Mental Health
24/7 Support & Connect
Immediate emotional and practical support helpline – 0800 0126549
An NHS, free, confidential, 24/7 helpline provided by Vita Health Group, in partnership with AWP. The line is staffed by experienced counsellors, who you can talk to and they will listen. They will offer emotional support and can connect you to organisations available in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
The helpline is for people aged 18 and over who are living within BNSSG or are registered with a GP within BNSSG.
If you are 17 or under, please instead call the Children and Young People’s helpline via Avon & Wiltshire Partnership SPA line (0300 303 1320).
24/7 Support & Connect website
Network Counselling
Network Counselling offers affordable counselling in a welcoming, safe and confidential space where people can be listened to, accepted and understood. The service is for adults aged 18+.
Heart to Heart Counselling
Low-cost counselling service in Bristol offering counselling with a qualified or student counsellor to anyone over the age of 12.
Heart to Heart Counselling website
Kinergy
Kinergy is a specialist counselling agency offering support to anyone aged 18 and above of any gender in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset or BANES who has experiences sexual abuse or violence.
Mothers for Mothers
Mothers for Mothers offer a range of perinatal mental health support services. Most of their services, including helplines, one-to-one sessions, and counselling, are directed at mothers, but monthly support sessions are also available for fathers.
Knowle West Health Association
Knowle West Health Association is a community organisation serving people in Filwood, Knowle, and the surrounding areas. Services include free ‘as long as needed’ counselling, and an allotment and kitchen garden.
Knowle West Health Association website
Meeting Minds
Meeting Minds is Bristol Mind’s low-cost counselling service, offering up to 16 weeks of affordable counselling to individuals with mild to moderate mental health struggles.
Adult ADHD Clinic
Adult ADHD Clinic has a specialist team who work exclusively with adults who have ADHD in Bristol, B&NES and the surrounding areas. They provide assessment, reassessment and treatment, taking into consideration the many areas in an adult’s life before an accurate ADHD diagnosis is made.
Tel: 01275 796262
NHS Talking Therapies
The NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) provider for Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. VitaMinds offer a range of courses and support for anyone registered with a GP in these areas who is experiencing common mental health difficulties such as Depression and Anxiety problems.
Support offered includes psycho-educational group courses, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression (MBCT), among others.
The service is primarily accessed by self-referral (either online or by phone), although GP referrals are possible in some cases. Services provided by Vita Health Group are free of charge.
Social Anxiety Bristol
Social Anxiety Bristol (SA Bristol) is a self-help group open to anyone who experiences or has experienced social anxiety. The group offers a safe place to talk about your social anxiety and get help and advice from like-minded people who have been through similar experiences.
Social Anxiety Bristol website
Bipolar UK (Bristol Group)
Bipolar UK is dedicated to supporting individuals with bipolar, their families and carers. Services include support groups (the Bristol Support Group meets online), a peer support line, and online information.
Bipolar UK (Bristol Group) website
TOP UK Bristol Group
TOP UK (Triumph Over Phobia) specialise in supported self-help for sufferers of phobias, OCD, and other related anxiety disorders. Peer support groups run regularly.
Brandon Trust
The Brandon Trust exists to enable children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism to live life in the way they choose, by providing high-quality, individualised support that focuses on enabling people to achieve their dreams and truly live free.
Services are available in various locations across the UK, including Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Glos, B&NES, North Somerset, and Wiltshire.
Brandon Trust are a member of the Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Service.
Bristol Autism Spectrum Services (BASS)
BASS Autism Services for Adults provide service to adults with autism spectrum conditions and professionals and carers who support them. These include assessment and diagnosis on referral, advice services, post-diagnostic support, one-to-one appointments, group sessions and training.
Bristol Autism Spectrum Services (BASS) website
OCD Action (Bristol group)
OCD Action provide support and information to anybody affected by OCD. Services include a helpline and online support groups.
OCD Action (Bristol group) website
TOP UK Bristol Group
TOP UK (Triumph Over Phobia) specialise in supported self-help for sufferers of phobias, OCD, and other related anxiety disorders. Peer support groups run regularly.
Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services Partnership
Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services offer a free and confidential support service to victims of hate crime, including emotional support, support through the legal process, and support making complaints.
Bristol Hate Crime and Discrimination Services Partnership website
Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy
The Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy provide psychotherapy across the South West of England. Low-cost psychotherapy is provided through the Training Patient Scheme, which matches clients with therapists in training.
Severnside Institute for Psychotherapy website
Luv2MeetU
Luv2meetU is a friendship service for people with a learning disability and/or autism aged 18 and over. People are supported to make friends and share interests.
National Autistic Society, Bristol Branch
The National Autistic Society provide support, guidance, and advice to autistic people and their families. Social and community events are also provided for both autistic adults and autistic children and their parents locally.
National Autistic Society, Bristol Branch website
North Somerset People First
North Somerset People First now also run some services in Bristol. They promote and encourage people with a learning disability, difficulty and/or autism to speak up for themselves, empowering them to be in control of their own lives, now and in the future.
NSPF’s self advocacy services support individuals from the age of 16 to speak up for themselves, be more confident and aware of their rights. These services include Speaking Up Groups, Consultations, Person Centred Planning and Advocacy, and Training Programmes.
North Somerset People First website
Bristol Mindline
A confidential free helpline providing a safe place to talk if you, or someone you know, is in distress.
Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruse offer support for people who have experienced bereavement across the UK through their national helpline. Local support services are also available.
Cruse Bereavement Support website
Grief Encounter (South West)
Grief Encounter provide free, immediate, one-to-one support to children and young people who have been bereaved. Support is also available for parents or carers when a child in the family is being supported.
Grief Encounter (South West) website
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide offer peer support to adults (aged 18+) who have been bereaved by suicide. Services include support groups, including a dedicated online group for men, a community forum, and telephone and email helpline services.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide website
The Compassionate Friends – Bristol
The Compassionate Friends provide befriending, support and a helpline for bereaved parents, grandparents or siblings who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause. Online and local support groups are also available.
The Compassionate Friends – Bristol website
The Harbour
Free counselling /psychotherapy for adults who are facing dying or bereavement, or who have been bereaved in the past two years. For individuals or couples. Group therapy available.
Winston’s Wish (South West)
Winston’s Wish provide support to children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling. Support available includes a free helpline: 08088 020 021 and email service, grief support groups, and guidance and support for parents who are supporting bereaved children.
Winston’s Wish (South West) website
Affordable Talk
Offers short and long-term low cost counselling, CBT and psychotherapy to individuals and couples, with options for qualified or trainee counsellors. Affordable Talk are based in South Wales, but are offering online and telephone sessions during COVID-19.
Avon Counselling and Psychotherapy Service (ACPS)
Avon Counselling and Psychotherapy Service are a private talking therapies provider who offer reduced-price therapy to those on a low income or in receipt of qualifying benefits.
Avon Counselling and Psychotherapy Service (ACPS) website
Bristol and District Tranquilliser Project (No Panic)
Bristol and District Tranquilliser Project (BTP) offer support to anyone who is taking, considering taking, or has recently withdrawn from prescribed psychotropic medications.
BTP have a range of resources on their website and offer direct support by telephone.
Bristol and District Tranquilliser Project (No Panic) website
Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BCPC)
BCPC offer low-cost counselling with trainee counsellors to those on low incomes in Bath.
Bath Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling (BCPC) website
Bath Mind
Bath Mind offer a range of services and support to people living in Bath and North East Somerset, including befriending, counselling, community groups, a crisis helpline, and practical support.
Please note that these services are only available in Bath and North East Somerset, and Bristol Mind is a separate organisation offering different services.
Hope Project
The Hope Project provides short-term emotional and practical support for men aged 30-64 who are in psychological distress or have recently self-harmed.
Self Injury Support
Self Injury Support offer support for anyone affected by self harm, and information and resources about self harm for all. Support is provided through webchats, helplines, text, and email.
If you have been affected by self-injury their helpline and text services are open to offer you confidential, non-judgmental support.
Mon and Thurs 7pm – 10pm
Helpline: 0808 800 8088
Text: Contact TESS at 07537 432444 (Texts cost standard rate).
Carers’ Support Centre (Bristol & South Glos)
The Carers Centre is a local charity supporting people in Bristol and South Gloucestershire who care for family and friends. They offer expert advice, emotional support, telephone counselling, and understanding, and support for child carers. All services are free. CarersLine helpline for carers also available
Carers’ Support Centre (Bristol & South Glos) website
Relate (Bristol)
Relate are the UK’s largest provider of relationship support, providing online support services and counselling.
Southmead Project
The Southmead Project provides free counselling and support for survivors of abuse and addiction across Bristol and surrounding areas.
Student Counselling Service (UoB)
Free individual, group, online, and telephone counselling for UK-based undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Bristol.
SWEDA
SWEDA offer a range of services for people with eating disorders across Somerset and the surrounding areas, including counselling and support groups.
The Swan Project
The Swan Project offer low-cost counselling to adults, primarily those suffering from addiction.
UWE Wellbeing Service
The UWE Wellbeing Service offers counselling and mental health support to students of UWE Bristol.
Vine Counselling Services
Vine Counselling Services offer affordable, donation-based counselling to adults in North Somerset and Somerset.
Vine Counselling Services website
Wellspring Counselling
Wellspring offers confidential help and support to residents of North Somerset who are experiencing loss and bereavement, relationship difficulties, stress and anxiety, depression or emotional abuse. Services are available for children and young people (aged 11 – 18) and adults (18+).
Wellspring Counselling website
Womankind
Womankind supports women in the Bristol area with professional counselling, group psychotherapy, befriending and a helpline service.
HappyMaps
HappyMaps is an online directory of mental health resources for parents and carers of children and young people, developed by GPs and CAMHS professionals.
Love Squared
Love Squared (previously Leading Lights)is a charity that offers free wellbeing support services for young people with SEMH needs (social, emotional and mental health) along with their parents/carers.
Bristol Samaritans (116 123)
Samaritans provide free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone, and also offer non-urgent support by email and post.
Bristol Samaritans (116 123) website
Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Service
Helpline for people suffering bereavement from the loss of a pet. Support is available by telephone or email.
Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Service website