How to get help for mental health difficulties
Seeking help is often the first step towards getting and staying well, but it can be hard to know how to start or where to turn. You may have had support from the services at your university and can no longer use them. Now you don’t know where to get the help you need.
It is common to feel unsure, and to wonder whether you should try to handle things on your own. But it’s always ok to ask for help, even if you're not sure if you have a specific mental health problem.
You may have accessed support previously and found the experience positive. For others this may not have been either straightforward or helpful.
Things to ask yourself
Are you:
- Worrying more than usual
- Finding it hard to enjoy your life
- Having thoughts and feelings that are difficult to cope with, which have an impact on your day-to-day life
- Interested in finding more support or treatment
Who can I turn to?
There are lots of options for support out there, although you might find some are more suitable for you, or more easily available. There's no wrong order to try things in – different things work for different people at different times. It can also be difficult to know who to turn to or what support is available, especially if you have moved to a new area.
Your GP
For many of us, our local GP practice is the first place we go when we're unwell. Your doctor is there to help you with your mental health as well as your physical health.
Watch How to talk to your GP about your mental health: Find the Words
Hub of Hope
Hub of Hope is the country's first nationwide mental health database, which brings help and support together in one place. The app will help people to find much needed support using their phone's location to find key services and organisations.
Mental health crisis helplines
If you are in crisis and need to talk right now, there are many helplines staffed by trained people ready to listen. They won't judge you and could help you make sense of what you're feeling.
Beat National Eating Disorder Charity
Beat offers support to people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members.
“the Beat helpline has been such a great support for me, I only wish I had known about them earlier, I didn’t feel ready to talk to someone in person”
Andy's Man Club
In England, around one in eight men have a common mental health problem. However, men may be reluctant to seek support for their mental health or disclose mental health problems to loved ones.
Andy’s Man Club is talking group for men - a safe place to come together and talk about issues or problems they may be facing or have faced.
Workplace support
Some workplaces offer free access to support services such as talking therapies. This is called an Employee Assistance Programme. Ask your line manager or Human Resources department for more advice.
“I was open with my line manager about my mental health issues, which meant I could then approach her for support if I was finding things difficult/had particular issues at work."
Resources
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