Useful organisations

The Mental Health Foundation website provides a useful overview of the services and organisations that are available for people with mental health problems across the UK.

MIND, the national association for mental health, is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. Their website provides a wide range of information on mental health problems and services and treatments. You can use it to locate local Mind groups in England and Wales, offering crisis helplines, drop-in centres, counselling, befriending, advocacy, employment and training schemes. 
Tel: 0845 766 0163 Monday to Friday 9.15am to 5.15pm (local call rate)

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading charity in the UK specialising in bereavement, they currently have 178 branches and over 6,300 volunteers throughout the UK. Over 100,000 people contact Cruse each year for help and information. Cruse can provide information and counselling for people affected by a death and they have a wide range of leaflets and books about bereavement.
Tel: 0870 167 1677
Email here

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy holds details of individual counsellors registered with them as members, and lists their qualifications. It has strict rules of membership and is a good place to start if you are looking for a qualified counsellor.

Relate is the UK's largest provider of relationship counselling and other relationship support services. Relate has 82 Centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  You can fill in an enquiry form on their website as well as find out about books and guides written especially for older people.
Tel: 0845 456 1310
Email here 

The Depression Alliance website lists self-help support groups for people who have depression.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers can provide details of support for carers around the UK.

Finding local support

To find out about other local self help or support groups contact your local Council for Voluntary Service or Voluntary Action organisation. The telephone number will be in your local telephone directory, or try the contacts below.

In England, The National Association of Councils for Voluntary Action can tell you how to contact your local CVS.
Tel: 0114 278 6636
Email here

In Northern Ireland, contact the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.
Tel: 028 9087 7777
Email here 

In Scotland, contact the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Tel: 0131 556 3882
Email here

In Wales, contact Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
Tel: 029 2043 1700
Email here