Click to go back to the previous page.
Bristol Mental Health Services and Organisations – Service Updates
Please note – these services on this page are listed alphabetically. If the service is known by an alternative name, or may be known by the provider’s name, this information is included in brackets.
24/7 Support and Connect
This is an NHS line is staffed by experienced counsellors, who you can talk to and they will listen. They will offer emotional support and can connect you to organisations available in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG). The helpline is for people aged 18 and over who are living within BNSSG or are registered with a GP within BNSSG. The helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Call 0800 012 6549 (textphone users dial 18001 followed by 0800 012 6549).
Last reviewed 27 September 2021.
Assertive Contact and Engagement (‘ACE’) Service
The ACE service reaches out to people and groups who face complex barriers to services, including barriers due to cultural background or chaotic lifestyles. Group activities are currently suspended until further notice, but face to face support is being offered where possible. The team asks people to phone them on 0117 239 8969 if they require more information (this phone number is open between 8am and 5pm on Mondays through to Fridays). The team are also posting updates to Facebook (click here to view their Facebook page).
Last reviewed 6 December 2021.
Bluebell Care
Bluebell Care support families and parents with their mental health during the period following birth. Click here to find out how to refer to the service. This page includes information about the areas of Bristol they cover.
Last updated 27 September 2021.
Bristol Adult ADHD Support Group
Bristol Adult ADHD Support Group’s planned sessions are currently not taking place. Click here for more information – the web page also provides some helpful advice. If you need urgent advice about ADHD matters, send an email to .
Last reviewed 27 September 2021.
Bristol Autism Support Services (‘BASS’)
For the latest updates about the services, groups, sessions and training that BASS offer, click here.
Last reviewed 21 June 2021.
Bristol Hearing Voices Network
For more information about meetings, call the Network on 07912 624 296 (answerphone service), or email . Click here for more information.
Last reviewed 21 June 2021.
Bristol Mental Health Employment Service
Update coming soon.
Last updated 27 September 2021.
Bristol Mind Services
Bristol Mind deliver a variety of mental health-related services in the Bristol area, including advocacy, signposting, and wellbeing services. For the most up to date information, please click here to visit Bristol Mind’s homepage. Further details about Bristol Mind’s services:
- MindLine: see below
- MindLine Trans+: running as normal, 8pm to midnight (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). Call 0300 330 5468.
- Information and Signposting line: open between 9:30am – 3:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). Call 0117 980 0370, or email .
- Outreach Advocacy: From the 1st January 2022 the advocacy services provided by Bristol Mind will be transferring to two new providers. Statutory advocacy services will be provided by SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) and non-statutory advocacy services will be provided by PohWER. See entries below for more information.
Last updated 20 December 2021.
Bristol Mindline
Bristol Mindline is a confidential freephone helpline providing a safe place to talk if you, or someone you know, is in distress. They can also give information about mental health support services available in your area that could help you.
The service currently operates between 7pm and 11pm, Wednesdays to Sundays. The number is 0808 808 0330.
Click here for more information.
Last updated 27 September 2021.
Bristol Sanctuary
Please see The Sanctuary below.
Bristol Wellbeing College (Second Step)
The Bristol Wellbeing College delivers free courses and learning sessions for anyone interested in exploring ways to improve their mental health. Sessions are currently being delivered virtually via the Zoom platform, or in-person; for details of what sessions are running, and how to register for them, click here. Please note that sessions require pre-registration.
Last updated 27 September 2021.
Changes
Changes deliver peer-support groups and activities in Bristol. Changes are now running face-to-face sessions, and also online support sessions via the ‘Zoom’ platform. For full listings of upcoming sessions, check here.
Last updated 27 September 2021.
Cruse Bereavement (Bristol)
- Cruse’s national phone line is open 5-8pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call 0808 808 1677
- CruseChat, Cruse’s online web chat service, is available Monday to Friday 9am – 9pm. Click here for more details.
To contact Cruse’s Bristol branch, click here.
Last updated 27 September 2021.
Dads in Mind
Dads in Mind is part of Bluebell Care. The team will be in touch with anyone who has sessions booked in. To request support, email . Additionally, the team are running online check-in sessions – click here for more information (this link takes you to Dads in Mind‘s Facebook page, which lists upcoming sessions). Alternatively, please visit their website.
Last reviewed 6 January 2021.
Dementia Wellbeing Service
The Dementia Wellbeing Service has adapted its service delivery. The Access Point remains open to take calls Mondays to Fridays, between 8am and 6pm. The number is 0117 904 5151. Dementia Navigators are also making welfare check phone calls to everyone on the team’s caseload and signposting them to appropriate support services wherever possible. Click here for more information.
Last reviewed 6 January 2021.
Hope Project (Second Step)
The Hope Project provides short-term emotional and practical support for men aged between 30 and 64, specifically those who are in psychological distress or have recently self-harmed, but are not currently using other mental health services. Currently, the Hope Project is offering face-to-face support and/or telephone support as required, based on need. Please call 0117 428 8930 for more information. For latest news about Second Step’s response to Coronavirus, check their home page.
Last reviewed 6 January 2021.
Mental Health Mates Bristol
MHM Bristol run monthly walks for anyone to join. Walks generally last about an hour, and follow as flat a route as possible. The best place for updates is on MHM Bristol’s public Facebook page – click here to access it.
Last updated 6 December 2021.
Mothers for Mothers Helpline
Mothers for Mothers provide support for families affected by perinatal mental illness across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. The helpline is open 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday on 0117 935 9366 and support calls are available Monday to Friday. Click here for latest updates and information.
Peer support groups are also now running in person again, check the Mothers for Mothers Facebook page for details.
Last updated 6 December 2021.
Nilaari Agency
Staff at the Nilaari Agency are currently working from home, and all group activities have been cancelled for the time being. Telephone counselling sessions are available by calling 0117 962 5742. For the latest updates, and information, please visit Nilaari’s website by clicking here.
Last reviewed 6 January 2021.
Off the Record (OTR) Bristol
OTR provides mental health information and support to young people aged between 11 and 25 across the Bristol and South Gloucestershire areas. They run drop in hubs in person every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday where you can learn more about self-care and mental health – click here to learn more about OTR hubs.
OTR also offer a number of projects such as their resilience labs that you can get involved with – click here to find out more.
Keep an eye on social media platforms (via the handle @otrbristol) for publicly accessible resources and information.
Last reviewed 6 December 2021.
POhWER
From the 1st January 2022 POhWER will be providing non-statutory advocacy services in Bristol. Their services are:
- Community/Outreach Advocacy – for adults who have learning disabilities and/or mental health needs, and their carers, who need support with a specific issue.
- Citizen Advocacy – for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical/sensory impairment and older people, and their carers, who need support with health and wellbeing issues.
- BAME Advocacy – for people from BAME communities who have a mental health issue. This service is both for inpatients on psychiatric wards, and for people living in the community who are experiencing serious emotional or mental distress.
You can learn more about POhWERs services in Bristol on their website call them on 0300 456 2370 or email .
Last updated 20 December 2021.
Reengage
Reengage works to reduce loneliness and social isolation in older people. They run in-person events such as tea parties and activity groups, and they also offer a telephone befriending service.
Anyone can introduce an older person to Reengage through their website.
Last reviewed 6 December 2021.
Rethink Bristol
Rethink helps Bristol-based people with mental health issues to make a positive difference in their lives by supporting them in the community and helping them to build meaningful connections.
Some Rethink groups have resumed in person, in line with government guidance. Guidelines will differ from group to group. Click here for the latest update from Rethink about how they are operating during the pandemic.
Click here for the contact details for the Bristol team.
Last reviewed 6 December 2021.
The Sanctuary
The Bristol Sanctuary is a place for people to go when they are in serious emotional distress. The Sanctuary has recently moved from the centre of Bristol to a new site at Gloucester House, near Southmead Hospital. The team are able to support people in-person – please call them on 07709 295 661 (please note that the team will need you to consent to access the NHS patient record system).
For more information about the Bristol Sanctuary, click here.
Last updated 15 March 2021.
Suicide Prevention Bristol
Suicide Prevention Bristol carry out interventions to those who are at risk of suicide in key locations across the city. For latest updates from the group, visit their Facebook page.
SPB Bristol also run the ASSISTline. This is a national helpline offering supportive listening service to anyone throughout the UK with thoughts of suicide or thoughts of self harm. The line remains open 24/7 on 0800 689 5652. Anybody is welcome to call if you need to talk. Click here for more information.
Last updated 6 January 2021.
SWAN (South West Advocacy Network)
SWAN provide advocacy services for people who are having substantial difficulty in going through a care act process, and don’t have anyone who can support them.
They also have a victims of crime advocacy service, providing practical and emotional support for victims of crime to help them cope and recover, and engage with the criminal justice system if they choose to.
You can contact SWAN by phone on 03333 447928 or by email at . You can read more about their services on their website.
Last updated 20 December 2021.
Talk Clubs
Talk Club is a talking and listening club for men; a support network for ways to keep mentally fit. Talk Club operate groups in-person and virtually, with groups operating throughout Bristol, the rest of the UK and internationally; click here for more information.
Last reviewed 6 December 2021.
Womankind Helpline
Womankind provide support for women who are struggling, feeling frightened or alone, and need to talk. The majority of face-to-face counselling and befriending services have now resumed, in line with government guidance. They are moving forward with an aim to offer flexibility over whether support is provided in-person or online, depending on individual needs and preferences. For the latest update from Womankind, including new support offers, click here.
The telephone numbers for the team and helpline are 0345 458 2914 or 0117 916 6461, and are open:
- Mondays and Tuesdays: 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm, 8pm to 10pm
- Wednesdays: 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm
- Thursdays and Fridays: 10am to 12pm
The webchat service is open:
- Mondays: 1pm to 3pm, 8pm to 10pm
- Tuesdays: 10am to 12pm, 8pm to 10pm
- Thursdays and Fridays: 10am to 12pm
Last reviewed 6 December 2021.
