Whether you need someone to listen, practical advice or urgent help, these services offer a place to turn. They are available whether or not you are having therapy with me.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.
NHS emergency guidance ↗In England, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. In Greater Manchester, this is option 2, available 24 hours a day.
NHS urgent support in Greater Manchester ↗TalkWise is not an emergency service. Emails, text messages and enquiries are not monitored continuously. If you need urgent help, use the services above rather than waiting for a reply.
Someone to listen when things feel difficult. You do not have to be feeling suicidal to get in touch.
Call 116 123Free · 24 hours a day · UK and Ireland
Samaritans contact options ↗If talking aloud feels difficult, you can have a conversation by text with a trained volunteer.
Text SHOUT to 85258Free · 24 hours a day · UK
How Shout works ↗Help finding local wellbeing support, peer support and advice on issues such as benefits, housing and debt. Eligibility varies by service; ask the team what is available for your area.
0161 769 5732Monday–Friday, 10am–3pm, excluding bank holidays. This is not a crisis line.
Contact Manchester Mind ↗Evening and weekend support for adults at 93 Church Lane, Manchester, M9 5BG. Call before visiting.
0161 271 0339Monday–Friday, 8pm–1am; Saturday–Sunday, 3pm–1am.
NHS details and other local crisis spaces ↗An adult crisis café at 54–56 Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, M16 0LN. Walk in or telephone for support.
07933 882743Every day, 5.30pm–12.30am.
NHS service details ↗Your GP can help you explore suitable care. In England, you can also look for free NHS Talking Therapies and check how to refer yourself.
Find NHS mental health services ↗Support and referral routes vary by area. These services are separate from TalkWise.
Refuge’s specialist support for women experiencing domestic abuse and people concerned about them.
0808 2000 247Free · 24 hours a day · England
Helpline and online support ↗Support for men experiencing domestic abuse and those concerned about them.
0808 801 0327Free · Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm · UK
Telephone, email and webchat options ↗Advice, emotional support and help finding appropriate services for LGBTQ+ people. Based in Manchester, with helpline support across the UK.
0345 330 3030Monday–Friday, 9am–9pm; Saturday–Sunday, 10am–6pm, excluding bank holidays and religious festivals. Call charges may apply.
LGBT Foundation helpline ↗Support can also mean finding somewhere to go, something meaningful to do or people who share an interest. These services can help you find volunteering, creative activities, learning, walking groups and other ways to become involved locally or online.
Search by area for community groups, local events, charities, support and volunteering. Listings show when information was last updated, which can help you judge whether to contact a group.
Search the Greater Manchester Community Map ↗The Greater Manchester Combined Authority links to the recognised volunteering service for each of the ten boroughs. Opportunities can range from one-off events to regular commitments.
Choose your borough and find opportunities ↗Current volunteering opportunities and support for people who live, work or study in the city of Manchester. The centre also offers volunteering drop-ins for people who would like help getting started.
Explore Volunteer Centre Manchester ↗Gaddum’s Greater Manchester directory brings together peer groups organised around shared experiences, identities and health needs. Each listing explains its intended members and how to enquire.
Search the Greater Manchester peer-support directory ↗Creative wellbeing courses from Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust at the Zion Community Resource Centre in Hulme. The programme is for adult Manchester residents, including people who are not using Trust services. Self-referral is available, subject to the programme’s criteria.
Check the current programme and access criteria ↗The gallery’s adult programme includes current talks, tours and opportunities for conversation and making. Some activities are open to all adults, while others are designed for particular groups, such as older adults.
View current adult activities ↗Local libraries provide reading groups, community activities, volunteering, computers and places to spend time. What is available differs by branch, so use the council directory to find your nearest library and its current programme.
Find a Manchester library and its activities ↗A UK-wide charity supporting voluntary arts and creative groups. Its creativity map can help you find local choirs, crafts, visual arts, writing, music and other community-led activities.
Find a creative group through Creative Lives ↗An official regional map of gardening projects, conservation groups and nature-based wellbeing activities. Use the map to explore opportunities near you and contact the organiser for current arrangements.
Explore the Nature Activity Map ↗Transport for Greater Manchester’s Bee Active service links to local walks and includes information about inclusive walking and wheeling. Manchester City Council also lists established local Ramblers groups.
Explore walking through Bee Active ↗The Ramblers’ national directory lets you search for organised walking groups by location. Individual groups vary in pace, distance and accessibility, so check the walk description or contact the organiser before attending.
Find a Ramblers group ↗Shared workshops centred on practical hobbies, making, repairing and informal company. The UK Men’s Sheds Association map includes Men’s Sheds and Community Sheds; each Shed sets its own membership and opening arrangements.
Find a nearby Shed ↗A national guide to finding volunteering through recognised services, including NHS volunteering, environmental opportunities, skills-based roles and country-specific services.
Find national volunteering routes ↗Enter a postcode to find the local authority responsible for community-support information in England or Wales. Council directories often include activities, community centres and voluntary organisations.
Find your local council’s community support ↗Local and online interest groups for people no longer in full-time employment. Activities vary widely and can include languages, arts, music, literature, history, technology and social events. Membership and activity costs vary.
Find a local u3a ↗Contact the emergency or mental health services where you are physically located. The UK numbers above may not work from abroad.
Opening hours and availability can change; use the linked service pages for the latest information. All times shown are UK local time.
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