ADHD Aware offers monthly peer-to-peer support in groups, for adults impacted by ADHD.
Unfortunately, our volunteers/workers cannot provide help that is: by phone, one-to-one, urgent, medical, or handling risk of suicide – but other organisations (below) do provide this.
Many helplines have operators trained in neurodiversity. We also offer a list of other organisations/services whose focus is ADHD, Autism or Disability.
If you (or a friend or family member) might be having a mental health crisis, feeling unable to cope, or might benefit from speaking with someone privately and/or immediately, please consider the below options:
There might be a queue before you get through – but you are worth the wait.
| Helpline | Who it’s for | When they’re contactable | How to contact them | Website for the most up-to-date information |
| Samaritans (“here to listen”) | anyone having a difficult time (or worried about someone else) | 24/7 | Call: 116 123 | samaritans.org |
| SHOUT (crisis text service) | anyone struggling to cope, who’d prefer to chat by text | 24/7 | Text ‘SHOUT’ to: 85258 | giveusashout.org |
| Mind (mental health charity) | anyone experiencing a mental health problem | 9am-6pm Mon-Fri (except Bank Holidays) | Call: 0300 123 3393 for info line Call: 0300 466 6463 for legal line Email: info@mind.org.uk | Mind helplines Mind local services |
| SANEline (out-of-hours mental health helpline) | anyone affected by mental illness (including family, friends and carers) | 4pm-10pm every day | Call: 0300 304 7000 | sane.org.uk |
| CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably “taking a stand against suicide”) | men aged over 15 | 5pm-midnight every day | Call: 0800 58 58 58 Webchat: see website | thecalmzone.net |
| ChildLine (help and advice) | children and young people aged under 19 | 24/7 | Call: 0800 1111 Webchat: see website Sign language: see website | childline.org.uk |
| HOPELINE247 by Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) | children and young people aged under 35 (or anyone concerned about one) | 24/7 | Call: 0800 068 4141 Text: 078600 399 67 Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org | papyrus-uk.org |
| Nightline (student-run listening and information services) | university students | at night (exact times may vary by university) | Call, Webchat, Text or Drop In: see website to search by university | nightline.ac.uk |
| Cruse (bereavement support) | anyone grieving | 9.30am-5pm Mondays 9.30am-8pm Tue/Wed/Thu 9.30am-5pm Fridays | Call: 0808 808 1677 | cruse.org.uk |
| C.A.L.L. (Community Advice & Listening Line – for the people of Wales) | anyone in Wales concerned about their mental health (or a friend or relative’s) | 24/7 | Call: 0800 132 737 Text ‘help’ to: 81066 | callhelpline.org.uk |
If you are concerned that someone might use your computer(s) to access potentially harmful online content related to suicide or self-harm, you could install the Ripple (R;pple) browser extension: ripplesuicideprevention.com Ripple don’t see, save or share your search history; but when particular keywords are searched for, this tool will display a visual prompt – signposting the person to free, 24/7 mental health support.
NHS mental health helplines (all open 24/7)
If your life or another person’s life is in imminent danger, please call 999.
| Helpline | Who it’s for | Where it covers | How to contact them | Website for the most up-to-date information |
| Brighton & Hove Mental Health Rapid Response Service | adults aged over 18 at immediate risk or requiring a Mental Health Act Assessment (or referring someone else) | Brighton & Hove | Call: 0300 304 0078 | brighton-hove.gov.uk sussexpartnership.nhs.uk |
| NHS Mental Health Crisis Line | anyone (any age) needing urgent help (or concerned about someone in crisis) | UK | Call: 111 then select the option for mental health | nhs.uk |
| Sussex Mental Health Crisis Line | anyone (any age) needing urgent help (or concerned about someone in crisis) | Sussex | Call: 0300 500 0101 Text ‘SUSSEX’ to: 85258 | sussexpartnership.nhs.uk |
| SLaM Mental Health Crisis Line | anyone (any age) needing urgent help (or concerned about someone in crisis) | Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark & Maudsley | Call: 0800 731 2864 | slam.nhs.uk/crisis |
Online tools for finding specialist or local support
| Tools for finding local and specialist support | Who it’s for | How to access it |
| Hub of Hope database of mental health services | anyone wanting to find local support services | hubofhope.co.uk |
| List of specialist organisations created by Samaritans | anyone seeking advice/support for specific issues (such as bereavement, domestic abuse or addiction) | samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/other-sources-help/ |
| Guides to specific topics and related services created by Mind | anyone seeking info/support for specific issues (such as abuse or addiction) | mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/ |
We are rooting for you, and hope to see you at one of our monthly peer support group sessions soon!
If you notice something out-of-date on this page, please let us know
by emailing admin@adhdaware.org.uk – Thank you.