Some organisations offering help for mental health problems

General

MIND (National Association for Mental Health) – www.mind.org.uk – 0845 766 0163. National Charity for people with mental health problems, has numerous local centres offering therapy and support throughout the UK, with 21 in London alone.

The Mental Health Foundation - www.mentalhealth.org.uk/ - comprehensive website offering information and contacts for all types of mental disorders.

Stress

Stress Management Society – http://www.stress.org.uk/ – 0870 199 3260. Company offering stress management training to companies and individuals.

Anxiety disorders

No Panic - http://www.nopanic.org.uk/ . Helpline 0808 808 0545. Charity helping sufferers from Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, other related Anxiety Disorders, including Tranquilliser Withdrawal

National Phobics Society – www.phobics-society.org.uk – 0870 7700 456

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive Action – www.obsessive-action.demon.co.uk – 020 7226 4000

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

(From child sexual abuse): Survivors UK: info@survivorsuk.org.uk – 0845 122 120

(From torture and war crimes): Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture: www.torturecare.org.uk – 020 7697 7777

Depression

Samaritans - www.samaritans.org.uk – 08457 90 90 90 – jo@samaritans.org . 24-hour help for the depressed and suicidal.

Depression Alliance – www.depressionalliance.org – 0845 123 2320. Charity offering advice and support, runs local groups

Addictions: Drink, drugs and sex

Alcohol:

Alcoholics Anonymous: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk – 0845 769 7555

Alcohol Concern: www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/ - 0800 917 8282

Drugs:  
Narcotics Anonymous: www.ukna.org – 020 7730 0009

Release: www.release.org.uk/ - 0845 4500 215

(Gay-specific): Antidote: http://www.thehungerford.org/antidote.asp%20–%20020%207437%203523

Sexual Compulsion:

Sexaholics Anonymous: http://www.sauk.org/ - 07000 725463- newcomers@sauk.org

Schizophrenia

SANE (Schizophrenia A National Emergency): http://www.sane.org.uk/ . – 0845 767 8000

Bipolar Affective Disorder (Manic-Depression):

MDF The BiPolar Organisation: www.mdf.org.uk/ . 08456 340 540

Borderline Personality Disorder

http://www.bpdworld.org/

UK HIV organisations offering counselling (there are also many local ones)

The range of organisations offering counselling has changed as funding for this kind of support work has decreased for the voluntary sector. HIV-related counselling is now often easier to access through HIV clinics than through voluntary agencies. Nonetheless many voluntary organisations still offer counselling, often in liaison with local counselling organisations or clinics.

Other voluntary organisations offer a package of support which includes peer support, information and complementary therapies, and can also include one-to-one counselling at the organisation or accessed by them. Just because an HIV organisation doesn’t explicitly offer ‘counselling’ as one of its services doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get counselling by asking them.

Terrence Higgins Trust

The Terrence Higgins Trust offers counselling at a number of centres in London. Some are attached to HIV clinics and some in the THT’s own offices. It also offers counselling at every one of its regional offices. For a referral, phone THT Direct on 0845 1221 200.

THT regional offices are in:

• Birmingham and Coventry (THT Midlands) - 01902 711 818 - info.birmingham@tht.org.uk . Also run MESMEN, gay men’s counselling and support group - 024 7622 9292 or mesmen@tht.org.uk
• Brighton (THT South) - 01273 764 200 - info.south@tht.org.uk
• Bristol (THT West) - 0117 955 1000 (Bristol) or info.west@tht.org.uk. Also run services from Swindon.
• Cardiff (THT Cymru) 029 2066 6465 – info.cymru@tht.org.uk
• Leeds - 0113 236 4720 - info.leeds@tht.org.uk
• Oxford - 01865 243 389 – info.oxford@tht.org.uk
• Southend and Colchester (THT East) - 01702 340 791(Southend) or 01206 798 595 (Colchester) - info.southend@tht.org.uk

Other London organisations offering counselling

The majority of other London HIV organisations that offer counselling are now ones that offer counselling to affected groups.

• CASCAID - 020 7740 5122. Although this is an NHS-operated service it is mentioned specifically because it also offers counselling services in several HIV organisations in south London.
• Positive East - 020 8509 3440. Formed recently by a merger between the Globe Centre and London East AIDS Network, this organisation offers HIV counselling as well as their Gay Men’s Wellbeing service.

Gay and bisexual men, transgender etc.

• Healthy Gay Living Centre – 020 7835 1495. Counselling for gay men. This organisation has now merged with the Terrence Higgins Trust.
• PACE – 020 7700 1323.info@pacehealth.org.uk .Islington-based LGBT counselling and therapy centre that offers subsidised counselling and workshops to gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people throughout London. PACE also has a register of private gay-affirmative psychotherapists.
• Pink Therapy - 020 7291 4480. info@pinktherapy.com . This is a private partnership and register of gay-affirmative psychotherapists, based in central London. Standard psychotherapy rates.
• KAIROS in Soho - 020 7437 6063. Promotes the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community in central London. Low-cost therapy.

Africans and Afro-Caribbeans

• Shaka Services – 020 7735 6744. Counselling and emotional support for Africans and Caribbeans; based in Kennington, south London
• Nafsiyat - 020 7686 8666. An intercultural therapy centre in north London. Provides private therapy for and by people of colour and can offer free places to redients of Islington, Camden and Enfield.

Many African support organisations in London can provide or access one-to-one and group support for clients. ‘Counselling’ and ‘psychotherapy’ are not always culturally familiar terms to people of African origin, so many organisations use terms like ‘emotional support’, ‘peer support’ and ‘confidential advice’ instead. They include:

• Uganda AIDS Action Fund - 020 7394 8866. Provide emotional support, outreach and support groups for African people in London.
• IVO (Innovative Vision Organisation) - 0208 365 0349. Based in Tottenham, north London
• HAAZ (HIV and AIDS Association of Zambia) – 020 8214 1475. Based in Neasden, north-west London.

Other ethnic minorities

• Naz Project - 020 8741 1879 – npl@naz.org.uk . HIV and sexual health support for south Asians, Latin Americans, and Africans from the Horn of Africa region and Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Women, families and children

• Positively Women - 020 7713 0444. Provide an integrated programme of support for HIV positive women.
• Body & Soul - 020 7383 7678 - info@bodyandsoulcharity.org . A UK charity supporting children, teenagers, women, heterosexual men and their families who are living with or closely affected by HIV and AIDS.

Non-THT organisations outside London

This is not an exhaustive list; it has been restricted to organisations specifically mentioning ‘counselling’ on their websites and which represent services for most UK regions, especially those not covered by the Terrence Higgins Trust.

• East Anglia/King’s Lynn – E.A.S.T (Eastern AIDS Support Services) - 01553 776655 - mail@aids-east.org.uk
• East Midlands/Leicester – Leicester AIDS Support Services -  0116 255 9995 - reception@lass.org.uk
• North-east/Middlesbrough – Cleveland AIDS Support - 01642 254598 - vdm@clevelandaidssupport.org.uk
• North-west/Liverpool – Sahir House: 0151 708 9080 – info@sahir.uk.com
• North-west/Manchester: Body Positive North West - 0161 873 8103 - info@bpnw.org.uk
• Scotland/Edinburgh: Waverley Care Solas – 0131 661 0982
• Scotland/Glasgow – PHACE Scotland - 0141 332 3838 - contact@phacescotland.org. Support and advocacy for people with HIV, also run a counselling service for lesbians, bisexuals, gay men and people questioning their sexuality. Have an office (PHACE Grampian) in Aberdeen.
• South/Brighton: Brighton Body Positive: 01273 693266
• South/Southampton: Ribbons Centre - 023 8022 5511. info@ribbons-centre.co.uk

Services for specific affected groups outside London

Gay and bisexual men, transgender etc

• PHACE Scotland – see above
• MESMAC northeast – HIV and sexual health services for gay men in northeast England. - 0191 233 1333
• MESMAC Yorkshire - 0113 244 4209. Based in Leeds, with other offices in Bradford, Wakefield and York.
• Lesbian and Gay Foundation – Based in Manchester. Counselling via 0845 330 3030 or via George House Trust on 0161 274 4499

Africans

• Black Health Agency - 0800 0967 500. Based in Manchester, offers support and advice to African people living throughout England.