Finding More Support
There is lots of free support available to you if you are struggling with your mental health
If you’re struggling with your mental health, you may not be aware of the support available to you. When you’re finding it difficult to complete your usual day-to-day tasks because of your mental state, it’s important that you seek advice.
Below, we’ve listed the resources you can use if you’re in need of support.
Visiting a GP
A good first port of call is your GP. It can be daunting attending a GP appointment to talk about your thoughts and emotions, but they’re there to help you identify the problem and find you the right support.
A GP will help you explore different treatment options; they won’t make you do anything that you don’t feel comfortable with. You can take a friend or family member with you if you would like to.
Visit the NHS website for more information about booking an appointment with your GP here.
Samaritans
Talking to someone can be a great way of making you feel better. Samaritans is on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to talk through your thoughts and emotions with you or help you find further support.
You can call the Samaritans number – 116 123 for free or you can contact someone via email on jo@samaritans.org. If you send an email, it can take several days before you receive a reply. We would always recommend a telephone call if you’re in need of immediate help.
Visit its website to find out more about the Samaritans and how it can help you here.
Mind
If you’d like to learn more about managing mental health and the local support available to you, Mind has a wealth of information on its website which you can access here.
Visit the ‘Information and support’ page to find out more about:
- Symptoms of mental health problems
- Mental conditions
- Advice for managing your mental health on a day-to-day basis
- Treatments and therapies
- How to help someone else
- Your legal rights in regards to sectioning and discrimination
You can call Mind’s Infoline on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk for further information.
Mindline is a free service running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, offering emotional support. You can contact the service on 01823 276892.
Rethink Mental Illness
Peer support groups work well for some people. They can boost self-confidence and help you to build connections with other people who understand what you’re going through.
Rethink Mental Illness run over 140 groups across England. Visit its website to search for a group local to you here.
You can call the free phoneline on 0808 801 0525 for further advice.
Clic
If you find that connecting with others and discussing your emotions is a helpful coping mechanism, you may benefit from online forums.
Clic is an online community of people who are experiencing a mental illness. You can share your thoughts and feeling safely and openly. There are also lots of additional resources, advice and information available for you to use.
Find out more about Clic and how it works here.
Mencap
Mencap’s website has lots of useful information about learning disabilities written in a ‘no-nonsense’ way, including:
- The different conditions
- Advice for communicating with and caring for someone with a learning disability
- Resources available to healthcare professionals and employers
- The Mental Capacity Act and what this means
- Everyday living and relationships
- Residential care options
Call the free helpline on 0808 808 111 or email helpline@mencap.org.uk for more information. Find out more about Mencap here.
NHS website
You can find lots of information about learning disabilities and mental health conditions on the NHS website. Click here to read more.
White Swan Foundation
The White Swan Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which provides well-researched information about mental health for individuals and caregivers.
The foundation aims to share knowledge about mental health conditions and learning disabilities, as well as how they can be managed.
Visit its website to see the full range of information it provides here. You can get in touch with the foundation via its email connect@whiteswanfoundation.org.
No panic
No panic is a helpline operating from 10am until 10pm 365 days a year offering mental health support. You can contact the service on 0300 772 9844.
Visit its website at nopanic.org.uk for further tips and advice on managing panic attacks.
FRANK
FRANK is a website offering honest information and support on drug and alcohol use. The site provides an A-Z guide on different types of drugs and their effects, and advice for helping friends and family. It directs you to a support centre if you need help for an addiction.
You can call the service on 0300 123 6600 or text 82111 for more advice.
Beat
Beat is an association helping people with eating disorders find the right help and support. You can call Beat for advice and support on 0808 8010677.
TESS
TESS is a text and email service for young women who self-injure. You can text the service on 07800472908 or email tessmail@selfinjurysupport.org.uk.
CALM
CALM is a charity offering support for young men between the ages of 19 and 35. You can call the helpline between 5pm and midnight 365 days a year on 0800 58 58 58.
Food banks
Please see addresses and contact details below for local food banks.
The Lord’s Larder Office
The Gateway
Addlewell Lane
Yeovil
Somerset
BA20 1QN
England
www.ycstyeovil.org.uk/the-lords-larder/
01935479398
lordslarderyeovil@gmail.com
The Lord’s Larder
42 Fore Street
Chard
Somerset
TA20 1QA
http://lordslarder.chardct.org.uk/contact-us/
07542498366 (available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 11.30am-12.30pm)
A referral should be made by an agency who will issue a referral form.
Please contact one of the agencies making referrals: SSDC Social services; Citizens Advice Bureau; NHS Village Agents; Community Agents; Churches providing the Lord’s Larder stocks.
http://lordslarder.chardct.org.uk/contact-us/
The Minster Rooms
Court Barton
Ilminster
TA19 0DU
England
ilminsterpc.org.uk/serving-others/foo…
0146054225
Unit 4, Belvedere Trading Estate
Albemarle Road
Taunton
TA1 1BH
England
taunton.foodbank.org.uk
07761624216 (available Tuesday 2pm – 4pm and Friday 2pm – 4pm)
Bridgwater Food Bank
Mount Street Day Centre
Bridgwater
TA6 3ER
07804 119273 (available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1pm – 3:30pm)
info@bridgwater.foodbank.org.uk
The Salvation Army
Old Magistrates Court,
21 Commercial Rd,
Shepton Mallet
BA4 5BU
01749 347130
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/shepton-mallet
Glastonbury Foodbank
The Glastonbury food bank operates via a telephone referrals and delivery system.
The food bank prepares parcels and delivers them to individuals in Glastonbury and the surrounding areas. The BA6 postcode is a good guide to the areas covered by the food bank. Glastonbury food bank now covers the BA16 postcodes as well.
Requests for food are made by phone through local agencies such as Citizens Advice Bureau.
If you are a local agency and would like to make a referral you need to provide the following information.
– Name, address and contact number.
– Reason for the referral.
– The number of people the box is for.
– Any special dietary requirements.
– The age of any children
– How long the crisis is likely to last (i.e. when they will next have money).
Contact the Glastonbury food bank on 07980 458600 or email glastonburyfoodbank@gmail.com
Wells Vineyard Church
Unit 2, Keward Mill Trading Estate
Jocelyn Drive
Wells
BA5 1DA
England
07871689598
wellsvineyard.com/index.php/compassion
Cheddar Valley Food Bank
Unit 4, Wessex Buisness Centre,
Cheddar,
BS27 3EJ
07922309369 (available Monday and Saturday 10:30am – 12:30pm)
info@cheddarvalley.foodbank.org.uk
https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/cheddarvalley/
