get help

websites

general

Mind
www.mind.org.uk
Raises awareness of mental health and campaigns for the rights of people experiencing mental distress and anxiety.

SANE
www.sane.org.uk
BBC Health's Guide to Addictions website.

agoraphobia

Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology
www.inpp.org.uk/agoraphobia.html
Information about Al-Anon, who offer understanding and support for families and friends of problem drinkers, and their services.

ABIL (Agoraphobics Building Independent Lives)
www.anxietysupport.org
Provides support and advocacy for people suffering from phobias, panic attacks and/or agoraphobia. Runs self-help groups.

alcohol

Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Offers help to alcoholics of all ages. Includes a section aimed at young people: 'How to tell when drinking is becoming a problem.'

Al-Anon Family Groups UK and Eire
www.hexnet.co.uk/alanon
Aims to provide understanding, strength and hope to anyone whose life is, or has been, affected by someone else's drinking.

Alateen
www.hexnet.co.uk/alanon/alateen.html
Offers support to young people aged 12-20 who have friends or family members with drinking problems.

anorexia nervosa

Eating Disorders Association
www.edauk.com
Provides support and information for people with eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, and their friends and families.

antidepressants

Depression and Antidepressants
www.antidepressants.co.uk
Links to websites on antidepressants and depression.

antipsychotic drugs

Antipsychotic Drug Table
www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/phender.html
Definitions, effects and side-effects of antipsychotic drugs.

anxiety

For anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and obsessions:

Anxiety Disorder Education Program
www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety
Has information about anxiety disorders and treatments, plus links and contacts. Part of US National Institutes of Health website.

First Steps to Freedom
www.firststeps.demon.co.uk
Offers online support via e-groups to anyone suffering from an anxiety disorder.

No Panic
www.no-panic.co.uk
Support and recovery groups for those with anxiety problems including phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive Action
www.obsessive-action-demon.co.uk
Advice and information for those with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Panic Anxiety Hub
www.panicattacks.com
Australian site with a huge amount of information on panic attacks and related matters.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADDNet UK
www.web-tv.co.uk/addnet
Comprehensive website with details of local specialist centres, support groups, news and events, links to other sites, a chat room, online conferences and 'Zoom', a young person's page with news, advice and contacts.

ADD/ADHD: Vision & Learning
www.add-adhd.org
US site with detailed information about ADHD for parents and sufferers.

Contact-a-Family
www.cafamily.org.uk
Provides help for families who care for children and young people with any disability or special needs.

benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepine Information
www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/benz01.htm
Everything you need to know about the benzodiazepine group of drugs. Links for further information.

bereavement

Cruse Bereavement Care
www.crusebereavement-care.org.uk
Provides advice and support for bereaved people of any age. Network of local branches and publications.

Compassionate Friends
www.tcf.org.uk
Organisation for bereaved parents and their families offering understanding, support and encouragement to others after the death of a child or children. Support, advice and information to other relatives, friends and professionals who are helping the family.

bulimia nervosa

Eating Disorders Association
www.edauk.com
Provides support and information for people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and their friends and family.

bullying

Anti-Bullying Network
www.antibullying.net
Network for teachers, parents and young people to share ideas about how bullying should be tackled.

Bully Online
www.successunlimited.co.uk
Website of the UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line. Offers resources on bullying and related issues. Also contains pages on workplace violence, domestic abuse, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, child bullying, bullying in schools and stalking.

Childline
www.childline.org.uk
This website has useful factsheets through which you can learn more about all sorts of issues, from bullying to exam stress.

Kidscape
www.kidscape.org.uk
Advises on issues involving children's safety, such as child abuse and bullying.

child abuse

Kidscape
www.kidscape.org.uk
Advises on issues involving children's safety, such as child abuse and bullying. Provides publications.

NSPCC
www.nspcc.org.uk
Information and advice to anyone, including children, concerned about a child at risk of ill-treatment or abuse.

cognitive behaviour therapy

Center for Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
www.hope4ocd.com
US site offering help and information on treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

counselling

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
www.counselling.co.uk
Umbrella organisation for all forms of counselling and psychotherapy. Also responsible for compiling the UK Register of Counsellors.

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
www.psychotherapy.org.uk
Supplies details of local registered psychotherapists and counsellors, including creative therapists.

creative therapies

The Happiness Project
www.happiness.co.uk
Offers courses, workshops, seminars and coaching on success, happiness and relationships using creativity.

Happy Place
www.happyplace.net
Aims to be a community of sincere and trustworthy people who care about their own happiness and want to share their joy with others.

depression

Depression Alliance
www.depressionalliance.org
Run by fellow sufferers. Contains information about symptoms, treatments and local groups.

Depression.com
www.depression.com
Offers advice to those with depression on how to manage their mental health.

Wing of Madness
www.wingofmadness.com
Website about clinical depression.

manic depression

Manic Depression Fellowship
www.mdf.org.uk
Self-help organisation for those with manic depression, their friends and relatives. Provides information and details of local groups.

obsessions

Obsessions and Compulsions - Psychological Self-help
www.mhnet.org/psyhelp/chap5/chap5t.htm
Compelled to repeat useless and distressing rituals, such as hand washing, counting or lock checking, or have constant thoughts like: 'I am going to die soon'? This site is for you.

occupational therapy

British Association of Occupational Therapists/College of Occupational Therapists
www.cot.co.uk
Offers advice on becoming more confident and independent through developing skills and interests.

panic attacks

Panic Anxiety Hub
www.panicattacks.com
Australian site with a huge amount of information on panic attacks and related matters.

phobia

No Panic
www.no-panic.co.uk
Support and recovery groups for those with anxiety problems including phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Trauma After-Care Trust (TACT)
www.tacthq.demon.co.uk
Offers help and information to those suffering from post-traumatic stress.

relaxation exercises

Stress
stress.channel4.com/
Channel 4's site has details of stress busters and information on relaxation.

schizophrenia

National Schizophrenia Fellowship (NSF)
www.nsf.org.uk
Offers information, advice, support and services to people with severe mental health problems (England and Wales).

NSF (Scotland)
www.nsfscot.org.uk

NSF (specifically for young people)
www.at-ease.nsf.org.uk

school phobia/refusal

Young Minds
www.youngminds.org.uk
Go to 'In school, stay cool', which offers lots of advice and tips for children and young people with any worries about school.

self-harm

Young People and Self-harm Information Resource Web Site
www.ncb.org.uk
International list of projects to help young people who injure themselves.

The Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
Contains reports on depression and suicide and offers youth packs for schools, which are designed to teach children about depression, anxiety and self-harm.

sexual abuse

Abuse Recovery UK
www.aruk.co.uk
Interactive support for survivors of sexual abuse either as a child or adult.

stress

Anxiety-Panic-Stress
www.anxiety-panic-stress.com
Describes different forms of stress using case studies, plus FAQs and contacts.

BBC Health - Stress
www.bbc.co.uk/health/mental/stress.html
Provides ways of dealing with symptoms of stress.

stress
stress.channel4.com/
Channel 4 site with wide range of advice, information and resources about stress.

suicide

The Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
E-mail: jo@samaritans.org
Website contains reports on depression and suicide. If you feel desperate and need support, you can e-mail a Samaritan volunteer in confidence at any time of day or night.

Papyrus (Parents' Association for the Prevention of Young Suicide)
www.papyrus-uk.org
Promotes mental health and well-being and the prevention of young suicide.

young people

The Site
www.thesite.org/health/headstate/panic_attacks.html
Site for young people, covering a wide range of issues, including mental health and panic attacks.

Teenage Health Freak
www.teenagehealthfreak.org/
Aimed at young people. Visit 'Dr Ann's Virtual Surgery' for tips and advice on a wide range of issues.

Trashed
www.trashed.co.uk
Excellent website from the Health Education Authority. Straight information and facts on street drugs, what they are made from, the effects they can have and the risks involved in taking them, all done in a straightforward, non-preachy manner.

Trust for the Study of Adolescence
www.tsa.uk.com
Carries out research and training in the field of adolescence. Provides publications for teenagers and parents.

Young Minds
www.youngminds.org.uk
A comprehensive site devoted to children and young people's mental health problems.

Youth 2 Youth
www.youth2youth.co.uk/
Telephone and e-mail helpline run by young people for young people.