Below is a list of websites that provide information, advice, practical support, or campaign on a range of mental health problems and related social issues.
Access Dorset
Access Dorset aims to enhance the everyday lives of disabled people, older people, carers, and other people who may benefit from support or information. http://accessdorset.org.uk/
Access Wellbeing
Access Wellbeing offers person-centred support for anyone in Dorset aged 18 and over, providing early help to prevent concerns from escalating. We ensure you receive the right support, whether that is for your mental health, or guidance about other things such as finances, work or housing. We support online, and face-to-face at community hubs. https://dorsetaccesswellbeing.co.uk/
Autism Unlimited
Founded in 1968 by parents of children with autism, Autism Unlimited is the regional charity providing high quality specialist services for people affected by autism and associated difficulties across the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire. https://www.autism-unlimited.org/
b-eat (Eating Disorders Association)
A leading UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. Established for 18 years, formerly the ‘Eating Disorders Association’. https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
Togetherall
Togetherall has a step-by-step walkthrough to wellbeing and Recovery. This includes mood tests and guides for healthy living. The service is available for free on the NHS depending on your location. If you have to pay – the subscription costs approximately £2 per week or less. https://togetherall.com/en-gb/big-white-wall/
Bipolar UK
Bipolar UK (formerly the Manic Depression Fellowship). Useful site with content for both individuals who suffer with the illness and their carers/friends/relatives. https://www.bipolaruk.org/
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Being silent isn’t being strong…A website aimed at young men with experience of mental health issues. The site contains a wealth of information and excellent articles from a diverse range of people including well known musicians and others. https://www.thecalmzone.net/
Carers UK
Carers UK is an organisation of carers fighting to have the true value of carers’ contribution to society recognised. They actively campaign to ensure that carers get the practical, financial and emotional support they need. https://www.carersuk.org/Home
Centre for Mental Health
Working to improve the quality of life for people with mental health problems by influencing policy and practice in mental health and related services. https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/
Choice and Medication
This website provides people with information about medications used in the mental health setting to help people make informed decisions about medication and treatments. https://www.choiceandmedication.org
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. https://www.cruse.org.uk/
Dental Fear Central (Dental Phobia Support)
Dental Fear Central is a UK-based, non-commercial self-help resource for anyone suffering with dental phobia or specific dental fears. The site features a busy online support forum which offers both peer support and advice from UK dentists, and a facility to search for phobic-friendly dentists. https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/
Department of Health
Government website with vast amounts of data regarding health matters, including mental health. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Dorset Adult Aspergers Support (DAAS)
Providing information and support for adults diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in Dorset and their carers. https://dorsetadultaspergerssupport.org.uk/
Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust (DHUFT)
Details of all the community-based services provided by DHUFT throughout Dorset. https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk
Dorset Open Door
Dorset Open Door offers signposting for people in Dorset who are bereaved by trauma or suicide, to enable people to get the support that they need, at the right time, by the right people. https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/our-services-hospitals/mental-health/dorset-open-door
Family Lives
Family Lives is a national charity website providing help and support in all aspects of family life. https://www.familylives.org.uk/
Helpguide.org
Helpguide helps you help yourself to better mental and emotional health by providing supportive ad-free tools for making better choices. https://www.helpguide.org/
Help and Care
A registered charity working with older people, carers and communities for 22 years. https://www.helpandcare.org.uk/
Living Life To The Full
This website offers different step by step exercises with video tutorials and free membership. https://llttf.com/
Mental Health Forum
The Mental Health Forum aims to be the friendliest place on the web to meet and discuss anything related to mental health. Members provide mutual peer support. The forum is based in the UK. https://www.mentalhealthforum.net/
Mental Health Foundation
Founded in 1949, the Mental Health Foundation is a leading UK charity that provides information, carries out research, campaigns and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health problems, whatever their age and wherever they live. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
MIND
Active campaigners for the rights of people affected by mental health problems. https://www.mind.org.uk/
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
NICE is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health. https://www.nice.org.uk/
NHS (Mental Health Section)
Provides an exhaustive amount of information on an array of mental health conditions. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
OCD-UK
OCD-UK is a leading national charity, independently working with and for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. https://www.ocduk.org/
OCD Action
The largest and longest serving UK national charity for people affected by OCD spectrum disorders. https://ocdaction.org.uk/
ORCHA and Our Dorset digital health library
App finder and video library on a range of health conditions to help you self-manage. https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/digital-health-library
Patient Opinion
An independent website that offers service users and carers the opportunity to comment on the quality of service provision. All feedback is sent to the NHS in an effort to improve services. https://www.careopinion.org.uk/
Rethink
Formerly the National Schizophrenic Fellowship, offers information, advice and support for people affected by mental health problems. https://www.rethink.org/
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Visit to read about current thinking in the treatment and best practice of mental illness. https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/
Samaritans
The Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. https://www.samaritans.org/
SANE
SANE was established in 1986 to improve the quality of life for people affected by mental illness. SANE also carries out research into severe mental illness as well as providing support and information through SANEline and SANEmail. https://www.sane.org.uk/
Social Perspectives Network
The Social Perspectives Network is a unique coalition of service users/survivors, carers, policy makers, academics, students, and practitioners interested in how social factors both contribute to people becoming distressed, and play a crucial part in promoting people’s recovery. https://www.spn.org.uk/?id=home
South West Advocacy Network (SWAN)
Advocacy organisation offering a range of services including Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Care Act Advocacy and Continuing Healthcare Advocacy. https://swanadvocacy.org.uk/services-near-you/dorset/dorsetadvocacy.co.uk
Swanage Depression Support
This group meets face-to-face and on Zoom. For more information contact Nick [email protected] or visit facebook.com/swanagedepressionsupport
Time To Change
A national campaign aimed at ending mental health discrimination. https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/
Chapel in the Garden, Bridport
A varied and interesting range of activities for everyone based at Bridport’s Unitarian hub https://thechapelinthegarden.com/category/news-events/
TOP UK (Triumph Over Phobia)
A UK registered charity which aims to help sufferers of phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and other related anxiety to overcome their fears and become ex-sufferers. https://www.topuk.org/
YoungMinds
A national charity committed to improving the mental health of all children and young people under 25. https://www.youngminds.org.uk/