Mental health helplines and services for young people in the UK
24 services found
NATTER
Provided by Mental Health Innovations
Get confidential support through text messaging. You can text about anything that’s on your mind. Your text will be answered by trained volunteers.
More about NATTER
Samaritans
You can speak to a trained volunteer at Samaritans about anything you’re going through. The volunteer will help you work through whatever is on your mind – they will not tell you what to do. Samaritans used to offer support through email, but phased out their email service throughout 2026.
Eating disorder helpline
Provided by Beat
Information and support for anyone who is struggling with their eating – you do not need a formal diagnosis to get in touch. An advisor will work with you to make an action plan, and direct you towards information and support that will help you (or your lived one) work towards recovery. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different phone numbers and email addresses, listed on the Beat website.
GamCare
Information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling. You can get in touch about your own gambling, or someone else’s. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been going on.
Grief Encounter
One-to-one therapy for young people who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, sibling figure, or other main carer. You must be at least 4 months bereaved and not receiving any other therapy. This service cannot support young people who are actively self-harming or experiencing suicidal ideation.
ZAP workshops
Provided by Kidscape
A therapeutic workshop for young people impacted by bullying. The workshop gives young people practical strategies that help build their confidence so they can take action to prevent bullying behaviour. Most of the workshops are run online and a parent or carer needs to be with the young person.
Muslim Women’s Network
Provides culturally sensitive support for Muslim women and girls facing issues such as abuse, mental health difficulties, discrimination, or family and relationship problems.
Alateen online meetings
Provided by Al-Anon
Online meetings on Zoom for young people who are affected by a relative or friend’s alcohol use. Young people share their experiences and help and support each other.
Talk to Frank
Provides honest information and advice about drugs, helping young people understand risks, effects, and choices, and supporting those worried about drug use.
Childline
Provided by NSPCC
You can talk to a Childline counsellor about whatever you’re going through. Childline is confidential and there are different ways to get in touch. You can contact Childline at any time, but their counsellors might not be able to talk to you for as long at night.
FAQ - Mental health services on Best For You
I need help urgently – what should I do?
Please visit the Get help now page to find services that can provide urgent help. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999 now.
Why are most services located in north-west London?
Best For You is run in partnership by four organisations in north-west London (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, West London NHS Trust, and CW+). This means we can provide more information and detail about the helplines and services available in these north-west London boroughs.
We also list national support that you can access from anywhere in England.
If you work for an NHS organisation and would like to talk to Best For You about working together, please get in touch.
How do you choose which services to list?
We list services that are free for young people to access and provide support for mental health and wellbeing.
For NHS services, we list the main services that people can access by referring themselves or being referred by a professional (like a GP or someone at school).
If you know of a service that we could add, please get in touch and tell us about it.
How do I tell you about a service you could add?
If you know of a service that we could add, please get in touch and tell us about it.
Why did my search return no results?
If your search has lots of filters, it might be that there isn’t a service that meets every single criteria. You could try removing a filters like ‘Type of support’ to see the services that are available in your area.
Whatever you’re struggling with, you can always text NATTER to 85258 to chat to a trained volunteer by text message. You can talk to a NATTER volunteer about anything that’s on your mind, and it’s free and confidential. Find out more about texting NATTER.
The thing I want help for isn’t listed as a topic – what should I do?
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible for us to list every single possible thing that young people might be struggling with.
You could try choosing the closest available filter – or select ‘How I’m feeling’ to see helplines and services that offer more general support for people who are struggling.
Whatever’s going on, you can always text NATTER to 85258 to chat to a trained volunteer by text message. You can talk to a NATTER volunteer about anything that’s on your mind, and it’s free and confidential. Find out more about texting NATTER.
Can you help me to find personalised support?
Unfortunately we cannot provide advice or signposting to individuals.
You can use this tool to find services in England or read about how to get NHS mental health support.
Whatever’s going on, you can always text NATTER to 85258 to chat to a trained volunteer by text message. You can talk to a NATTER volunteer about anything that’s on your mind, and it’s free and confidential. Find out more about texting NATTER.
Text NATTER for help
Anyone can text ‘NATTER’ to 85258 to seek
help, wherever they are in the UK. It’s a free, anonymous service and available 24/7.
More about NATTER
