The Hub of Hope
The Hub of Hope is a first of its kind, national mental health database which brings together organisations and charities, large and small, from across the country who offer mental health advice and support, together in one place. The app is simple and effective and helps people find mental health services in their local area. The new app has been developed by a charity called Chasing the Stigma.
To use the app, you simply enter your postcode and the search will bring back a range of support services, which can then be filtered by a range of mental health options.
Hub of hope is free to use. Access the Hub of Hope app here.
ADHD/ADD
Adult AD/HD Support Groups North East UK
If you live in Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, Teeside, or Durham (or from anywhere really!), you are very welcome to come along to any of our meetings in Newcastle and Middlesbrough. Our meetings are friendly and informal. They are open to all adults who have had a diagnosis or are in the process of seeking a diagnosis of AD/HD and partners of adults with AD/HD.
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Adult ADHD Service
The Adult ADHD Service provides an assessment and treatment service for adults who are experiencing difficulty with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The team is made up of a number of health care professionals. Download the service’s Patient Information Leaflet here.
Authentically ADHD: Navigating you and your family through the world of ADHD
A venture from Kirsty Leach BSc (Hons) MSW, Registered MBACP & HCPC, Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling .
In addition to providing a much-needed AD/HD coaching service, based in the North East, Authentically ADHD: Navigating you and your family through the world of ADHD also offers a range of related services including parenting support, family coaching, SEN guidance, advocacy, mentoring and counselling. Authentically ADHD offers face to face consultations or contact via telephone or video (including Skype and Face Time). Telephone: 07435 030 699 Email: Kirstsyleach1@outlook.com
ADDISS – The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service
This web site provides people-friendly information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to anyone who needs assistance – parents, sufferers, teachers or health professionals.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults
A readable, user friendly leaflet from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, providing accurate information about ADHD in adults.
Three useful articles from ADDitude
40 ADHD-Friendly Tips for Getting Things Done
Whether you’re constantly misplacing your keys or can’t keep paperwork organized, these expert tips will help you battle clutter, fight forgetfulness, and be more organized than ever.
ADHD in Exile: When the Shame of Living with a Disorder Is Worse Than the Disorder Itself
“For many people with ADHD, shame arises from the repeated failure to meet expectations from parents, teachers, friends, bosses, and the world.” Here, Dr. William Dodson explains how to shed that emotional burden. Hint – don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“I’m Waging a Civil War Inside My Brain”
… ADHD is a perplexing, frustrating, and disruptive condition still too often questioned and misunderstood. We are smart, people say. We just need to try harder or stop procrastinating. If only it were that easy. Here’s the truth about why we can’t always do what is good for us.
Alzheimer’s Disease – (see Dementia)
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
We empower people to understand their condition and the choices available to them through our :
- Drop-in Centres
- Peer Support Groups
- Counselling Service
- Well-being Classes and Workshops
- Online Community Website
Anxious Minds provides help and support directly to those who need it most. Its Teams offer specialised support and care based on the needs of the communities it serves. Contact info@anxiousminds.co.uk 0191 262 0305.
Anxiety Alliance is run by former anxiety sufferers. The co-founders have a combined experience of over fifty years helping, advising and supporting both sufferers of anxiety disorders and their family and friends. The Anxiety Alliance offers: fact sheets; self-help booklets; relaxation audio tapes and CDs; books; both telephone and on-line self-help groups; and on-line forums. The confidential and impartial helpline is available from 10 am – 4 pm, Monday to Friday, with a panic advice line from 10 pm until 10 am every night. Advice and support may be gained by e-mailing the alliance’s volunteers. All calls and e-mails are in the strictest confidence.
ANXIETY UK is a national registered charity and user-led organisation, run by sufferers and ex-sufferers of anxiety disorders supported by a high-profile medical advisory panel. ANXIETY UK works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support and understanding via an extensive range of services, including 1:1 therapy services. The organisation works regularly with external agencies and healthcare professionals to improve the service provision offered in the main to those living with anxiety disorders. ANXIETY UK also campaigns to raise awareness of anxiety disorders through holding events like an annual ‘Anxiety Disorders Awareness Week’. ANXIETY UK can provide support and help if you’ve been diagnosed with, or suspect you may have an anxiety condition. The charity can also help you deal with specific phobias such as fear of spiders, blushing, vomiting, being alone, public speaking, heights – in fact, any fear that’s stopped you from getting on with your life.
Dental Fear Central was started in 2004 in response to a lack of in-depth information on the topic of dental phobia and anxiety from the perspective of people who actually suffer with these fears. The site is non-commercial, non-profit and its target groups include: anyone suffering with dental phobia or specific dental fears; dental professionals and dental students.
NHS Choices – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The NHS Choices web site explains the condition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and its treatments in an easy and comprehensive way in words, pictures and video. Top doctors and health professionals share their knowledge and advice while patients give an insight into coping with this particular condition and treatments.
North Tyneside Talking Therapies
North Tyneside Talking Therapies provides psychological assessment and treatment to adults who live in North Tyneside who are suffering from common mental health problems. Contact 0191 295 2775.
OCD Action is the largest national charity focusing on Obsessive Compulsive Disorders. They provide support and information to anybody affected by OCD, work to raise awareness of the disorder amongst the public and frontline healthcare workers and strive to secure a better deal for people with OCD.
OCD-UK is a leading national charity, independently working with and for people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Its objective is to make a positive and meaningful difference in the everyday lives of people affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by providing accessible and effective support services and by campaigning for improved access and quality treatment and care for people with OCD to ensure that every person affected by OCD receives the quality of treatment and care that they deserve. OCD-UK facilitates a safe environment for people affected by OCD to communicate with each other and provide mutual understanding and support.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Anxiety, Panic and Phobias
This leaflet may be helpful for anyone who finds their anxiety is a problem – but also for any friends and relatives who want to understand more about it.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Anxiety and Phobias
This leaflet is aimed at: anyone who cares for and supports a person with anxiety and/or phobias (referred to as ‘carers’ in this leaflet); any professional who provides care and treatment for someone with these difficulties.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Shyness and Social Phobia
This leaflet is for anyone who finds shyness a problem, or who suffers from a social phobia. It may also be helpful for friends or family who want to be able to understand and help.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Benzodiazepines
This leaflet may be helpful if you: have been prescribed benzodiazepines; have used benzodiazepines; know someone who has been prescribed benzodiazepines; are worried about addiction and withdrawal effects with these medications.
The Social Anxiety Forums is an online community for people who suffer from social anxiety.
Social Phobia World – The Social Anxiety Disorders Sufferers Web Site
This web site has a number of Social Anxiety Disorder Forums and forums organised by regions, including ‘Social Anxiety UK’. There are also forums devoted to other related disorders such as agoraphobia, depression, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and avoidant personality disorder.
A discussion forum for people with anxiety disorders and sufferers from panic attacks.
Bipolar Disorder
MDF The Bipolar Organisation works to enable people affected by bipolar disorder / manic depression to take control of their lives.
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Readable and well-researched information on bipolar disorder for the public from The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Information can be found in leaflets and books.
Delirium
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Delirium
You may find this leaflet helpful if: you have experienced delirium; you know someone with delirium; you are looking after someone with delirium.
Dementia
The Age UK Group works to improve later life for everyone by providing life-enhancing services and vital support. Age UK has a vision of a world in which older people flourish. It aims to improve later life for everyone through its information and advice, campaigns, products, training and research.
Alzheimer’s Disease International
Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) is the umbrella organisation of Alzheimer associations around the world. ADI aims to help establish and strengthen Alzheimer associations throughout the world, and to raise global awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and all other causes of dementia.
Alzheimer’s Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many of the 25,000 members have personal experience of dementia, as carers, health professionals or people with dementia themselves, and their experiences help to inform the work of the organisation.
The mission of Dementia UK is to improve quality of life for all people affected by dementia. It aims to: promote and develop Admiral Nursing – a specialist nursing intervention focused on meeting the needs of carers and families of people with dementia; provide high quality training for professionals working with older people, carers and people with dementia; promote good practice in dementia care; work in partnership with the NHS, social services, other voluntary groups, carers and people with dementia; contribute to national policy on dementia, older people and carers’ issues; and influence practice and policy development.
DemTalk is the online toolkit for effective communication with and for people living with dementia. It offers free advice and shares ideas about how everyone can make communication easier and better. Different versions of the toolkit are tailored for different people.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Dementia: Key Facts
Readable and well-researched information for the public on Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Memory Problems, Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Readable and well-researched information for the public on memory problems, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
A leaflet which challenges our attitudes towards people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Social Care Institute for Excellence Dementia Gateway
A web site for people who work with people with dementia in nursing, residential or domiciliary settings. The site has lots of practical tips, tools and activities that will help practitioners with their daily work. Each section has been written by a national dementia expert.
Department of Health
Department of Health Healthcare Web Page on Mental Health
Links from this page describe some of the Department of Health’s policy areas in the field of mental health. Its policies need to focus on outcomes, emphasising identification of what actually happens to the health of the patient as a result of the treatment and care they receive, as well as giving emphasis to the voice of patients and service users.
Depression
We empower people to understand their condition and the choices available to them through our :
- Drop-in Centres
- Peer Support Groups
- Counselling Service
- Well-being Classes and Workshops
- Online Community Website
Anxious Minds provides help and support directly to those who need it most. Its Teams offer specialised support and care based on the needs of the communities it serves. Contact info@anxiousminds.co.uk 0191 262 0305
The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust Home Page – Depression, Manic Depression, Bi-polar Disorder
Founded by his family to commemorate Charlie Waller, the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust aims to raise awareness of the nature and dangers of depression, reduce stigma and encourage those who may be depressed to seek help.
Depression Alliance works to relieve and to prevent depression by providing information and support services to those who are affected by it via its publications, and network of self-help groups for people affected by depression. A user-focussed organisation, it has offices in England and a sister charity in Scotland.
Depression in teenagers – Young People’s Unit, Edinburgh
A web site providing general information about depression in young people. It is intended that it be used as a resource to help users to recognise the symptoms associated with the condition as well as offering some suggestions about ways to combat these symptoms.
‘Depression UK’ (D-UK) is a national self help organisation that has operated within the United Kingdom ever since it was founded in 1973. It was first registered as a charity in 1979. Depression UK has several hundred members who either suffer from depression or have suffered from it in the past, or who care about such people. Their anonymity is strictly preserved. The charity wishes to help anyone who is troubled by depression and to provide support for their carers. Depression UK issues a newsletter at least four times a year and operates pen friend and phone friend schemes.
FAD FC – Football’s Awareness of Depression Football Community
FAD FC was set up in 2012 as an internet based information website to try and support footballers who might be at risk of experiencing mental health problems. The project provides professional footballers, managers, coaches, referees and anyone else involved in football with information on mental health. This information is not to diagnose a mental illness but to help spot the signs of it and how it can be treated.
North Tyneside Talking Therapies
North Tyneside Talking Therapies provides psychological assessment and treatment to adults who live in North Tyneside who are suffering from common mental health problems. Contact 0191 295 2775.
PeerTalk aims to support individuals and their families who live with depression.
Based on the successful model of Aware, PeerTalk will establish volunteer facilitated peer support group meetings. At these meetings group members will offer support and encouragement from their own experience of living with depression as others share their stories.
Similar groups for family members and friends will provide opportunities for people to share their concerns and feelings and to offer support.
PeerTalk’s aims include raising awareness about depression and challenging the stigma often associated with it. PeerTalk’s regional Awareness Days provide information about a range of mental health conditions but particularly about depression, encourage good practice in communicating with and supporting people who live with mental health conditions and how to signpost people to mental health services if necessary. Contact admin@peertalk.org.uk 07719 562 617
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Antidepressants
This leaflet is for anyone who wants to know more about antidepressants. It discusses how they work, why they are prescribed, their effects and side-effects, and alternative treatments.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Depression
Readable and well-researched information on depression for the public from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Information includes leaflets, books and an audio cassette.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Depression in Older Adults
This leaflet is written for people over 65 who have depression. We hope it will also be helpful for relatives, friends and carers. It covers: the symptoms of depression; how it can be helped; some suggestions for further reading.
The Students Against Depression website has over 70 pages of information, resources and real student stories to help students affected by low mood, depression or suicidal thinking. The site deals with suicide, ‘How Depression Works’, ‘Depression in Context’, ‘Strategies For Tackling Depression’ and ‘Getting Support and Help’. The web site is owned by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.
Self Help
Beating the Blues is a computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBT) programme for depression and anxiety. It has been shown to be a cost effective and time efficient way of helping people suffering from these conditions to get better and stay better. In Feb 2006 the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended Beating the Blues as a treatment option for all people seen with mild or moderate depression.
MoodGYM is an interactive, online CBT program developed by researchers at the Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR), Australian National University. The program is available free of charge. The information provided throughout MoodGYM is intended for information purposes only. This site is not designed to treat depression or anxiety or other mental health disorders. The diagnosis and treatment of clinical anxiety and depression requires a medical practitioner or qualified mental health professional. MoodGYM has been shown to be effective, compared to a control condition, in decreasing symptoms of depression in people living in the community.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Exercise and Mental Health
This leaflet is for anyone who wants to know: how being active can make you feel better; how exercise can help depression; how active you need to be to feel better; how to get more active safely.
A list of links to self help groups in the United Kingdom. The page has a search facility.
Eating Disorders
The web site of Anna Paterson, a former chronic anorexia sufferer. She shares information about eating disorders and provides a section providing answers to frequently asked questions.
beat is the leading UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. beat is the working name of the Eating Disorders Association.
National Centre for Eating Disorders
The National Centre for Eating Disorders, established in 1984, provides counselling solutions for all the eating disorders, including binge eating, yo-yo dieting, bulimia, fear of eating and anorexia. It also provides innovative and practical training courses for health professionals working with eating disorders.
NIWE (Northern Initiative on Women and Eating) – Eating Distress Service
NIWE is an independent initiative started in 1988 by a multi-disciplinary steering group, in response to women asking for support because of problems around food such as not being able to eat, eating and getting rid of food, compulsively eating and other issues. Contact enquiries@niwe.org.uk 0191 221 0233.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Information on eating disorders
Readable and well-researched information on eating disorders for the public from The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Information includes leaflets and books.
Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association (SWEDA)
A service providing support for sufferers of eating disorders in Somerset and surrounding counties. The web site provides information, some in the form of SWEDA’s publications.
YoungMinds is a national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional well-being of all children and young people.
Food and Mood
One self-help strategy is to make changes to what we eat, and there is a growing interest in how food and nutrition can affect emotional and mental health.
Mania
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Medications for Mania
This leaflet is for anyone who wants to find out about the medications used to help stabilise unhelpful mood swings and to control mania. It discusses how they work, why they are prescribed, their effects, side-effects and some alternatives.
Manic Depression – (see Bipolar Disorder)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – (see Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders)
Panic Disorders (see Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders)
Personality Disorders
BPDWORLD – Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPDWORLD was founded and created by Joshua Cole in March 2004. BPDWORLD provides information, advice and support to those affected by personality disorders.
Emergence is a service user-led organisation with the overarching aim of supporting all people affected by personality disorder including service users, carers, family & friends and professionals. They aim to work collaboratively to: provide support, advice and information; increase public and professional understanding of personality disorder; challenge the associated stigma and social exclusion experienced by individuals affected by this diagnosis; and to stimulate further health and social policy responses into the prevention and treatment of personality disorder and the reduction of stigma and discrimination.
Postnatal Depression (PND)
Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support (PANDAS Newcastle)
The last Saturday of each month from 2pm – 4pm, Floor 5, Broadacre House, Market Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6HQ.
Pre and Postnatal Depression Advice and Support (PANDAS Newcastle) Support Group gives people affected by pre and postnatal illnesses, that’s Mams as well as partners, families and carers, the chance to support each other through their ongoing recovery.
Coming to a PANDAS group is a chance to meet as a small group to share experiences, gain emotional support and realise you’re not alone, helping make life’s challenges as a new parent a little bit easier. Join us the last Saturday of each month from 2pm-4pm; children and families welcome.
Contact Ang on 07854 880 675 or drop in to our next session.
Association for Post Natal Illness
The Association for Post-Natal Illness is a leading organisation in its field. It was established in 1979 to: provide support to mothers suffering from post-natal illness; increase public awareness of the illness; and encourage research into its cause and nature.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Information on Postnatal Depression
This leaflet is for anyone who suffers from postnatal depression (PND). It will also be helpful to family and friends, and to anyone who wants to know more about this problem. The leaflet describes what it’s like to have PND, ways of helping yourself and some of the treatments available. There are references to research information and suggestions for further reading and help.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
About Turn CIC is a social enterprise that aims to improve the lives of ex-service personnel and their families through the development and delivery of wrap around services. As well as running tailored programmes, they also coordinate the implementation and roll-out of Forces for Good Projects for ex-servicemen and women who are unemployed, experiencing homelessness or housing problems, substance misuse problems, mental health and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Coping with Trauma
This leaflet may be useful if: you have been through a traumatic experience and want to understand more about how you are feeling; you know someone who has been through a traumatic experience, and want to get a better idea of how they might be feeling.
This is the web site of Andy, a British ex-Bosnia veteran who served 9 years in the British Army. He is not a medical person, just a fellow sufferer who would like to help ex-service personnel.
Psychosis and Schizophrenia
This group is for people who hear, or who have heard voices. We can share support, strategies for living with voices, and other ideas.
National Perceptions Forum (formerly known as Voices Forum)
The Perceptions Forum is a forum which gives an active voice to people who hear voices in the head, people who have perceptions which the normal people aren’t able to observe, people with schizophrenia, psychosis, paranoia, mental illness, hebephrenia, mania, schizophrenic spectrum disorders, and other forms of madness.
Rethink Mental Illness was founded over 30 years ago (as the National Schizophrenia Fellowship) to give a voice to people affected by severe mental illness. Rethink Mental Illness helps over 48,000 people every year through its services, support groups and by providing information on mental health problems. Rethink Mental Illness carries out research which informs both its own and national mental health policy and actively campaigns for change through greater awareness and understanding. And the organisation is dedicated to creating a world where prejudice and discrimination are eliminated.
Royal College of Psychiatrists – Information on Schizophrenia
This leaflet is for: anyone who has been given a diagnosis of schizophrenia; anyone who thinks they might have schizophrenia; and friends and relatives of someone who has been given this diagnosis.
Started in 1995, Schizophrenia.com is a leading non-profit web community dedicated to providing high quality information, support and education to the family members, caregivers and individuals whose lives have been impacted by schizophrenia.
Understanding Voices (UV) is a new website that will make it easier for people to find information about different approaches to voice-hearing and ways of supporting those who are struggling with the voices they hear.
It has been produced by Hearing the Voice (Durham University) in close collaboration with voice-hearers, their families and allies, and mental health professionals.
The website covers a wide variety of topics, ranging from what it is like to hear voices and what’s happening in the brain, through to the pros and cons of medication, cognitive behavioural therapy and peer support. It will present practical techniques for managing distressing voices, information for families and friends, and also shed light on the links between voice-hearing and inner speech, trauma, creativity and spiritual or religious experience.
Schizophrenia – (see Psychosis and Schizophrenia)
Seasonal Affective Disorder
SAD.org.uk – Seasonal Affective Disorder
SAD.org.uk are a small UK National Voluntary Organisation dedicated to supporting people who are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder by helping them find support, advice and information on the diagnosis and treatment of SAD.
Disclaimer
AIM does not endorse or recommend any of the agencies listed on its web site but merely aims to inform you of the possible services available. AIM cannot take any responsibility for the organisations, the individuals involved or their web site contents. AIM does not endorse any commercial product or service advertised on an agency’s web site. If you are concerned about your health, consult your GP in the first instance; web sites are no substitute for advice from a health professional. Please take care when browsing web sites; we hope you find what you are looking for!
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