Expert answers from
Other useful websites
- Advice, support and information about psychosis
- Advice, support and information for family members and friends
- NHS sites
- Government organisations
- Legal advice
- Research organisations
- Campaigns fighting discrimination and stigma
Advice, support and information about psychosis
The national mental health charity runs an advice and information service and produces a lot of information about different aspects of psychosis. Visit the website, or call the advice and information service on 0300 5000 927, Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm.
Rethink Mental Illness also runs carers’ groups and you can find where the nearest one to you is by visiting the website.
The charity’s website contains information and advice about mental health problems and support and care available.
Information about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other mental health problems, as well as information about treatments and support for carers.
SANE runs a national telephone helpline – 0845 767 8000 – offering support and information for people affected by mental health problems, open 6pm to 11pm every day of the year, including all bank holidays.
SANEmail is an email support service, aimed particularly at young people or people who find using the telephone difficult.
Information for children, young people and parents worried about their children. The YoungMinds Parents Helpline, 0808 802 5544, is open from 9.30am to 4pm on weekdays.
Information about different mental health problems, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, treatment options and how to get help.
(formerly MDF, The Bipolar Organisation). The charity's website contains specific information about bipolar disorder.
Scottish Association for Mental Health
Information about different mental health problems, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and about community-based services.
Hafal is an organisation in Wales working with people recovering from severe mental illness and their families.
MindWise is an organisation in Northern Ireland. The website contains information about different mental health problems and services run by the charity.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Information about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
This website contains information about voices, visions, coping, recovery, getting help in a crisis and peer support groups for young people aged 12 to 18. Created by Mind in Camden, the site contains useful information for carers as well as young people who are having these experiences.
Advice, support and information for family members and friends
The following organisations’ websites have information and advice specifically for carers, including information about benefits, carers’ assessments and respite breaks, and/or information about the support each organisation can offer.
(formerly The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care).
The Children's Society Include Programme
The website has information for young carers and a comprehensive listing of young carers’ groups and projects that offer support in your neighbourhood.
This is a site for young carers with information and online discussion groups, run by the Carers Trust.
Rethink Mental Illness Siblings Network
This is a dedicated website for siblings of people with mental health problems, created by Rethink Mental Illness. It includes information, personal stories and blogs.
Information about the annual week highlighting carers' issues.
NHS sites
Information, advice and support for carers, including information about benefits for carers and the people they support, and carers' assessments.
Carers Direct runs a free, confidential information and advice line on 0808 802 0202, open 9am to 8pm weekdays and 11am to 4pm at weekends.
Information about psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other mental and physical health problems; treatments; and NHS services.
On this site you can get an Information Prescription about bipolar disorder and schizophrenia which includes treatment options, benefits you might be able to claim, housing support available, support groups and useful website addresses.
Health advice and information. The 24-hour phone number is 0845 4647.
This is the website of an NHS programme which promotes the development of family-sensitive, evidence-based mental health service. The website contains carers’ stories and information about research relating to family work and carers’ issues. The programme is based at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust but it operates on a national level.
Government organisations
GOV.UK - Helping carers to stay healthy
The government department responsible for health and social care policy in England and the NHS. The National Clinical Director for Mental Health is Dr Hugh Griffiths.
This organisation regulates care provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies and voluntary organisations – in hospitals, care homes and in the community. It also protects the interests of people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act.
Legal advice
including the facility to find the address of your local bureau.
Citizens Advice Bureau online Adviceguide
LawWorks is a charity that aims to provide free legal help to individuals and community groups who cannot afford to pay for it and who are unable to access legal aid.
Find a solicitor through this website.
Free, independent legal advice for children, parents and carers in England.
Research organisations
Mental Health Research Network
The National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Research Network runs FACTOR, a network of family members and friends interested in mental health research.
The Institute of Psychiatry is working with the Mental Health Foundation to promote the importance of mental health research in the UK. Visit this website to sign a declaration calling for more investment in studies that can lead to new treatments.
INVOLVE is funded by the National Institute for Health Research and seeks to promote and support public involvement in research. ‘Public’ includes people who use health and social services and their families and friends.
Campaigns fighting discrimination and stigma
England’s biggest ever anti-stigma campaign.
Scotland’s national campaign to end stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems.
This page was updated 22 February 2013.
There are currently no plans to update the page because existing funding for mentalhealthcare.org.uk ceases at the end of April 2013.
We will, however, continue to regularly check that all links are working.
Links last updated: 12 May 2013
Next links update due: August 2013
