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The following sources of support are United Kingdom based support networks. If you are not living in the United Kingdom and need to talk to someone or seek medical help, then it is suggested that you speak with a doctor, or if you know of a national advice or help line, perhaps you can try this.
If you are feeling that you need to discuss your illness with someone, or feel that you need to get some help, then there are a number of organisations and services that you can access.
Firstly, if you need medical help, then the first port of call will be your GP. If you have a good relationship with your doctor, you may feel able to discuss how you are feeling. Remember, you can request a doctor visits you at home if it is out surgery hours, and you also have the right to a second opinion or to see a different doctor if you need. Additionally, you can call NHS direct (in England) who will be able to provide you with medical advice on what to do - if necessary, they can arrange for an ambulance to be called for you. NHS Direct can be contacted on 0845 4647.
If you urgently need medical assistance, then dial the emergency services immediately (999 in England).
If you are feeling like you urgently need to talk to someone about how you are feeling and want to do this in confidence, then the Samaritans are a useful organisation that may be of assistance. The Samaritans offer a 24/7 telephone helpline (08457 90 90 90) that will offer you advice and emotional support. The Samaritans treat everything that you tell them in the strictest confidence and will never judge you on anything that you tell them (you do not even have to tell them your name). Additionally, the Samaritans offer an email support service (address available through the Samaritans website) if you feel that you cannot use the phone for whatever reason. It is important to note that replies to your emails will not be instant and you may have to wait a few days for a response; whereas, using the telephone will give you a real person with whom you can talk and discuss your problems. The Samaritans also have a website, which is http://www.samaritans.org/.
Sometimes talking to a friend can help. If you know someone you can trust, they may be able to offer you some help and advice. It can be very hard to talk about your problems, but if you do not tell your friends and/or family members they cannot help. You may also be use the Community facilities to request advice, but please do not use it for very complex medical needs as many members may not be professionals who are able to help. Further to this, if you have a friend (buddy) that you access services such as Alcohol Anonymous, maybe they will be able to offer you some help and advice.
Other sources of support you can access centre around your local area. If you have a community mental health worker such as a nurse or social worker, then they may be able to offer you advice and support. You may have a counsellor with whom you can discuss your difficulties, or if not, you can request that you see one - this can take a number of weeks and the doctor or person referring you should give you a rough estimate of how long it will be before you get an appointment. Additionally, community mental health services often operate a 24/7 crisis helpline; local organisations such as a Turning Point service may also offer a 24/7 crisis support facility; and local charities can offer support through the provision of short stay units providing medical crisis intervention.
If you cannot find, or if you have difficulty in accessing any of the suggested sources of support, then you can always try accessing supporting organisations websites. These websites can often signpost you in the right direction. A selection of links that may offer further support is available via the i-Links section of Talking Minds. Most of the available links are not affiliated with Talking Minds, but are provided in the hope that they may be able to provide support and further information.
If you would like any further information with regards to this page, then please contact Talking Minds.
Written on Monday, 01 September 2008 00:00 by Companion
