The Importance of Mental Health Phonelines

 The pandemic is hitting some of us hard post Christmas. Cumbria CE Mind's latest call trends are concerning. If you are in despair or distress and need to talk right now, there are lots of helplines staffed by experienced people ready to listen without judging you. They could help you make sense of what you're feeling. Mental health helplines aim to offer confidential or anonymous support, out-of-hours support, crisis resolution, or specialist advice.. (Mental Health Helplines Partnership Report). They found before covid-19, most helplines received in excess of 1000 calls per month, and the majority of calls lasted between 5–30 minutes.   The largest proportion of callers had called either once, or over ten times , suggesting that callers seek either one-off information, or else are likely to be regular callers. 

Carlisle Eden Mind's MindLine operates across Cumbria. Mindline Cumbria offers emotional support and guidance about mental health coping strategies, over the telephone, via text or email.

Increase in people contacting during daytime hours Evenings are always times when people need to talk but now it is happening during the day. Repeated lockdown and working from home, places pressure on parents with young kids or those that live alone. Many people miss work banter and social connections.

Increase in 25-34yr olds contacting the service. People in their twenties and early thirties are feeling more lonely and disconnected from their friends. Their lives have been put on hold. This is the time to go out with friends and enjoy life. 

Increase in referrals from ALIS. ALIS is the front end of the Mental Health crisis intervention service in Cumbria. They respond to immediate mental health crisis needs. 

Increase in people contacting during the middle of the week. Work and home routines have been disrupted, without continuity in your business or at home, it can start to affect your Mental Health.

Increase in general anxiety amongst callers. We can fluctuate between our red and green wellbeing zones. Many people are in between amber - up one day and down the next.

Worries over vulnerable family members and Covid-19 more common. Uncertainty and feeling out of control fuel negative worry thoughts. Worry about losing a loved one to Covid 19 is more disturbing when others you know are succumbing to the virus.

If you or someone you know needs support, you can access Mindline Cumbria in the following ways:

• Call MindLine Cumbria on 0300 561 0000
• Text 'Mind' and your question to 81066
• Webchat at www.mindlinecumbria.org
• Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Samaritans. Every seven seconds, they respond to a call for help. No judgement. No pressure. They are here for anyone who needs someone. When you call them on 116 123, you will be put through to a volunteer at one of their 201 branches. 

National MindTheir Infoline provides an information and signposting service. They are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays). You can ask them about: mental health problems, where to get help near you, treatment options and advocacy services. 

Infoline: 0300 123 3393. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Text: 86463 

Post: Mind Infoline, PO Box 75225, London, E15 9FS

SANEline. Although their previous SANEline number cannot operate at the moment, you can leave a message on 07984 967 708 giving your first name and a contact number, and one of their professionals or senior volunteers will call you back as soon as practicable. You can also email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will respond as soon as possible. Their normal Support Forum and Textcare services are still open.

Papyrus HOPELINEUK. If you, or a young person you know, is not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINEUK. 

They are open 9am–12am (midnight) every day of the year:0800 068 4141 

email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

text 07786 209 697.

  Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Being silent isn't being strong. The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. Every week 125 people in the UK take their own lives. And 75% of all UK suicides are male. CALM exists to change this. 

CALL THE CALM HELPLINE 0800 58 58 58. OPEN 5PM – MIDNIGHT, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

Nightline. If you're a student, you can look on the Nightline website https://www.nightline.ac.uk/want-to-talk/ to see if your university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too.

The Mix. Whether you're 13, 25, or any age in between, they are here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don't-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts you have. They are a free and confidential multi-channel service. That means that you choose how you access our support, without the worry of anyone else finding out. Whether it be through their articles and video content online 

phone, (0808 808 4994) 

email,( https://www.themix.org.uk/get-support/speak-to-our-team/email-us), 

peer to peer and counselling services – they put the control in your hands.

Helplines Partnership. Helplines Partnership represents the helplines sector across the UK and internationally, supporting helplines to provide the best quality service to their users. Our services have been developed over 25 years to meet the needs of our members, helplines and the wider community. 

For more options, visit the Helplines Partnership website https://helplines.org/helplines/ for a directory of UK helplines.