Mental Health
Looking after our mental health is vital. We never know when we might need extra support. These are links to local charities, services and more. There is even a section about how to talk about mental health with friends and family. There is also a section for reporting a hate crime.
Local Charities and Services:
Can be used by people living in Bristol and residents in the surrounding areas.
Changes Bristol offers a great range of free services. From telephone befriending to in-person group sessions, and a weekly walk and talk. Visit their website for more information.
Off The Record is a young person’s mental health charity for people aged 16-25 to access support.
Bristol Mind has a helpline and a great website with lots of resources about looking after your mental health.
For South Glos Residents: get 1-to-1 support from One You Buddy system. The buddy system has been developed for South Glos residents to get tailored support. We at Paul’s Place can also sign-post you or help you achieve your goals, this link is for anything you want to achieve outside of Paul’s Place.
Network Counselling in Filton. A great service where you can find a trusted counselor with flexible payment options.
National Charities:
Samaritans have a helpline that you can call for support 24/7 on 116 123.
Young Minds is a charity for children up to the age of 25 and their families to get mental health support.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (Calm) have a helpline for you to call on 0800 58 58 58 open 5pm – midnight.
Text Shout is a text help service open 24/7. Text them to talk to someone for help and support by texting the word “SHOUT” to 85258.
They are a national charity with lots of advice and support on their website about looking after your mental health. They are also the group that organises and starts mental health awareness week. This is to raise awareness of mental health in order to support people to talk more openly about it. Each year there is a different theme to their mental health awareness week. More information can be found on their website.
01273 20 40 50 is a helpline and support service for the LGBT+ community. Here you can get special support to discuss any LGBT+ issues. They can also help you meet new people to make sure you can find your own supportive LGBT+ community. Meeting like-minded individuals who understand what you’re going through and can support you in finding yourself is important.
Rethink Mental Illness also have a great website with lots of information and advice about different mental health conditions. They also have a list of support groups around the UK.
Understanding your own mental health
The Mind list of A-Z mental health conditions, tips and advice.
NHS Website: mental health conditions, tips and advice.
Talking about mental health
Time to Talk a Campaign by Time to Change. Time to change is on a mission for all of us to talk more openly about mental health. So with this in mind, here is a blog post about How to talk about Mental Health.
Understanding and reporting Hate Crime
Reporting Hate Crime and getting the right support is important to your mental health and personal safety. Speak to SARI (Stand Against Racism and Inequality), who are a brilliant organisation in Bristol that can support you through the reporting process.
A hate crime becomes a hate crime when it is motivated by hostility or prejudice on the following grounds: Ethnicity or race, Disability (including mental health), Sexual orientation, Gender identity, Religion or belief, Age, and Gender. If you have been made to feel scared, unsafe or abused because of the actions or words from someone else – for our service users (members), please speak to Paul’s Place staff and we can help report it for you.
For members of the public, get in touch with SARI on 0117 942 0060 or email them using their online form on their website.