Bridging the Gap (Buckinghamshire)

Helplines, Websites, Apps and other resources to support service users which have been recommended by staff and those involved with our service.

Helplines

Bucks Safe Haven

The Bucks Safe Haven (BSH) provides an additional resource out of hours and an alternative to the hospital emergency department for people experiencing a crisis with their mental health.

Safe Haven is available at various times in the evening; please contact them to confirm the details.

We are open for self-referral from 6pm.

Contact Safe Haven Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday – Call 01296 453 017

Contact Safe Haven Thursday, Friday or Saturday – Call 01494 218 098

https://www.bucksmind.org.uk/services/safe-haven/

 

Mental Health Helpline

This support is now being provided by NHS 111.

*Dial 111 and you will be taken via a number of push button options through to a health care advisor who will discuss your situation with you and pass your call on to a health care professional if it is appropriate to do so.

 

Samaritans

*Offer emotional support and a listening ear 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Call 0330 094 5717 (Local Charges Apply) or 116 123 (Free from any phone)

www.samaritans.org/branches/chiltern-samaritans

 

Domestic Abuse Helplines

  • Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Information Line 01296 719 772
  • Aylesbury Woman’s Aid 01296 437 777
  • National Domestic Abuse Line (Open 24/7) 0808 200 0247
  • Men’s Advice Line – for male survivors of domestic abuse 0808 801 0327
  • National LGBT and Domestic Abuse Line 0800 999 5428

 

Aylesbury Vale Rape Crisis

Supporting women affected by sexual assault, rape or child abuse. The service is for women over sixteen affected by sexual violence. All counsellors are qualified and receive training in supporting women who have experienced abuse. The volunteers and staff providing our other support services are all trained in supporting women affected by abuse and have received additional training in the area of their work. Our service is free.

Email: support@avrc.org.uk    Website: http://avrc.org.uk/home-2/

Telephone: 01296 392 468

Referral: Self-Referral or to make a referral, please complete the form either online or via download

 

Sane Charity line

*Emotional and specialist information for those affected by mental health problems.

Telephone number: 0300 304 7000 (16:30 – 22:30) Email: info@saneline.org

 

Buckinghamshire MIND Information Line

*For support and information about various services available in Buckinghamshire.

Telephone Number: 01494 463 364

 

Papyrus Hopeline UK

*Supporting those under the age of 35 thinking about suicide and those who may be worried about someone.

Telephone Number: 0800 068 4141/07786 039 967 (09:00 – 22:00 Monday – Friday)

 

The Silver Line

*For people over 60 years of age, free confidential helpline, working in partnership with Age UK, to offer people over 60 years of age telephone friendship.

Telephone Number: 0800 470 8090 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

www.thesilverline.org.uk

 

Switchboard

*Helpline for LGBT+ people to talk confidentially about anything that is on your mind, support people with a range of questions, whether this be for information or just to have someone to talk to.

Telephone Number: 0300 330 0630 (10:00 – 22:00 Monday – Sunday)  Email: chris@switchboard.lgbt

 

CALM

*The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK and the cause of 18 deaths every day.

*Helpline for men in the UK who are down, have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find out information and support.

Telephone Number: 0800 58 58 58 (17:00 – 00:00 every day)

www.thecalmzone.net/help/get-help

 

Online resources

NHS Every Mind Matters

Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. We have expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.

www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters

 

NHS Mental Health App Store

There are a number of app suggestions from the NHS at this link.

www.nhs.uk/apps-library/category/mental-health

 

Centre for Clinical Interventions

If you experience a condition that is affecting your mental health and are looking for specific information about different types of problems, then the ‘workbooks’ or sets of modules in this section may be relevant to you. We strongly encourage you to talk to your local doctor or a mental health professional about your difficulties as the information provided in the resources are NOT a substitute for proper diagnosis or treatment by an appropriate health professional.

www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself

 

Royal College of Psychiatrists – Personality Disorders

This information is useful for those with a diagnosis of personality disorder, related mental health difficulties and for their family and friends.

www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/personality-disorder

 

Mind – Suicidal Thoughts & Feelings

Explains what suicidal feelings are, and what you can do if you feel suicidal. Also covers the causes, treatments and support options for suicidal feelings.

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/suicidal-feelings/about-suicidal-feelings/

 

Groups/Activities

Recovery College Buckinghamshire

* Recovery College offers opportunities to learn about mental health and recovery by providing a unique curriculum designed to support people to recognise their own resourcefulness, talents and skills in order to become experts in their own self-care, make informed choices and achieve the things they want in life.

*The Recovery College aims to bring people together to realise and inspire individual and collective potential, recognising strengths and successes so that you can help take control back and become an expert in your own wellbeing and recovery and live the life that you wish to live.

www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/bucksrecoverycollege

 

Buckinghamshire Mind

*Services now include: activity groups, peer support, older adults’ services, befriending, employment support, counselling, young people’s counselling and well-being and education training.

www.bucksmind.org.uk

 

Lindengate

*Lindengate is a Buckinghamshire-based registered charity that offers specialised gardening activities to help those with mental health needs in their continuing recovery.

www.lindengate.org.uk/about-lindengate.html

 

Simply Walks Health Walks

*Simply Walk is part of a countywide programme of free, volunteer – led walks, which aims to help people get outdoors and be more active. The walks are all sociable and you don’t need any special equipment to join in, just comfortable shoes.

www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder

www.buckscc.gov.uk/simplywalk

 

Restore

*Restore is an Oxford based mental health charity that supports people to take control of their recovery, develop skills and lead meaningful lives. They offer recovery groups as well as training and employment coaching.

www.restore.org.uk

 

Maytree

*Maytree is a registered charity helping people in suicidal crisis in a non-medical setting. They offer support for people in suicidal crisis 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

*They have a respite centre which offers a free 4-night/5-day stay, and the opportunity to be befriended and heard in complete confidence, without judgement and with compassion and warmth.

Tel: 020 7 263 7070

www.maytree.org.uk

Websites

SupportLine

*SupportLine is particularly aimed at those who are isolated, at risk, vulnerable and victims of any form of abuse; specialises in providing emotional support for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and anyone who has been raped/sexually assaulted.

Helpline: 01708 765 200

www.supportline.org.uk/problems

 

Living Life To The Full

*CBT based website used by Healthy Minds Primary care service.

*Teaches a range of life skills that are based on the tried and trusted CBT approach, to aim to improve wellbeing and resilience as you go through the journey of life.

www.llttf.com

 

Mood Juice

*Designed to help you think about emotional problems and work towards solving them. Emotional problems are often the mind and body’s way of saying that something needs to be changed in our life.

www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk

 

Papyrus UK

*Telephone line and website supporting suicide prevention, offers support for the person feeling suicidal, those supporting someone feeling suicidal and professionals.

www.papyrus-uk.org

 

MIND Guide

*This is a directory of services, apps and other help available to anyone who is worried about their own mental health and well-being or that of a friend or relative.

*It provides a database that can be easily searched and navigated so that people with a mental health problem can access the support they need.

www.bucksmind.org.uk/buckinghamshire-mind-guide

www.oxmindguide.org.uk

Mobile Apps

Booster Buddy

*Booster buddy is a virtual app with an animal friend to help manage your mental health. Each day, you check in with how you’re feeling, and then complete a number of daily ‘quests’ designed to establish and sustain positive habits.

https://onemindpsyberguide.org/apps/booster-buddy/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Breathe2relax

*Breathe2relax is a stress management tool. It provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body, and instructions and exercises to help manage stress using diaphragmatic breathing.

https://www.my-therappy.co.uk/app/breathe-2-relax

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Calm

*The Calm app is something designed to help you sleep more, stress less & live better. Please note that there is a brief free trial for using this app available followed by a monthly cost.

https://www.calm.com/

App is available for iOS, Android, and desktop

 

Calm Harm

*Learn to surf the wave using five minute rule or fifteen minute rule with activities suggested by the app in sections such as; comfort, distract, express yourself, release.

https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/calm-harm/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Dbt112

*Modules on Mindfulness, emotion regulation, relations (Goal orientation, relationship orientation, self-respect orientation), Distress tolerance, Validation (Self, other and to acquire), Diary Card.

App is available in Android stores

 

Headspace

*Headspace has one mission: to improve the health and happiness of the world and with millions of users in more than 190 countries, we’re well on our way. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, we also have offices in San Francisco and London. You can try headspace for yourself and learn the essentials of meditation and mindfulness with our free Basics course.  Please note that there is a brief free trial for using this app available followed by a monthly cost.

https://www.headspace.com/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Mindshift

*Mindshift is designed to help you cope with anxiety. It includes strategies or making sleep count, riding out intense emotions, perfectionism, test anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety, worry, panic, and conflict.

https://onemindpsyberguide.org/apps/mindshift/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Moodfit

*Moodfit is a companion to help you achieve your goals. Track your mood, to see what can cause it to lift and drop. Understand how sleep and exercise affect you and more.

https://www.getmoodfit.com/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Omvana

*Omvana provides meditations tracks for focus, sleep, peace and more. It can be great for relaxing and practising meditation and mindfulness.

https://www.omvana.com/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Panic Shield

*Panic shield can help train your minds not to be afraid of the sensations your typically associate with panic attacks, and not to fear external situations or activities that you avoid in case they trigger a panic attack. It also contains a paced breathing tool which can help you to calm down when you begin to feel particularly anxious.

https://www.panicshield.org/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Stay Alive

*Developed by Grassroots suicide Prevention this app is described as a ‘Pocket suicide prevention resource.

*Tools to stay safe, Finding help now, identifying signs of suicide if you are worried about someone, self-help ideas, breathing exercises and many others.

https://www.prevent-suicide.org.uk/find-help-now/stay-alive-app/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Sleepio

*Sleepio is an online sleep improvement programme for people living in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. It has been clinically proven to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep through the /night, and give you more energy during the day if you follow the programme correctly.

https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/sleepio/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

 

Woebot

*CBT based digital therapy tools designed by experts to help stop negative thought patterns, discover patterns in mood (observe how moods change by tracking them over time), reduce stress and help those using Woebot to start to feel better.

https://woebothealth.com/for-users/

App can be found on Android and Apple stores

Sexual violence support

Survivors UK (for Male Sexual Abuse)

www.survivorsuk.org/contact-us

We know male sexual abuse has profound effects on those who experience it and can deeply affect their mental health and relationships.

 

Buckinghamshire Sexual Violence Resource

This is a list of resources provided by Buckinghamshire Council in support of community safety.

www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/community/community-safety/sexual-violence/

Bereavement counselling

Cruse Bereavement Care

Cruse Bucks operates in the Buckinghamshire Unitary Authority Area only and does not extend to operate within the area of Milton Keynes Unitary Authority.  Details of the local bereavement support services can be obtained from Milton Keynes Council.

www.crusebucks.org.uk

Housing support

Connection Support

Our team can support you through life’s challenges from the complex to the every-day situations you find yourself in. You may be facing homelessness, unable to keep up with rent payments, need someone to accompany you to an important meeting that could affect your future or need advice to complete a form for benefits.

www.connectionsupport.org.uk/buckinghamshire

 

Buckinghamshire Housing Support Service

This county-wide floating support service is for people who need support to manage and maintain their accommodation if it is at risk.

Our flexible approach will ensure you receive the right support, at the right time, and in the right place, in order to prevent homelessness, and help you work towards independence.

www.p3charity.org/services/buckinghamshire-housing-support-service

Money management

Citizens Advice Bureau

Can help with creating budgeting tools, your rights, explaining debt relief orders etc

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Tel: 0344 245 1289

Advice line is open on weekdays 09:30 – 16:30, offices currently closed due to Covid-19, there are web chat and email services via the public website, if someone is available a web chat window will pop up.

 

Step Change

Offer free debt advice and practical debt solutions. They will need information about your situation, details about your debts, income and spending. They will then explore your options and put into place a personal action plan to suit your situation and continue to offer you support for however long it is needed. They offer debt management plans, debt relief orders, Individual voluntary arrangements, Covid payment plans and bankruptcy advice.

www.stepchange.org

Tel: 0800 138 1111 or 0800 054 6734

Open Monday – Friday 08:00 – 20:00 and Saturday 08:00 – 16:00

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Page last reviewed: 19 July, 2021