See below for advice on:
- Where to go if you need help now
- Talking therapies and Counselling
- More Mental Health Advice and Support
I Need Help Now…
NHS Kernow Mental Health
To talk to someone about your mental wellbeing you can call the 24/7 NHS mental health telephone support helpline on 0800 038 5300 for advice and triage.
Support is available to anyone, regardless of age, all day every day. If you or someone you know feels they need to access urgent mental health support, they will listen to you and assess how best to help.
Find out more about NHS Kernow’s 24hr Mental Health helpline.
When To Seek Immediate Help
Call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency now if:
-Someone’s life is at risk, for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose.
-You do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.
Samaritans
Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. Call Samaritans free, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Email: jo@samaritans.org – for a reply within 24 hours
Telephone: 116 123
Website: www.samaritans.org
Samaritans can also offer you information and advice if you are worried about someone elses mental health.
For example, how to help someone create a safety plan with someone having suicidal thoughts.
Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text “YM” if you’re under 19
Mind
The mental health charity Mind has information on ways to help yourself cope during a crisis.
Make a safety plan
If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or are supporting someone else, it may help to make a safety plan to use if you need it:
- the Staying Safe website provides information on how to make a safety plan, including video tutorials and online templates to guide you through the process
- the mental health charity Mind also provides information on planning for a mental health crisis
Talking Therapies and Counselling
Why talking therapies?
NHS talking therapies services are for people in England aged 18 or over. You can get in touch with the talking therapies service directly without going to your GP. Talking therapies can treat conditions like:
- depression
- generalised anxiety
- social anxiety
- panic and agoraphobia
- other phobias
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- body dysmorphic disorder
See below for different ways to access talking therapies. Please contact services directly for up to date information on what they offer, and if they have waiting lists.
Talking Therapies
Talking Therapies is Cornwall’s NHS funded talking therapies service. Please be aware there may be a waiting list, Talking Therapies can give you more detail if you contact them directly.
To find out more and refer yourself, visit their website or call the number below.
Website: Find an NHS talking therapies services – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Telephone: 01208 871905
Private Counsellors
You may want to consider paying for private talking therapies. If so, you can use the weblinks below to search for counsellors registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BCAP) or the UK Council for Psychotherapy, or with other relevant qualifications through the counselling directory.
BACP: www.bacp.co.uk/search/Therapists
UKCP: www.psychotherapy.org.uk/find-a-therapist
Counselling Directory: www.counselling-directory.org.uk
Reduced Cost/ Free Counselling
The following providers may be able to offer you reduced cost counselling:
Low Cost Counselling Cornwall: Low-Cost Counselling Cornwall
Counsellors Together CIC: Counsellors Together CIC
The following providers may be able to offer you free counselling:
Ratcliffe & Brown CIC: Ratcliffe & Brown CIC
Pegasus – Pegasus – CIC
Specialist Counselling
For bereavement, see Cruse Bereavement Support
For MS, see MS-UK
For self-harm, see Hope for Harm
For trauma and/or domestic abuse, see CLEAR OR WAVES Counselling Project OR West Cornwall Women’s Aid
For young people, see Kooth
For stroke survivors, see Stroke Association
Other Mental Health Advice and Support
Cornwall Mind
Cornwall Mind provide information, advice, and community wellbeing activities both in person and online. To find out more visit their website or contact them on the phone or email provided below.
Website: www.cornwallmind.org
Telephone: 01208 892 855
Pentreath
Pentreath is a mental health charity that works across Cornwall.
“Pentreath exists for people living with mental health and emotional difficulties. We offer support to help people believe in their own potential and achieve their vocational goal, whatever challenges they face.”
You can refer yourself to Pentreath by visiting the website or calling the number below.
Website: www.pentreath.co.uk/
Telephon: 01726 862727
Rethink
Rethink provide expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems.
Email: info@rethink.org
Telephone: 0300 5000 927
Website: www.rethink.org
Mental Health Peer Support Groups
Man Down
Man Down provide a safe place for men to get together and talk openly and freely about their mental health. Read more on their website below, or watch this excellent Man Down video.
Man Down Cornwall | Cornwall (mandown-cornwall.co.uk)
Your Voice
Your Voice offer support groups, activities and other resources to help women come together and support one another in their Mental Health journeys. Find out more by visiting their website below.
Your Voice Cornwall | Cornwall (yourvoicecornwall.org.uk)
The Intercom Trust
The Intercom Trust is a helpline and directory that links LGBTQIA+ individuals with available groups and service, including peer support groups. Find out more by visiting the website below or calling 0800 612 3010.