Asking for help with your mental health

If you’re struggling with your mental health, please don’t be afraid to talk about it. 

Talk to someone about how you're feeling

Each year, around one in four people in England experience a mental health problem.

Asking for help might seem scary, but it’s a step towards changing your life for the better.

There are lots of ways you can get help with your mental health. Talking to someone about how you’re feeling can help you find the right option for you.

If you’re struggling, we recommend visiting your GP. Explain how you’re feeling, and they'll give you advice or suggest treatment options.

Or, you might be able to access a mental health service directly. Find out more about accessing services on the NHS website.

Other support options

If you're comfortable, we recommend sharing how you feel with someone. This could be your friends, family or a professional, like a trained counsellor. You could also contact a mental health charity.

The Mind website has more information on getting help with your mental health.

Avoid using alcohol or drugs to try and manage the problem

Some people use alcohol or non-prescription drugs to try and change how they feel or avoid unpleasant thoughts. This can make things worse, and cause other issues later on.

It’s much better to talk to someone else about how you’re feeling. That way, you can find the right treatment for you.

If you’re worried about your substance use, we would recommend taking our quiz. The quiz can help you understand whether your drinking or drug use is causing you harm, and suggest some next steps.

Take our alcohol quiz
Take our drugs quiz