Helplines

Cruse Scotland (Bereavement Support) provides professional bereavement support via their free helpline, webchat, counselling, group support, training and specialist children & young people’s service.

Phone: 0808 802 6161
Email: support@crusescotland.org.uk
Webchat: https://www.crusescotland.org.uk/how-can-we-help/about-webchat/

Weekdays 9.00 am – 8.00 pm
Weekends 10.00 am – 2.00 pm

Cost: Free

SHOUT is a crisis text service. Your text will be answered by a trained volunteer who is there to listen to you without judgement.

If you are deaf and experiencing a crisis, text DEAF to 85258.

Text: SHOUT 85258
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

Samaritans offer confidential emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that may lead to suicide.

People contact Samaritans with a range of difficulties such as:

• relationship and family problems
• loss, including loss of a friend or a family member through bereavement
• financial worries
• job-related stress
• college or study-related stress
• loneliness and isolation
• depression
• painful and/or disabling physical illness
• heavy use of or dependency on alcohol or other drugs
• thoughts of suicide

Phone: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day

Address: Chris
Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK
PO Box 9090
STIRLING FK8 2SA

Cost: Free

The National Debtline call handers provide independent advice and information to help you with your debt difficulties.

Phone: 0808 808 4000
Webchat: www.nationaldebtline.org
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 8.00 pm

Cost: Free

Beat’s helpline supports people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members. If you are unable to get through on the phone, you can try the one-to-one webchat.

Adult line: 0808 801 0677
Student line: 0808 801 0811
Youth line: 0808 801 0711
Email (adults): fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Email (youth): help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Webchat: www.support.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/app/chat

Cost: Free

The Families Outside support and information helpline provides support and independent information for families whose loved ones are in prison. The trained helpline staff can help you deal with the difficulties of having someone you love in prison.

If lines are busy, or you call outside of the opening times, please leave a message and the helpline team will call back to you as soon as they can.

Phone: 0800 254 0088
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Cost: Free

The Lone Parent Helpline offers emotional support and information for lone parents on a range of topics, including:

• child maintenance
• contact
• employment
• education
• welfare benefits and tax credits
• housing
• debt

This service is provided by One Parent Families Scotland.

Phone: 0808 801 0323
Email: helpline@opfs.org.uk
Webchat: opfs.org.uk/talk-to-us
Monday to Friday, 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

Cost: Free

Children 1st Parentline offers practical, financial and emotional support to every family in Scotland. Whatever your family is facing, get in touch over the phone or online to talk things through.

Phone: 08000 28 22 33
Email: parentlinescotland@children1st.org.uk
Webchat: www.children1st.org.uk/parentline
Monday – Friday, 9.00 am – 9.00 pm
Saturday – Sunday, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm

Cost: Free

The NSPCC Helpline is staffed by trained professionals who can provide expert advice and support. The helpline can help you if you’re concerned about a child, if you’re a parent or carer looking for advice, or if you’re a professional in need of information and guidance.

Phone: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Monday to Friday, 8.00 am – 10.00 pm
Saturday to Sunday, 9.00 am – 6.00 pm

Cost: Free

The No Panic Helpline allows you to speak to trained volunteers about your difficulties. When the helpline is not live, you can still call and listen to breathing and relaxation techniques.

Phone (Adults): 0844 967 4848
Phone ( 13 – 20 year olds): 0330 606 1174
Email: sarah@nopanic.org.uk
Monday to Friday, 3.00 – 6.00 pm

Cost: Free

Anxiety UK is a national charity for people affected by anxiety. The helpline is available to you if you are struggling with your anxiety and can signpost you to groups, counselling, self-help materials and email support.

Phone: 03444 775774
Text: 07537 416 905
Email: support@anxietyuk.org.uk
Monday to Friday, 9.30 am – 5.30 pm
Saturday to Sunday, 10.00 am – 8.00 pm

Cost: Free

Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web-based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, stress, depression or anxiety.

Information about Breathing Space in British Sign Language, including how to contact the service if you feel low, depressed or anxious is available here: https://bit.ly/3l3yQYP

Phone: 0800 83 85 87
Webchat: www.breathingspace.scot
Monday to Thursday, 6.00 pm – 2.00 am
Friday to Monday, 6.00 pm – to 6.00 am

Cost: Free

The CALM team are available to chat to you about whatever you’re going through. Calls are answered by trained helpline staff who can support you, provide information and signpost you to services throughout the UK.

Phone: 0800 58 58 58
Webchat: www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat

Cost: Free

The SAMH Information Service can help you if you are seeking support, information or a chat about mental health.

Phone: 0344 800 0500
Email: info@samh.org.uk
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 6.00 pm

Cost: Free

Switchboard LGBT+ helpline, email support and webchat is for all LGBT people across the UK looking for support. It is confidential, welcoming, supportive and non-judgmental.

Phone: 0300 330 0630
Email: chris@switchboard.lgbt
Monday to Sunday, 10.00 am – 10.00 pm

Cost: Free

The LGBT Health and Wellbeing helpline team provide information and emotional support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, friends and supporters across Scotland. The team also provide support to those questioning or wanting to discuss their sexuality or gender identity.

Phone: 0300 123 2523
Email: helpline@lgbthealth.org.uk
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12.00 – 9.00 pm
Thursdays and Sundays, 1.00 – 6.00 pm

Cost: Free

The LGBT Foundation helpline offers non-judgmental support and advice on a range of topics such as:

• mental health
• loneliness
• coming out
• gender identity
• sexual harassment
• reporting hate crimes

Phone: 0345 30 30 30
Email: helpline@lgbt.foundation

Cost: Free

The OCD Action Helpline is a confidential service offering help, information and support for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), carers and anyone who is concerned that they, or their friends or relatives, may have OCD or a related disorder.

Phone: 03006365478
Email: support@ocdaction.org.uk
Monday to Friday, 9.30 am – 8.00 pm

Cost: Free

The Age Scotland helpline is a free, confidential phone service for older people, their carers and families in Scotland. The team provides information, friendship and advice.

Phone: 0800 12 44 222
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Cost: Free

The Silver Line is a confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people.

Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90
Email: info@thesilverline.org.uk
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

The Hourglass (perviously action on elder abuse) helpline offers free and confidential advice and support for older people. Common topics discussed are:

• financial harm or exploitation
• physical abuse
• emotional or psychological abuse
• sexual harm or abuse
• neglect

Phone: 080 8808 8141 (press 2 for Scotland)
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Cost: Free

The AMINA – The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre’s helpline provides information, advice and listening support for Muslim women. The helpline can support you with a range of concerns including family matters, marriage, domestic abuse, racial harassment, immigration, Shariah, education, employment, finance, housing, health, social isolation and leisure activities suitable for Muslim women.

Phone: 0808 801 0301
Email: helpline@mwrc.org.uk

Cost: Free

Muslim Youth’s helpline can help you in a non-judgmental way about the difficulties facing you. The helpline team is trained in basic counselling skills will handle your call in a non-judgmental way.

Phone: 0808 808 2008
Email: info@myh.org.uk
Webchat: www.myh.org.uk/live-chat

Cost: Free

The Self Injury Support helpline, email, text and webchat are answered by trained female volunteers and can support you with your difficulties with self-harm. You can call when you are in a crisis or if you just need someone to chat to.

Phone: 0808 800 8088 (suspended due to Covid-19)
Text: 07537 432444
Email: tessmail@selfinjurysupport.org.uk
Tuesday to Thursday, 7.00 – 9.30 pm

Cost: Free

The Al-Anon helpline is for anyone affected by someone else’s drinking. The helpline is looked after by a team of friendly and helpful volunteers who are also a member of Al-Anon.

Please do not leave a message as, to ensure callers’ confidentiality, Al-Anon is unable to return calls.

Phone: 0800 0086 811
Email: helpline@al-anonuk.org.uk
Monday to Sunday, 10.00 am – 10.00 pm

Cost: Free

A national helpline for someone dealing with a drinking problem. The helpline is looked after by volunteers who are also AA members and can support you to find a local group and support.

Phone: 0800 9177 650
Email: help@aamail.org

Cost: Free

Cocaine Anonymous’s (CA) helpline and email support is a fellowship, offering information and support to people affected by addiction to cocaine and other mind and mood-altering substances.

Phone: 0800 612 0225
Email: helpline@cauk.org.uk

Cost: Free

Drinkline is a free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else’s.

Phone: 0300 123 1110
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 8.00 pm
Saturday to Sunday, 11.00 am – 4.00 pm

Cost: Free

Know the Score provides confidential drugs information and advice. You can speak to trained advisors who can help you with your difficulties and make a plan for the future.

Phone: 0333 230 9468
Email: Online form
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 9.00 pm
Saturday to Sunday, 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

Cost: Free

Talk to Frank’s helpline, email and webchat provides friendly, confidential drugs information and advice.

Phone: 0300 123 6600
Email: frank@talktofrank.com
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

The Rape Crisis Scotland helpline offers free and confidential support and information by phone, email and text. It is for anyone aged 13 and over, of any gender, affected by any form of sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened.

Phone: 08088 01 03 02
Text: 077537 410 027
Email: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
Monday to Sunday, 6.00 pm – 12.00 am

Cost: Free

Respect Phoneline is a confidential helpline, email and webchat service for domestic abuse perpetrators and those supporting them.

The team support men and women who are using abuse in same-sex or heterosexual relationships.

Phone: 0808 8024040
Email: info@respectphoneline.org.uk
Webchat: www.respectphoneline.org.uk/contact-us

Cost: Free

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline supports anyone with experience of domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as their family members, friends, colleagues and professionals who support them. The team provide a confidential, sensitive service to anyone who calls.

Phone: 0800 027 1234
Email: helpline@sdsfmh.org.uk
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

Survivors UK’s helpline supports men who have been sexually abused.

A chat service for men who have experienced sexual abuse either as a child or an adult and allows you to have a confidential one-to-one chat with one of the trained helpliners.

Text: 020 3322 1860
WhatsApp: 07491 816064
Email: help@survivorsuk.org

Cost: Free

Victim Support Scotland’s helpline can support you if you have been a victim of crime. The team can offer time to explore the feeling that the incident has provoked and help improve your emotional wellbeing.

Phone: 0800 160 1985
Email: info@victimsupportsco.org.uk
Webchat: www.victimsupport.scot
Monday to Friday, 8.00 am – 8.00 pm

Cost: Free

The Combat Stress helpline is available to anyone who serves or who has served in the UK Armed Forces. Helpline advisors can support you if you are having difficulty sleeping, experiencing flashbacks, feeling depressed or anxious.

Phone (Veterans and their families): 0800 138 1619
Phone (Serving personnel and their families): 0800 323 4444
Text: 07537 404719
Email: helpline@combatstress.org.uk 

Cost: Free

Childline is a free, private and confidential service for anyone under the age of 19 to talk about anything.

Phone: o800 1111
Monday to Sunday, 9.00 am – 12.00 am

Cost: Free

The Hopeline UK helpline is for children and young people under the age of 35 years old who are experiencing thoughts of suicide and for those concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.

Hopeline advisers aim to help you to understand your thoughts of suicide and help stop them. The helpline is a safe space to talk through anything happening in your life that is causing you distress.

Phone: 0800 068 4141
Text: 07860039967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 10.00 pm
Saturday to Sunday, 2.00 pm – 10.00 pm

Cost: Free

The Mix’s helpline, webchat and text service is for young people (25 and under) and can help you take on any challenge you’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs.

Phone: 0808 808 4994
Text: 85258
Email: www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team/email-us
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics provides advice, support and information for anyone who is affected by a parent’s drinking.

Phone: 0800 358 3456
Email: helpline@nacoa.org.uk 
Monday to Saturday, 2.00 – 7.00 pm

Cost: Free

Text message service for young people looking for help and support with mental health.

Text: YM to 85258
Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day

Cost: Free