Sources Of Support
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s mental health, your GP is the usual first point of contact. They can prescribe medication if appropriate and make referrals to other specialist mental health professionals and services.
The following is a list of some of the key organisations that offer support for a range of issues affecting young people’s mental health. Click on the website address for more detailed information on services |
| Helplines: |
|
|
ChildLine
0800 1111 |
A free, confidential, 24 hour service for children and young people in danger or distress. Minicom service available on 0800 400 2222. |
www.childline.org.uk |
Lifeline
0808 808 8000 |
A free, confidential, 24 hour helpline will respond to any issue including suicide and self harm. |
|
Samaritans
08457 909090 |
Offer confidential 24 hour support for anyone who is going through a crisis or in danger of taking their own lives |
www.samaritans.org.uk |
NSPCC
0808 800 5000 |
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide advice and support to anyone concerned about a child's welfare. |
www.nspcc.co.uk |
| General Counselling Services: |
Just Ask Adolescent Service Newry 028 3083 4250.
Individual counselling, family support and group work in the Newry & Mourne areas. |
Just ask Adolescent Service Newry 028 308 34250 |
Contact Youth –
028 90 320092 |
A general counselling service responding to any issue a young person brings, such as bullying, drugs, trauma, eating distress, relationship problems and bereavement. Offer one-to-one counselling across Northern Ireland. |
|
| Abuse: |
|
|
NSPCC
0808 800 5000 |
The UK's leading child protection charity providing information and support to anyone concerned about the welfare of a child/young person. |
www.nspcc.co.uk |
Nexus Portadown
028 3835 0588 |
Provide one-to-one counselling for adults aged 16+ who have experienced sexual abuse. Also offer group work, support for parents, education and awareness raising. |
|
Women's Aid Craigavon & Banbridge
028 38 343256 Helpline (24 hrs)
0800 917 1414 |
Provide information, advice and support for women and children affected by domestic abuse. Safe accommodation and day centres located across the Southern Board region. Educational packs and training for professionals also available. |
www.niwaf.org |
| Bereavment & Trauma: |
|
|
NOVA Banbridge
028 40 628758 |
Trauma counselling for children, families and adults. Service provided on an outreach basis for people living within the Southern Health & Social Care Trust. |
www.barnardos.org.uk/nova |
Wave Trauma Centre Armagh
028 3751 1599 |
Helping people bereaved or traumatised as a result of the 'troubles' - services include individual counselling, peer group support, youth service, trauma training, complimentary therapies and a befriending service. |
|
Cruse Bereavement Care Armagh Dungannon
028 87 784004 |
Support for young people & adults who have been bereaved and those involved with them, such as parents, carers and schools. |
www.rd4u.org.uk |
Cruse Young Person’s Helpline
0808 808 1677 |
|
|
| Depression: |
|
|
AWARE Defeat Depression Belfast
028 90 321734
|
Supporting individuals and families affected by depression. Services include self help groups, telephone helpline, information literature, public talks & education programme. |
www.aware-ni.org.uk |
Helpline
0845 1 20 29 61
(Mon-Fri 10.00am-4.00pm) |
|
|
| Eating Distress: |
|
|
ADAPT Lurgan: Office
028 3834 7535 Helpline
028 3834 8869
YouthLine
028 3832 3895 |
Information and education in relation to anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Self-help/support groups in the Craigavon area for sufferers, carers and families. |
www.adapteatingdistress.com |
| Relationships & Sexual Health: |
|
|
Relate Teen Belfast
028 9032 3454 |
A confidential counselling service in the Belfast area for young people aged 11-19 dealing with relationship problems, such as family separation and bullying. |
www.relateni.org |
Care in Crisis Lurgan
028 3832 9900 |
Free confidential counselling for pregnancy-related crises, postnatal depression, marriage and relationship problems and bereavement. |
www.careincrisis.org.uk |
Love for Life Craigavon
028 3882 0555 |
A project supporting young people and their carers in the area of relationships and sexuality education. Includes programmes in schools, community settings, and for parents and carers. |
www.loveforlife.org.uk |
FPA (Family Planning Association) Belfast
0845 1228 687 |
Drop-in service and telephone helpline (office hours only), education programmes, training and resources for sexual health. Unplanned pregnancy counselling information and support service. |
|
Brook Helpline
0808 802 1234 |
Free and confidential advice on sex and contraception for young people up to 25 years. |
|
The HIV Support Centre Belfast
028 9024 9268 |
Information and support for people affected by HIV, their families and carers. |
|
Helpline
0800 137 437
(office hours) |
|
|
| Substance Misuse: |
|
|
Breakthru Dungannon
028 8775 3228
Helpline
0800 800 2020 (Office hours) |
Drug awareness programmes for young people and adults in the Southern Area. Includes peer education work within schools, one-to-one counselling for young people and their families affected by suicide, self-harm or bereavement. |
www.breakthru.co.uk |
Al-Ateen Belfast
028 9068 2368 |
Information and support and programme of recovery for anyone who has been affected by someone else's drinking. |
www.al-anonuk.org.uk |
| Services for Parents & Carers: |
|
|
Parents Advice Centre Helpline
0808 8010 722 |
Provides a telephone helpline and face-to-face support and guidance for parents and young people who are experiencing worries in relation to behaviour, relationships and emotional difficulties. |
www.parentsadvicecentre.org |
Gingerbread Belfast 028 9023 1417 Helpline
0808 808 8090 |
Supports lone parents and their children through the provision of information and advice, group support, childcare services and training opportunities. |
|
CAUSE Belfast
028 9023 8284 |
Provides support for the carers and families of people experiencing severe mental illness, mainly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Services include support groups, educational courses. |
www.cause.org.uk |
Barnardos Parenting Matters Belfast
028 9049 1081 |
Run a wide range of parenting programmes in schools, community centres and other settings across Northern Ireland. |
www.barnardos.org.uk/
parentingmatters |
| Newry & Mourne Carers' Association 028 3026 7015 |
Supports carers of people suffering from a range of disabilities and illnesses, including mental illness. Services include support groups, training courses, information and advocacy. |
|
| Other Mental Health Organisations: |
|
|
Action Mental Health Belfast
028 9040 3726 |
Provide programmes of vocational training, personal development and employment support to adults and young people with mental ill health and learning disability. |
|
| Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health Belfast 028 9032 8474 |
Provide a range of community-based services for people with mental health needs, such as Beacon Centres, home care, training and residential schemes. Also working to increase public awareness of mental health issues. |
www.niamh.co.uk |
MindWise Belfast
028 9040 2323
|
Information and support for people affected by severe mental illness, their families and carers. Includes day services, residential care, support for carers, training and employment and befriending schemes. |
www.mindwisenv.org |
| Praxis Care Belfast 028 9023 4555 |
Provides accommodation and befriending schemes across Northern Ireland for people who have experienced mental ill health, Learning disability and Dementia. |
www.praxiscare.org.uk |
Northern Ireland Agoraphobia & Anxiety Society Belfast
028 9023 5170
|
Advice and information, one-to-one counselling and group support for people affected by anxiety, agoraphobia and panic attacks. |
|
| |
|
|
