Safeguarding & Mental Health Support Organisations
Here at Best Practice People, we take mental health just as seriously as anyone would do with physical health. We want to ensure that all learners and staff have the best support possible to support them with any problems they may be facing. Caring is amongst our core values and we hope this comes across to everyone involved in working with us.
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Below is a list of numbers that are available for you to contact in times of crisis. Whether you are concerned about yourself or someone, these UK support groups are available to offer expert advice.
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Alternatively, our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Grant Basson and can be contacted on grant@bestpp.co.uk or 07807 058006.
Mental health helplines
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774
(Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon to Fri,10am to 5pm & 7 to 10pm. Weekends 2 to 5pm)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it.
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support
Depression Alliance
Charity for sufferers of depression. Has a network of self-help groups.
Website: www.depressionalliance.org
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Abuse (child, sexual, domestic)
NSPCC
Children’s charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling)
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
​Gamblers Anonymous
Website: www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Other support organisations
Alzheimer’s Society
Provides information on dementia, including fact sheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm)
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0844 477 9400 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm)
Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Eating disorders
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
Learning disabilities
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.mencap.org.uk
Parenting
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 9pm. Sat to Sun, 10am to 3pm)
Website: www.familylives.org.uk