line website
Breathing Space
Breathing Space offers a confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
Phone: 0800 83 85 87 (Mon-Thu 6pm-2am, weekends 24 hours).
A BSL service is also available via the website.
Visit the Breathing Space website
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide exists to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend.
Visit the Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide website
Nightlines
Nightlines are confidential, anonymous, non-judgemental support services run by students for students.
If you’re a student, you can search for your institution’s Nightline details via the website.
MENTAL HEALTH
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by mental health issues or self-harm, the following organisations may be able to help.
ChildLine
ChildLine is a free, 24-hour confidential helpline for children and young people who need to talk.
Phone: 0800 1111
Mind
Mind provides advice and support on a range of topics including types of mental health problems, self-harm, legislation and details of local help and support in England and Wales.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (weekdays 9am - 6pm)
YoungMinds
YoungMinds offers information, support and advice for children and young people on mental health, wellbeing, racism and self-harm.
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger: text YM to 85258.
Help for concerned parents of those under 25 is offered by phone.
Phone: 0808 802 5544 (Mon–Fri 9.30am-4pm)
SUICIDE & EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
If you or someone you know are feeling emotionally distressed, the following organisations offer advice and support.
Samaritans
Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.
Phone: 116 123
SOS Silence of Suicide
SOS Silence of Suicide provides a listening service For children and adults who need emotional support, understanding, compassion & kindness.
Phone: 0300 102 0505
Visit the SOS Silence of Suicide website
Shout
Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone struggling to cope and in need of immediate help.
Text SHOUT to 85258
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 offer support, practical advice and information to young people considering suicide and can also offer help and advice if you’re concerned about someone you know.
Phone: 0800 068 41 41 (24/7)
CALM
CALM, the campaign against living miserably is a suicide prevention charity that offers free, anonymous and confidential support via their helpline and webchat for anyone who is in crisis.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily 5pm-midnight)
Visit the CALM website
Lifeline
Lifeline provides support to people suffering distress or despair in Northern Ireland, regardless of age or district.
Phone: 0808 808 8000 (24/7)
Community Advice & Listening Line
Community Advice & Listening Line offers emotional support and information on mental health and related matters to people in Wales.
Phone: 0800 132 737 (24/7) or text "help" to 81066
Visit the Community Advice & Listening Line website
Breathing Space
Breathing Space offers a confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.
Phone: 0800 83 85 87 (Mon-Thu 6pm-2am, weekends 24 hours).
A BSL service is also available via the website.
Visit the Breathing Space website
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide exists to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend.
Visit the Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide website
Nightlines
Nightlines are confidential, anonymous, non-judgemental support services run by students for students.
If you’re a student, you can search for your institution’s Nightline details via the website.