Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Accessibility
Mental Health Matters
Donate
Menu
  • Find help
    • Find a service
    • Community services
    • Crisis support
    • Employment support
    • Helpline & webchat
    • NHS Talking Therapy Services
  • Resources
    • Helpful resources
    • Mental Health Information Hub
    • Training
      • Corporate training
      • Training packages
      • Testimonials
    • Hub of Hope
  • Join us
    • About our roles
    • Benefits
    • Current vacancies
    • Volunteer with us
  • Support us
    • Make a donation
    • Get involved!
    • Support in memory
    • Share your story
    • Work in partnership with us
  • Latest
    • Our news
    • Blog
    • Your stories
  • About
    • Our Purpose, Vision and Values
    • Our Impact
    • Our Strategy
    • Meet the team
      • Board of Trustees
      • Executive Team
    • Tell us what you think
  • Admin
    • Log in
    • Accessibility
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Helpline & Webchat

Helpline & Webchat

If you use any of MHM's services nationwide, you can call our helpline and use the webchat service. Talk to the service team about the best number to call us on.

You will hear a short welcome and a Support Worker will attempt to answer your call within a minute. Where this is not possible, or where you are withholding your number, the system will hold your place in the queue so a Support Worker can call you back as soon as possible. Please use this rather than redialling and calls will always be handled in order of arrival.

Veterans - Op COURAGE Referrals

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides specialist care and support for:

  • Those due to leave the Armed Forces
  • Reservists
  • Those who've already left.

For more information:

  • Op Courage Midlands (Derby and Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and Norfolk, Birmingham and Solihull, Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent )
  • Op Courage East of England (Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Hertfordshire and West Essex, Mid and South Essex, Norfolk and Waveney, Suffolk and North East Essex)
  • Op Courage South West (Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire , Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset)
Referrals

Veterans, their families, or other health professionals can refer, or self-refer to services on:

  • East of England - Tel. 0300 034 9991. Available 8am-8pm.
  • Midlands - Tel. 0300 323 0137. Available 8am-8pm.
  • South West - Tel. 0300 034 9986. Available 8am-8pm.

Or email: [email protected]

Emotional Support
  • Midlands - Tel. 0300 323 0139. Available 24/7.
  • South West - Tel. 0300 323 0139. Available 24/7.
  • East of England - Tel. 0300 323 0139. Avalaible 24/7.

Calling the helpline

Our helpline staff are highly skilled, trained and compassionate - they are here to help you. Things they can help you with may include:

  • Feeling low, anxious or stressed and feel that talking to another person might help you
  • In extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn
  • You're caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope
  • You need advice about how to get more support with an issue that's affecting your mental wellbeing
  • You feel socially isolated and just need a chat

Talking to someone on our Helpline can give you a feeling of relief, peace of mind and help improve your wellbeing. You won't be judged, and our service is confidential unless we believe that there is a risk to you or others.

The helpline covers different areas - see the top of this page for the numbers to call. We can also sign-post you to a local service.

Using our webchat

Webchat works a bit like MSN or Facebook messenger and is a confidential and easy way to talk to our Helpline staff if you're not comfortable talking on the telephone. You will be talking to the same highly skilled staff and receive the same service and support as you would if you called us.

To access the webchat, click on the speech bubble, which you'll see floating at the bottom of any page on our website, and a Support Worker will be with you as soon as they can.

Click here to read our webchat terms & conditions

"The service you provide is so invaluable. I cannot fault your staff they are amazing, caring people. They listen well and help when they can."

Frequently Asked Questions
Read more

Is the helpline confidential?

We won't discuss your call with anyone else unless we believe that there is a risk to yourself or others - this is called Safeguarding. To read more about our Safeguarding Policy and what it means for you, visit our Key Policies page. There are some services where we will share information with your Care Coordinator, however, we will ask for your consent to do this before you start using the Helpline.

Are the calls recorded?

We do record calls for training and monitoring purposes (to make sure our helpline gives the best service possible and train new staff); however, you have the option to opt out of recording at the beginning of each call.

What happens if there's nobody free to answer my call/chat?

If our team is all busy taking calls or other chats, you will be prompted to leave a voicemail or email a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you miss our call back, we can't leave a voicemail for confidentiality reasons, but our team will try and get in touch with you again soon.

Is there a time limit on the service?

We suggest that each caller may access the service for 20 minutes per day over the phone. This will enable us to move through a conversation and ensure we are available for the next caller. You are always welcome to break your time up and call for as many days as you need us.

What experience do your helpline staff have?

All of our helpline staff are trained in counselling skills and hold a Certificate in Counselling. They're highly knowledgeable about the areas we cover and can signpost you to local services or groups that could help you. They are not just a listening ear; they can provide emotional support and practical advice to help you resolve issues.

What if English is not my first language?

If English is not your first language our Helpline team are able to dial in an interpreter from Language Line. If you are hard of hearing you may wish to use our online webchat function instead of calling, or use the BT Relay UK service.

What if I'm not in an area that is covered by the helpline?

If you're not covered by any of these helpline areas, you can try visiting our Helpful Resources section for self-help advice and other numbers you can ring for help.

Share your thoughts and feedback

Your feedback helps us to understand what we are doing well and how we can improve. The survey is anonymous and takes around 5 minutes to complete.

Share your feedback

Published: 27th June, 2019

Updated: 25th February, 2026

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Gambling and Mental Health

    Gambling and Mental Health

  • MHM Cited Six Times in Parliamentary Committee Report

    MHM Cited Six Times in Parliamentary Committee Report

    MHM received six citations in the recent Employment Support for Disabled People: Disability at Work report.

  • Phobias

    Phobias

  • Depression - What it is, symptoms and when and where to get help

    Depression - What it is, symptoms and when and where to get help

Related

  • Newfield Green Wellbeing Café

    Newfield Green Wellbeing Café

    Newfield Green Wellbeing Café offers drop-in mental health support to anyone aged 18 and over.

  • Warrington and Halton Support Hub

    Warrington and Halton Support Hub

    Warrington & Halton Support Hub offers out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in Warrington, Runcorn and Widnes.

  • Op Courage South West

    Op Courage South West

    Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides specialist care and support for those due to leave the Armed Forces, reservists and those who’ve already left.

  • Op Courage East of England

    Op Courage East of England

    Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides specialist care and support for those due to leave the Armed Forces, reservists and those who’ve already left.

  • Ashford Safe Haven

    Ashford Safe Haven

    Ashford Safe Haven offers out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Kent area.

  • South Yorkshire Crisis Support

    South Yorkshire Crisis Support

    We offer mental health crisis support from three locations in South Yorkshire: Barnsley, Sheffield and Rotherham.

  • The Moorings @ Barnstaple

    The Moorings @ Barnstaple

    The Moorings @ Barnstaple offers mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Barnstaple area.

  • The Moorings @ Torquay

    The Moorings @ Torquay

    The Moorings @ Torquay offers mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Torquay area.

  • The Moorings @ Exeter

    The Moorings @ Exeter

    The Moorings @ Exeter offer mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Exeter area.

  • Gillingham Safe Haven

    Gillingham Safe Haven

    Gillingham Safe Haven offers out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Kent area.

Most read

  • The Moorings @ Devon

    The Moorings @ Devon

    The Moorings @ Devon offer mental health support to anyone aged 18+ in the Devon area, from three locations in Exeter, Torquay and Barnstaple.

  • NHS Warrington Talking Therapies

    NHS Warrington Talking Therapies

  • Current vacancies

    Current vacancies

  • Helpline & Webchat

    Helpline & Webchat

  • NHS Sefton Talking Therapies

    NHS Sefton Talking Therapies

  • NHS Northumberland Talking Therapies

    NHS Northumberland Talking Therapies

  • Kent and Medway Safe Havens

    Kent and Medway Safe Havens

    Kent and Medway Safe Havens offer walk-in mental health support to adults in the Kent area, from ten locations.

  • About our roles

    About our roles

  • Sheffield Support Hub

    Sheffield Support Hub

    Sheffield Support Hub offers drop-in mental health support to anyone aged 16 and over.

  • Step 3 - more information

Contact Us
  • Mental Health Matters, Waterside House, Sunderland Enterprise Park, Sunderland, SR5 2TZ
All General Enquiries
  • 0191 516 3500 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)
  • [email protected]
Press/Media Enquiries
  • [email protected]
For service contact details please visit 'Find Help'

Our distinctive logotypes are registered trademarks of MHM - a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 01786914. Registered charity no. 514829.

Share
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Threads
Quick Links
  • Current vacancies
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility
  • Share Your Story - Terms & Conditions
  • Key policies
  • Carbon Reduction Plan
  • Gender Pay Gap Report
  • Social Value Statement
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework
Accredited by
  • Disability Confident Employer logo
  • CHAS logo
  • Mindful Employer tick logo
  • Investors in people logo

Copyright © 2023 Mental Health Matters. All rights reserved.

Manage Cookie Preferences