Domestic Abuse Helplines
24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Freephone: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours)
Victim Support Helpline
Helpline: 0808 168 9111
We don’t just help people who’ve recently experienced domestic abuse – we’re here to support both men and women, weeks, months and years afterwards. All of our services are confidential, free and available to anyone who's experienced domestic violence.
Domestic Abuse: Recognise the signs
Domestic Abuse - How to get help
Refuge
Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours)www.refuge.org.uk
Thirty-five years ago Refuge set up the world's first refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence. Since then, Refuge has grown to become the largest provider of emergency accommodation and emotional and practical support to women and children in the country and the leading voice in the campaign to end domestic violence.
Women's Aid Federation of England
For women who are experiencing or have experienced physical, mental, sexual or domestic violence or abuse. Offers advice, support and crisis intervention to abused women.
Love Respect
Aimed at 14-24 yr olds - at Love Respect, we want you to be empowered and feel confident to talk about what abuse is and understand what a healthy and unhealthy relationship looks like, so you can spot the signs for yourself. We believe love shouldn’t feel bad, and that everyone has a right to be safe and happy. We are here to help you figure out what you can do if you, or someone you know is in an unsafe relationship and support you to get help and advice. We do this by providing lots of helpful resources on this website – so you can read, watch, and listen to the information you need to keep you and others safe. Love Don’t Feel Bad explores what is and isn’t a healthy relationship – from physical violence to coercive control, how to get help and what the law can do for you.
Scottish Women’s Aid
Helpline: 0800 027 1234
Scottish Women's Aid is the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. We play a vital role campaigning and lobbying for effective responses to domestic abuse. An important aspect of our work is ensuring that women and children who have experienced domestic abuse get the services they need, both from local Women’s Aid groups and from the agencies they are likely to contact. Our members are local Women’s Aid groups which provide specialist services to women, children and young people. These include safe refuge accommodation, information and support. For queries relating to our policy or campaign work please contact us, for support if you are experiencing abuse please contact Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline.
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
Helpline: 0800 027 1234
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We support anyone in Scotland who has experienced, or is at risk of experiencing domestic abuse or forced marriage, as well as those concerned about someone they know experiencing these. We can discuss your options and provide contact details to relevant support agencies. We will help you regardless of age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or background. If English is not your first language, we can speak to you through a confidential translation service.
Welsh Women’s Aid
Live Fear Free Helpline: 0808 8010 800
Text service: 078600 77333
The helpline provides a bilingual free and confidential information and support service for women, children and men in Wales who are experiencing or who have experienced abuse at the hands of someone close to them.
Northern Ireland Nexus
24hr Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline: 0808 802 1414
The Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline provides information, advice, and support to those impacted
by domestic and sexual abuse across Northern Ireland. The Helpline is available to people with lived
experience, those concerned about someone else, those with concerns as to whether abuse is
occurring, and to professionals working with people who may be impacted by abuse. The Helpline will
direct callers to the appropriate support in both emergency and non-emergency situations. Nexus
manages the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline, delivered in partnership with the Departments of
Communities, Health and Justice. You can contact the Helpline at any time, free and confidentially.
Trained, experienced staff are available to available to help via phone, email and webchat.
Mankind
Helpline: 01823 334244www.mankind.org.ukThe Mankind Initiative supports male victims of domestic violence, though it helps all callers regardless of sex, race or sexual orientation. Call the helpline on 01823 334 244 at any time to receive up-to-date information on helpline availability or check out services at website. There is also a referral system for single men or men with children fleeing from domestic violence.
Men's Advice Line
Helpline: 0808 801 0327
Offers advice, information and listening support for men with experience of domestic abuse. Includes help for men in same-sex and heterosexual relationships.
Sexual Abuse Helplines
NHS
Help after rape and sexual assault
Sexual Abuse Referral Centres - Find a SARC SARC
Sexual violence is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens. Don’t be afraid to get help.
SARCs are specialist medical and forensic services for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. They aim to be one-stop service, providing the following under one roof: medical care and forensic examination following assault/rape and, in some locations, sexual health services. Medical Services are free of charge and provided to women, men, young people and children.
Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
Helpline: 0808 500 2222 (24/7)
Support outside England and Wales
Rape Crisis England & Wales is the charity working to end sexual violence and abuse. We provide specialist information and support to all those affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and all other forms of sexual violence and abuse in England and Wales not matter when it happened. We are also the membership organisation for 39 Rape Crisis centres. Together, we aim to educate, influence and make change.
Rape Crisis Scotland
Helpline: 08088 01 03 02
Rape Crisis Scotland is Scotland’s leading organisation working to transform attitudes, improve responses and ultimately to end rape and sexual violence in all its forms. All of us deserve to live free from the fear and threat of sexual violence. We work to raise awareness of the prevalence and impact of rape, sexual assault and abuse, advocate for better health, justice and community responses, and work to make sure that no matter what happened or when, survivors can access specialist support.
Victim Support
Supportline: 08 08 16 89 111
Our services are confidential, free and available to anyone who's been raped or sexually assaulted, now or in the past. We can help, regardless of whether you have told the police or anyone else about the attack. Our volunteers can visit you at home (if you want us to, and if doing so will not put you at further risk) or somewhere else if you prefer. If you don't want to see anyone face-to-face, you can also talk to us on the 'phone, either at one of our local offices or at the national Victim Supportline.
The Survivors Trust
Helpline: 0808 801 0818
Text: 07860 022956
Rape and sexual abuse can happen to anyone regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, culture or social status. Living with the consequences of rape and sexual abuse can be devastating. We believe that all survivors are entitled to receive the best possible response to their needs whether or not they choose to report.
Women's Aid Federation
Chat to usWomen's Aid is the national domestic violence charity that helps up to 250,000 women and children every year. We work to end violence against women and children.
Survivors UK – Male Rape and Sexual Abuse Support
Helpline: 0203 598 3898
We are here for any man, boy or non-binary person who has ever experienced unwanted sexual activity (such as words, images or touch). We can chat with you here through webchat, or by texting.
There’s no pressure or judgement when you contact us – you get to stay in control. You can reach out as little or often as you like. You may not be sure if we’re the right service for you. No problem, contact us anyway, and we’ll do our best to help or point you in the right direction.
Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
Helpline: 0808 500 2222 (24/7)
Rape Crisis England & Wales is the charity working to end sexual violence and abuse. We provide specialist information and support to all those affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and all other forms of sexual violence and abuse in England and Wales. We are also the membership organisation for 39 Rape Crisis centres. Together, we aim to educate, influence and make change.
Mental Health Helplines
NHS – Mental Health
Comprehensive help and information from NHS with links to external help and support.
NHS INFORM (Scotland)
The site is designed to offer information, advice to those experiencing troublesome thoughts, feelings and actions. From the site you are able to print off various self-help guides covering conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress, panic and sleep problems.
Mind
MindInfoline: 0300 123 3393
Side by side - on-line support community
The MindinfoLine offers thousands of callers confidential help on a range of mental health issues. Mind helps people take control of their mental health. We do this by providing high-quality information and advice, and campaigning to promote and protect good mental health for everyone. They also provide a special legal service to the public, lawyers and mental health workers.
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health)
SAMH Information Team: 0344 800 0550
Today, in over 60 communities we work with adults and young people providing mental health social care support, services in primary care, schools and further education, among others. These services together with our national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention and active living; inform our policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.
Trauma Research UK
We are a national registered trauma research charity dedicated to making a difference. Offering support and recovery programmes to those suffering from trauma and anxiety-related disorders such as phobias, panic attacks, PTSD, OCD, GAD etc. We know you may be suffering right now, but please consider this - “It's not what's wrong with you, it's what happened to you”.
Samaritans
Tel: 116 123 (Free)
www.samaritans.org Whatever you're going through, we're here to help 24 hours a day. We won't judge you and we won't share what you tell us with anyone else. Get in touch by telephone, email, letter and face to face in the UK and Ireland. Visit befrienders.org if you live outside the UK or Ireland.