Resources: Helplines & Webchats

24/7 Support & Connect

Immediate emotional and practical support helpline – 0800 0126549

An NHS, free, confidential, 24/7 helpline provided by Vita Health Group, in partnership with AWP. The line is staffed by experienced counsellors, who you can talk to and they will listen. They will offer emotional support and can connect you to organisations available in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).

The helpline is for people aged 18 and over who are living within BNSSG or are registered with a GP within BNSSG.

If you are 17 or under, please instead call the Children and Young People’s helpline via Avon & Wiltshire Partnership SPA line (0300 303 1320).

Age UK Bristol

Age UK Bristol and Linkage provide a number of services for older adults, including advice, social and community groups, befriending, and practical support. Advice is also available for carers and family.

Al-Anon Family Groups – Bristol

Al-Anon Family Groups provide support to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else’s drinking, regardless of whether that person is still drinking or a part of their lives. Alateen meetings are specifically for those age 12-17 who have been affected by someone else’s drinking. A free helpline is also available.

Alcoholics Anonymous – AA

Alcoholics Anonymous provide a safe space for individuals to discuss their personal experiences with alcohol with the overall aim of overcoming alcohol addiction. Meetings are open to people in any stage of recovery.

Both open and closed meetings are available throughout Bristol and the surrounding areas, face-to-face and online. National helpline also available.

Bath Mind

Bath Mind offer a range of services and support to people living in Bath and North East Somerset, including befriending, counselling, community groups, a crisis helpline, and practical support.

Please note that these services are only available in Bath and North East Somerset, and Bristol Mind is a separate organisation offering different services.

Bristol Drugs Project

Bristol Drugs Project provide free and confidential support to people who are looking for help with their own alcohol and drug use, and the people who care for and about them. Services include support groups, drop-ins, harm reduction, and a dedicated helpline. Specific and targeted support is available for children and young people, students, older people, women, and the LGBTQIA+ community. A specific service is available for recent drug and alcohol-related bereavements.

Forcesline

Forcesline is a free and confidential telephone helpline and email service that provides support for serving and ex-service men and women and reserves from the Armed Forces and for their families. SSAFA, who operate the line, are an independent charity outside of the military chain of command.

Galop

Galop are a LGBTQIA+ anti-abuse charity, providing support to LGBTQIA+ people who have experienced abuse and violence. They provide helplines, advocacy, online support communities, and dedicated services for LGBTQIA+ children and young people.

GamCare

GamCare is the leading UK provider of free information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling. They provide both telephone and online support.

Intercom Trust

Intercom Trust provide support to LGBTQIA+ people across the South West of England. They offer a dedicated South West helpline, and specific services for people in Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset.

Maternity Action

Maternity Action provide advice, information, and confidential telephone support to parents worried about their rights at work and rights to benefits and healthcare.

Mermaids

Mermaids supports transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth and their families, up to their 20th birthday, and offers webchat support to gender-diverse students up to the age of 25.

Mindline Trans+

Mindline Trans+ is a UK-wide confidential emotional support and signposting helpline for people who identify as transgender, non-binary, or otherwise gender-diverse and their families and friends. The service is provided by Mind in Somerset, and is staffed by listeners with lived experience of being trans+.

Mothers for Mothers

Mothers for Mothers offer a range of perinatal mental health support services. Most of their services, including helplines, one-to-one sessions, and counselling, are directed at mothers, but monthly support sessions are also available for fathers.

Nacoa

Nacoa provide information, support, and advice for people of all ages affected by a parent’s drinking. Support is provided online and through a free helpline.

Next Link

Next Link is part of Missing Link Mental Health Services, providing specific support services for women who are experiencing domestic abuse. Services include safe houses, crisis response, outreach, and helplines.

Safeline

Safeline provide support to survivors of sexual assault and rape. Online counselling is available, and there is a dedicated helpline for male survivors.

Self Injury Support

Self Injury Support offer support for anyone affected by self harm, and information and resources about self harm for all. Support is provided through webchats, helplines, text, and email.

If you have been affected by self-injury their helpline and text services are open to offer you confidential, non-judgmental support.

Mon and Thurs 7pm – 10pm
Helpline: 0808 800 8088

Text: Contact TESS at 07537 432444 (Texts cost standard rate).

SurvivorsUK

SurvivorsUK provide a national online helpline, individual and group counselling for boys, men, and non-binary people aged 13+ who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. They also offer emotional support to men going through the justice system in relation to experiencing sexual violence.

The Silver Line

The Silver Line operate a free, confidential, 24-hour telephone helpline for people aged 55+ in the UK, and offer a telephone friendship service connecting people aged 60+ with volunteers to reduce social isolation.

Victim Support

Victim Support offer free, independent, and confidential advice and support to anyone who has been affected by crime, including a 24-hour helpline, and advocacy for victims of domestic abuse.

Womankind

Womankind supports women in the Bristol area with professional counselling, group psychotherapy, befriending and a helpline service.

Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid is a national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. They have a live chat and email service for survivors, as well as information and a directory of services.