Emergency help
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Help & Support Resources
When you need more than a reflection
Digital Derek is designed to offer perspective and reflection. It is not an emergency, crisis or professional support service.
If you need urgent, specialist or practical help, the organisations below can provide support.
Emergency and urgent mental-health support
NHS 111
Urgent help that is not an emergency
If you need urgent help for your mental health but it is not an emergency, call 111 and select the mental-health option, or use NHS 111 online.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Emotional and mental-health support
Samaritans
Someone to talk to, day or night
Samaritans offers confidential emotional support for anyone who is struggling to cope or simply needs someone to listen.
Phone: 116 123
Free to call, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Shout
Free confidential support by text
Shout provides free, confidential, 24/7 text support for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope.
Text SHOUT to 85258.
Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Support
Support after bereavement
Cruse provides support, information and a listening service for people affected by grief.
Phone: 0808 808 1677.
Current helpline opening hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9.30am–5pm
- Tuesday: 1pm–8pm
- Saturday and Sunday: closed
Domestic abuse
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Free and confidential domestic-abuse support
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline provides confidential support and information for women experiencing domestic abuse and people concerned about someone they know.
Phone: 0808 2000 247
Freephone, 24 hours a day.
Drugs and alcohol
FRANK
Confidential information and advice about drugs
FRANK provides friendly, confidential information and advice about drugs.
Phone: 0300 123 6600
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Text: 82111.
Drinkline
Confidential alcohol support
Drinkline is the national alcohol helpline for anyone worried about their own or someone else’s drinking.
Phone: 0300 123 1110
Current NHS-listed opening hours:
- Weekdays: 9am–8pm
- Weekends: 11am–4pm
Gambling
GamCare / National Gambling Helpline
Support for gambling-related harm
GamCare provides free and confidential support for people affected by gambling, including family and friends.
Phone: 0808 8020 133
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Money and debt
StepChange Debt Charity
Free and impartial debt advice
StepChange provides free debt advice online and by telephone.
Phone: 0800 138 1111
Current helpline hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8am–8pm
- Saturday: 9am–2pm
Support for carers
Carers UK
Information and support for unpaid carers
Carers UK provides information and guidance about caring, benefits, work and other practical issues affecting unpaid carers.
Phone: 0808 808 7777
Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, including Bank Holidays.
You do not have to work everything out on your own
Asking for specialist or urgent support is not a failure. Sometimes the most useful next step is simply speaking to the right person.
If you are unsure where to start and it is not an emergency, NHS 111 can help direct you to appropriate support.