External services

Find and apply for your local NHS talking therapy provision. In most cases you can self-refer to these services.

Living Well Consortium provides free mental health services to Birmingham and Solihull residents including therapeutic services and sporting/creative activities.

Forward Thinking Birmingham, Birmingham’s mental health partnership for 0-25 year olds is one of our external partners, and they have a wide array of support available. Phone them on 0300 300 0099 to receive urgent support from their 24-hour crisis team, or consult their website for details on how to self-refer.

When struggling with your mental health, your GP can offer you support, guidance and professional help, just as they would with your physical health. Although this might feel intimidating, your doctor is there to help find you the best support, whether that might be different treatment options or a referral onto another professional service. It also gives you a chance to open up about how you’ve been feeling, and ask any questions you may have.

If you’d like further advice about speaking to your GP about your mental health, please click here to see Mind’s advice on finding the right words to do so. Click here to find out more about registering for a GP in Birmingham.

Papyrus is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. They run HOPELINE UK, a confidential telephone service staffed by trained professionals, which offers non-judgemental support, practical advice and information to young people who are worried about how they’re feeling. Advisors are available 9am – 10pm weekdays and 2pm – 10pm weekends, and are available over the phone at 0800 068 4141, through email at pat@papyrus-uk.org, or via text message at 07786209697.

The Pause drop-in and telephone service are available for students up to their 25^th birthday. Based on Forward Thinking Birmingham’s own Pause initiative, the service offers a comfortable, safe and open space on campus for mental health support, exclusively for University of Birmingham students. You can get in touch with the team of qualified practitioners and volunteers via 02078 414470 or askbeam@childrenssociety.org.uk

For further information visit the Pause webpage.

 

Expert information and advice to help you through the challenges of coronavirus. Run by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity.

There are three ways that Student Space is here to help during the pandemic:

1. Access to dedicated support services for students, by phone or text
2. Information and tools to help you through the challenges of coronavirus
3. Helping you find what support is available at your university

NHS England has published a blog for students outlining support available to you, with links to resources such as the NHS urgent mental health helplines. 

The Samaritans operate a confidential, free to call service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call the Samaritans on 116 123 to talk to someone, and you can also email them at jo@samaritans.org. 

SANEline, a national out-of-hours mental health helpline, offers specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, on 0300 304 7000 (open 16:30 to 22:30pm every day).

24/7 text service
If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support, text Shout to 85258. www.giveusashout.org/get-help

St Martin's Counselling and Psychotherapy offers free and low-cost professional counselling services through 100+ counsellors, psychotherapists, and CBT practitioners. https://www.smchh.co.uk/