Resources
Below you’ll find links and contact details for organisations that provide crisis support, that offer support and information on different mental health difficulties, and for different communities, as well as places where you can find out more about therapy and search for other therapists. (Separate listings for the UK and France.)
Crisis support
If you are in crisis, feel unsafe and don’t know what to do:
In the UK:
- Dial 999
- Go to A&E, or ask someone to take you
- Call the Samaritans, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline, or contact SHOUT (see details below).
In France:
- Dial 15 for the emergency medical service (SAMU) or or the general emergency number 112.
- Go to your local hospital emergency room (“Urgences”)
- Call SOS Help, English language helpline (see details below)
- Call Suicide Écoute (French language helpline), or 3114 (French language national suicide prevention helpline) – see details below
Sources of crisis support:
In the UK:
SHOUT
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Text SHOUT to 85258
More info on their website: https://giveusashout.org/
Samaritans
A helpline, for whatever you’re going through. Free and confidential. Available at any time, from any phone, 365 days a year.
Call 116 123
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. Call 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight every day).
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Helpline for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
Call 0800 58 58 58
Open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year.
They also offer a webchat and information/ links to support with specific issues on:
https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help/
NHS mental health helplines
Find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline
In France
SOS Help
SOS Help is an English-language emotional support line for the international community in France.
01 46 21 46 46 (3pm-11pm, daily)
SOS Amitié
A French-language listening service modelled on the Samaritans in the UK, contactable by phone, email or by online chat (via their website).
Call: 09 72 39 40 50 (24hrs, 7 days)
Suicide Écoute
French-language suicide helpline: 01 45 39 40 00 (24hrs a day, 7 days a week)
https://www.suicide-ecoute.fr/
3114
French-language national suicide prevention helpline (24hrs, 7 days a week), call 3114.
SOS Suicide Phénix
French-language suicide helpline:
01 40 44 46 45 (1pm-11pm, 7 days)
http://www.sos-suicide-phenix.org
About therapy/finding a therapist
UK-based therapists
BACP British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy
UKCP United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy
https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/
BAATN The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network
Home of the largest community of counsellors and psychotherapists of Black, African, Asian and Caribbean Heritage in the UK
https://www.baatn.org.uk/find-a-therapist/
Pink Therapy
Directory of pink therapists provides a list of practitioners who work in an affirmative way with LGBTQ individuals and couples.
COSRT College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists
The Body Psychotherapy Network
https://www.bodypsychotherapynetwork.co.uk/findatherapist
France-based therapists
Counselling in France
https://www.counsellinginfrance.com/
La Fedération Française de Psychothérapie et Psychoanalyse (FF2P)