Support for mental health
This page offers a list of support and information services for people who need help with mental health for them or their loved ones.
Mental health support
Please remember that if you are in a mental health crisis and need emergency help, please dial 999. If you need additional support, please contact your GP or Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are already under the care of mental health services and not in crisis, go directly to your provider in the first instance.
The Healthwatch Norfolk team is not trained to give people with mental health concerns direct care and support but we can help with information about services or organisations that may be able to assist you.
111 mental health helpline
If you have urgent mental health needs, call 111 and then select option 2. This is the service that used to be known as First Response.
The helpline is still available 24/7, 365 days a year and the team is still the same.
If anyone is at serious risk of harm, call 999 and ask for the police.
4C Counselling Centre
4Cs (Centres for Christian Care and Counselling) is staffed by both male and female counsellors who work on a voluntary basis. All the counsellors have a personal Christian faith.
4Cs do not charge a fee for counselling, but ask that clients make a donation to the not-for-profit charity, suggesting between £10 and £40 per session in order to cover costs.
Armed Forces support services
Norfolk County Council has put together a list of services to help Armed Forces personnel and their families.
Childline
Childline is here to help anyone under the age of 19 in the UK with any issue they are going through. The counsellors are trained staff and volunteers. You can reach Childline via telephone, via online anonymous message boards, or via the Ask Sam service on the website. Childline is a service provided by NSPCC, and offer counselling and support for a range of topics for children and young people.
The website also includes a dedicated page of advice for parents, covering issues and topics such as:
- Children’s mental health
- Keeping children safe at home and away from home
- Online safety
- Reporting abuse
- Talking about drugs and alcohol
Every Mind Matters
Every Mind Matters is a NHS resource offering tips on how to deal with stresses of life – from the everyday anxieties to the bigger issues. It focuses particularly on how physical activity can make a big difference to how you feel.
It features wellbeing tips, advice on mental health issues, a Your Mind quiz which will give you stress-beating tips, and links to free phone apps that encourage you to exercise.
KOOTH
Kooth is an online platform that offers online counselling and emotional wellbeing support for children and young people. It is accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use.
Once registered, you can:
- Access the Kooth magazine
- Join and contribute in discussion boards
- Set smart personal goals and track your progress
- Keep a Kooth journal
- Access Kooth chat and messenger, for confidential conversation
Watch the quick useful video on their website to find out more about what Kooth can offer.
The Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation website aims to provide and equip everyone with information and tools on preventing poor mental health.
Topics covered include:
- Children, young people and families
- Mental health in the workplace
- Mental health in later life
- Helping refugees with their mental health
- Challenging mental health inequalities
On the website you can listen to podcasts, watch videos and read stories, from other people struggling with and succeeding in spite of, mental health issues.
MIND
The MIND team will look for details of help and support in your local area. They will provide information on a range of topics including:
- Types of mental health problems
- Where to get help
- Medication and alternative treatments
- Legal advice
Our lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).
You can contact them by post at Mind Infoline
PO Box 75225
London, E15 9FS
Norfolk and Waveney MIND
Norfolk and Waveney Mind offers lots of useful resources on its website about managing your mental health. Mind covers lots of different topics for more individual care and support. They focus on the recovery and healing of those struggling with mental health.
Norfolk and Waveney Mind have a support line which offers a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space for you to talk to someone. They can offer emotional support, coping strategies, signposting and practical advice. This includes help with developing plans to tackle and limit crisis situations. Call the line on 0300 330 5488 and press option 1
The Norwich Centre
The Norwich Centre provides professional counselling to individuals and organisations. It is a BACP Accredited Counselling Service.
You will need to pay a fee for your counselling but you can negotiate the fee you pay. More information about fees is available on their website.
Address:
7 Earlham Road
Norwich
NR2 3RA
Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) Helpline
If you are supported by one of NSFT’s services:
Check your care plan, and:
During office hours contact your care coordinator or the duty number for the team that is supporting you. If you don’t have their details, visit NSFT’s service finder.
Or call the urgent mental health helpline on 111 and select option 2.
If you need urgent help and you are not supported by NSFT’s services:
Call 111 and select option 2 to speak to the 24-hour urgent mental health helpline
If you are with someone who has attempted suicide, call 999 and stay with them until the ambulance arrives.
If anyone is at serious risk of harm, call 999 and ask for the police.
OCD UK
OCD UK is a fantastic resource for anyone who is struggling or suffering from their OCD. It offers a breakdown of the disorder and explains the impacts of OCD to help people form a better understanding.
There is advice on diagnosis, blogs, access to support groups and forums.
If you are looking for support better focused to OCD related mental health, you will find support here.
Off The Record
Off the Record offers affordable counselling and psychotherapy to anyone over the age of 18.
Counsellors are experienced at working with a wide range of issues, including:
- relationships
- low self-esteem and self-confidence
- anxiety and panic attacks
- bullying and self-harm
- depression
- bereavement and loss
- work-related stress
- trauma and abuse issues
People are asked to make donations of between £15 and £45 per session depending on the type of counselling. Sessions at a lower cost are available. Full details are on the website.
Address:
Willow Lane House
9 Willow Lane
Norwich
NR2 1EU
Ormiston Families
Ormiston Families offers a range of services to promote positive mental health in children, young people and families.
This includes the Supporting Smiles emotional wellbeing service which offers professional support in a variety of community settings.
Parent workshops with the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT)
If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health, Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) are running free online workshops. The workshops are designed to help parents and carers support the mental health of the children they care for.
Workshops available include:
- Supporting young people with anxiety
- Supporting young people with challenging behaviour
- Supporting young people manage uncertainty
- Supporting young people with low mood
- Supporting young people who self-harm
- Supporting young people to manage big feelings
- Supporting children/adolescents with sleep (11 Years+)
PAPYRUS
PAPYRUS provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide. PAPYRUS also engages with communities and volunteers in suicide prevention projects and deliver training programmes to individuals and groups.
If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact the Hope Line helpline on 0800 068 4141 for confidential support and practical advice.
REST
REST offers online, face-to-face and virtual support for anyone over the age of 18 facing mental health problems.
You can access support by calling 111 and selecting option 2
If you are currently receiving care from a mental health professional and would like them to refer you, you can ask them to complete the professional referral form Professional referrals – REST – Norwich (restnorwich.co.uk)
Samaritans
Whatever you’re going through – you can call the Samaritans for free, any time, from any phone on 116 123.
They are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. This number is FREE to call. You don’t have to be suicidal to call.
Write to them:
Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
Shout
Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate and urgent help. Shout is powered by a team of volunteers, who are at the heart of the service. We take people from crisis to calm every single day.
- For those seeking urgent care in the face of crisis
- It is free and confidential to text the service from the following major networks: EE, O2, Three and Vodafone
- Trained Crisis Volunteers available 24/7
Text: ‘Shout’ to 85258
The Silver Line
The Silver Line is the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK open every day and night of the year. Their specially trained helpline team can:
- offer conversation and friendship
- provide information and advice
- link callers to local groups and services.
- refer people on to receive regular friendship calls.
- protect and support older people who are suffering abuse and neglect
Wellbeing Service
Wellbeing Norfolk & Waveney provide a range of support for people with common mental health and emotional issues, such as low mood, depression or stress.
They work with you to help improve wellbeing, manage stress, low mood and anxiety.
They offer a range of courses and workshops across Norfolk as well as social support through peer support work, employment advice and social events.
YANA (You Are Not Alone)
YANA is here for anyone who works in farming, agriculture, or any related profession/job. By calling the YANA helpline you can speak to someone who really understands the industry and its problems. YANA provides unique support and advice for the wide farming community from sympathetic GPs and counsellors. Anything you discuss is “off the record” and totally confidential.
