Help & Support
Emergency Help:
Click the links below to reveal help options
Have you seriously harmed yourself by taking a drug overdose?
Call 999 for an ambulance or get yourself to A&E.
Tell them what you’ve taken
Do you feel like taking your own life, want to die, do yourself harm or already attempted suicide?
Call your GP – ask for an emergency appointment
Call 111 – out of hours service. They will direct you to the help and support you need
Mental Health Crisis Team – if you’re registered with them, make contact.
Frank – call 0300 1336600 – anytime for confidential advice
Samaritans – Call 116 123 or e-mail [email protected] – advice for everyone
Starting a conversation is what’s important – there’s no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal thoughts, feelings or attempts.
Remember you are not alone and how you feel now will change. Talk to a friend or family member; pick up the phone and get help.
LIFE CAN GET BETTER
Has a family member or friend told you or are you aware they want to take their own life, want to die or have they already attempted suicide?
Suicide threats are real – do not ignore them! – take any suicidal behaviour seriously. It’s not just a warning sign that a person is thinking about suicide – it’s a cry for help!
Starting a conversation with someone in a fragile state of mind is not easy but it is important that you try to engage with them – there’s no right or wrong way to talk about suicide.
When talking to a suicidal person – listen, be sympathetic, non- judgmental, offer hope, take them seriously and above all be yourself
DO NOT argue with them, act shocked or disapproving, promise confidentiality or be sworn to secrecy, offer ways to fix them or blame yourself
Ways to start a conversation:
“Recently, I have noticed that you don’t seem yourself and wondered how you were doing?”
“Just wanted to touch base with you because you haven’t seemed yourself lately”
Questions you can ask:
“When did you start to feel like this?
“Did something happen to make you feel this way?”
“How can I help or support you right now?”
“Have you thought about getting help?”
What you can say that helps:
“You’re not alone, I’m here for you”
“I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help”
Call Frank 0300 1336600 – anytime for confidential advice
Has a family member or friend taken a drugs overdose?
If you’re with somebody that needs medical help –
Call 999 for an ambulance
Tell the Crew everything you know about what they’ve taken it could save their life.
Put them in the Recovery Position.
Hand over any drugs that may be left to the ambulance crew.
There are numerous treatment and therapy options available to you. As you are an individual person you may find one works better than another or indeed a combination works for you. These generally include outpatient or in some cases inpatient rehab, support groups and multiple kinds of interactive therapies.
With the right help and support you can become free from substance use and/or addictive disorders and stay that way.
To give you an insight into what is readily available to help you conquer your dependency and/or addiction; we have given an overview to help you on your way to a better life.
You can find useful apps centred around addition help and support on our Apps page
Self Referral
Access to drug, alcohol and other behavioral addiction/dependency treatment services has changed and it is now much easier to self refer or to refer a friend or family member directly to the service, providing the individual is accepting of treatment.
The NHS offers some services but generally drug, alcohol and behavioral addiction services are provided by charities who are chosen to provide the services – this is different for every area and you can find out who provides the service for your area either from our database of Local Services, your GP, your social worker or on the internet.
Help, support and advice are also available for family members and friends of individuals suffering from drug and/or alcohol dependency/addiction or any other behavioral addictions.
The easiest way to find out what services your local provider offers is to call or email them.
Some of the services they offer include:
Recovery and detox programmes
Harm reduction advice and planned drug/alcohol reduction support
Psychological therapy, counselling and group work
Support with any physical, emotional or mental health needs
One to one and group therapy
Talking therapies
Health and wellbeing service
Social activities
Education, training and employment opportunities
Homelessness
Young Peoples Services
You can make a referral to services for young people if you are a young person (self-referral), a parent/carer or a professional who works with young people.
Help and support is available for substance use, behavioral addictions, dependency/addiction issues, mental health and sexual health problems.
Don’t worry lots of people are nervous when using services for the first time but you will be understood and supported so you won’t feel alone. All your information is kept safe (confidential) and not shared outside of the organisation without your permission, unless there is a danger to life or immediate risk of harm
Charities
There are numerous Charities throughout the UK who provide great help and support for people struggling with dependency and/or addictions.
Adfam
Adfam website lists useful organisations
https://adfam.org.uk/help-for-families/useful-organisations
We Are With You
We Are With You is one of the UK’s leading
drug, alcohol & mental health charities.
They deliver 81 services across England and Scotland
They work with adults and young people in the community, in residential rehab and through outreach work
“we believe everyone can change and we support them to do it”
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/
Forward Leeds
Forward Leeds if you’re looking for help either for yourself of someone else; this drug and alcohol service is for adults, young people and families. They have several sites around Leeds and go out into communities.
https://www.forwardleeds.co.uk Phone 0113 8872477
Local Services
Click the link to find services near to you.
NHS
You are entitled to NHS care for all health problems including dependency/addiction related problems. Your GP is a good place to start.
You can discuss your problem with your GP, and they will assess what may be the right treatment for you. The GP may offer to treat you at the practice or refer you for further assessment and support.
Local Drug/Alcohol Treatment Service
If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to your GP, you can approach your local drug/alcohol treatment service yourself.
Local Services
Click the link to find services near to you.
Self Referral
you can self refer or refer a friend or family to most charities and treatment services.
Talk to Frank
Visit the Frank website to find local services near you – Talk to Frank – Find support near you
If you can’t find the right type of help and you need to talk through your options – Call the Frank Drugs Helpline on 0300 1336600
NHS REHAB
The NHS does not operate any ‘stand alone’ residential rehab clinics for drug addiction. They may, sometimes however, refer an individual for treatment at Private Rehab Clinics. Although this is not a frequent occurrence due to limited budgets.
Charities can offer free residential rehabs if necessary and can sometimes offer places in hospitals for safe detox. Most private health insurances now offer private rehab options in their policies
NHS Rehab
The services they offer are generally:
- medicated treatment plans through your GP
- medicated detox programs
- referrals to community based organisations/charities
- counselling services
PRIVATE CLINIC REHAB
Generally takes place in a residential setting where treatment is by private medical insurance or from your own financial resources and on rare occasions by the NHS, due to limited budgets.
Private Clinic Rehab
Private treatment for drug rehab means that you generally move into the Clinic for the duration of your treatment.
The NHS is not involved in your treatment; although the Private Clinic may ask to access your medical records.
Treatment will be entirely tailored to your individual needs and is generally ‘holistic’ in its’ approach.
You can generally expect:
- a personalised treatment plan based on a medical/personal assessment of your needs
- a daily schedule of exercise, group & individual sessions/therapies, changes in diet & nutrition, counselling sessions & Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBT).
- progress reviews to help you achieve your goal of becoming drug free
Castle Craig Private Hospital
Treats all forms of addictions. They combine medically managed treatment, with a 12 Step Program; as well as cognitive behavioural therapy and other evidence based therapies.
Castle Craig offers dual diagnosis, 24/7 medical care and have in house advocates who can relate to the patient because of their own personal experiences with addiction.
We can highly recommend Castle Craig. Their Hospitals are based in Scotland – Castle Craig, Wiltshire – Clouds House and Ireland – Smarmore Castle.
‘it’s the object of treatment that patients should enjoy a good recovery and enhanced quality of life which we believe will be greatly assisted by abstinent lifestyle through the on-going support of the 12 Step Programme.’
https://castlecraig.co.uk
http://www.smarmore-rehab-clinic.com
Local Services
Click the link to find services near to you.
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (NA)
NA is an international network of community based meetings for people recovering from a substance use disorder – you don’t have to be clean but you do have to have a desire to stop.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
NA is a non-profit making fellowship or society of men and women to whom drugs have become a problem.
There are no fees, the only requirement of membership is a desire to stop using.
It consists of a 12 Step Program with a defined process for overcoming addiction (modelled on Alcoholics Anonymous) and is based on abstinence.
You can search for a meeting location near you via their web site
https://ukna.org/
They also have a Helpline 10am to midnight 0300 999 1212
‘if you have a drug problem we can help – we’ve been there’
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA)
AA is an international mutual aid fellowship with the purpose of helping its’ members stay sober – you don’t have to be free from alcohol but you do have to have a desire to stop
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
AA is a non profit making fellowship of men and women to whom alcohol has become a problem.
There are no fees, the only requirement of membership is a desire to become alcohol free.
The heart of the program of personal recovery is based on 12 Steps for overcoming addiction and is based on abstinence.
You can search for a meeting local to you via their website
https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
They also have a national helpline on 0800 9177 650 or e-mail [email protected]
FAMILIES ANONYMOUS (FAMANON)
FA is a world wide fellowship for family members and friends who are affected by someone else’s substance use or addictive disorder.
Families Anonymous (FAMANON)
FA has groups around the UK which meet regularly to help and support family/friends whom are concerned about another’s addiction.
The heart of the program is based on 12 Steps. You will learn to come to terms with the problems that are disrupting your life. it will help you adopt an honest and consistent approach towards the addict
FA also have an online forum that provides information, help and support. There’s also a Helpline
Helpline: 0207 4984 680
Email: [email protected]
Visit to Families Anonymous – Leeds
PAPYRUS (PREVENTION OF YOUNG SUICIDE)
Papyrus is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.Suicide is the biggest killer of young people – male and female – under 35 in the UK. Every year many thousands more attempt or contemplate suicide, harm themselves or suffer alone, afraid to speak openly about how they feel. PAPYRUS’s mission is to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by shattering the stigma around suicide and equipping young people and their communities with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.
Papyrus (Prevention of young suicide)
The work PAPYRUS does, centres around three key principles – Support, Equip, Influence
Support – confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide and anyone worried about a young person.
Equip – they engage communities and volunteers in suicide prevention projects and deliver training programmes.
Influence – they aim to shape national policy and make a significant contribution to local/regional implementation of national suicide prevention strategies.
HOPELINK – if you’re having thoughts of suicide or you’re concerned about someone else
Call – 0800 068 4141
Text – 07786209697
E-mail – [email protected]