If you need help now

If life is at risk

Call 999 now, or go to A&E. The nearest is Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Mandeville Road, Aylesbury HP21 8AL.

If you can't do that, call 111 and choose the mental health option — free, 24 hours, every day.

Counselling is not an emergency service. I work alone, I don't monitor my phone or email outside working hours, and I can't respond to messages sent in a crisis.

The services below can. Some are open around the clock; the rest are here for the things counselling on its own isn't the right answer to. You don't have to be in danger to use them, and you don't need a referral.

Someone to talk to, right now

All of these are free, confidential, and used by people who are nowhere near the end of their rope as well as people who are.

  • Samaritans

    116 123

    24 hours, every day. Free from any phone, even with no credit, and it doesn't show up on your bill.

  • Shout

    Text SHOUT to 85258

    24 hours, every day. Free and silent, so it works when you can't speak safely or can't face talking.

  • NHS mental health helpline

    111, then the mental health option

    24 hours, every day. The route to the Buckinghamshire crisis team if you need one.

  • Aylesbury Safe Haven

    01296 453017

    Every evening, 6pm to midnight. Run by Bucks Mind as an alternative to A&E — somewhere to sit and talk it through with someone. Phone before you set off.

  • HOPELINE247

    0800 068 4141 · text HOPE to 88247

    24 hours. For anyone under 35 having thoughts of suicide, and for people worried about someone else.

  • CALM

    0800 58 58 58 · thecalmzone.net

    5pm to midnight, every day, with webchat as well as phone. Set up for men, open to everyone.

Support that isn't a crisis line

  • Your GP

    Still the most useful single call. They can review medication, refer you on, and see you urgently if things have changed quickly.

  • NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies

    01865 901 600 · oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/bucks-talking-therapies

    Free NHS therapy for anxiety and depression. You refer yourself — no GP referral needed, though you do need to be registered with a Buckinghamshire GP.

  • Bucks Mind

    bucksmind.org.uk

    Local groups, wellbeing courses, and the Safe Havens in Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

  • SANEline

    0300 304 7000

    4pm to 10pm, every day. Emotional support in the evenings, including for family and friends.

  • Mind Infoline

    0300 123 3393

    Weekdays 9am to 6pm. Information about conditions, treatments, your rights, and what's available near you.

  • Hub of Hope

    hubofhope.co.uk

    Type in your postcode and it lists the mental health support around you. Useful when nothing else on this page quite fits.

Domestic abuse

If you're reading this on a shared device, these numbers are free and won't appear on a phone bill. Most of these organisations can also talk to you about covering your tracks online.

Rape and sexual abuse

It doesn't matter how long ago it happened, and you don't have to have reported it to the police.

  • SAASS Bucks & Milton Keynes

    01296 392468 · saassbmk.org.uk

    The specialist local service, based in Aylesbury. Counselling, advocacy and support for anyone affected.

  • 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line

    0808 500 2222 · 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk

    24 hours, every day, run by Rape Crisis England & Wales.

  • SAM — Support After Assault and Abuse for Men

    samproject.org.uk

    Support for male survivors across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, run alongside SAASS. Refer yourself through the website, or ring the SAASS number above.

Drink and drugs

Eating and food

  • Beat

    0808 801 0677 · beateatingdisorders.org.uk

    Weekdays 3pm to 8pm, by phone or webchat.

  • Buckinghamshire Community Eating Disorder Service

    Through your GP

    The NHS specialist service, based at the Whiteleaf Centre in Aylesbury.

Gambling, grief, and life in the forces

Things to keep on your phone

Worth downloading before you need them rather than during.

  • Stay Alive

    A suicide prevention app from Grassroots Suicide Prevention. Lets you build a safety plan and a set of reasons for living while you're well, and reach both quickly when you're not.

  • Hub of Hope

    Finds mental health support near your postcode.

  • Insight Timer, Calm or Headspace

    Guided breathing, grounding and sleep exercises. Insight Timer has the largest free library.

If you're already working with me and something on this page has become relevant, please do bring it to our next session — or email me and we'll bring the session forward if I can.

Checked August 2026. Services move and numbers change — if one of these doesn’t work, please let me know and start with 111 or the Samaritans.

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