Wellbeing
‘London Friend – LGBT health and wellbeing: ‘Our services are developed to improve the health and mental well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people (LGB&T) and we work to be there when people need us most.’
Catalyst – Catalyst is a not for profit organisation, providing a range of services and support for people in Surrey.
Sexual health
Sex and young people – Lots of useful information from the NHS about sex, for young people. Highly recommended.
www.gmfa.org.uk– ‘GMFA – the gay men’s health charity. Improving gay men’s health by increasing the control they have over their own lives.’
www.avert.org – AVERT: Teens, Young People & Sexual Health
www.naz.org.uk – Mobilizing BME (Black & Minority Ethnic) communities for sexual health (London).
www.tht.org.uk – Terrence Higgins Trust is the leading and largest HIV and sexual health charity in the UK.
www.checkurself.org.uk – Offers South London based 16-24 year olds an opportunity to order free Chlamydia self-testing kits. Also includes a good sexual health links section.
Shine ALOUD magazine – ‘The magazine acts as a social enterprise that aims to educate and inform young people about sexual health and relationships on a personal level’.
Sexual Health (STI) Clinics For London and Surrey |CNWL Sexual Health Services – Providing sexual health services in London and Surrey
Mental health
Mental health – Information from the NHS.
NHS Counselling information – Information about counselling, the different types and how to access them.
Mind Out – ‘…a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people. Based in Brighton and Hove, we provide local services as well as a number of national initiatives.’
www.samaritans.org.uk – The Samaritans provide emotional support, 24 hours a day, by email and telephone for people in distress.
SANEline – National out-of-hours telephone helpline offering emotional support and information for people affected by mental health problems.
Youth Access – The largest provider of advice and counselling services in the UK.
www.counselling-directory.org.uk – Enabling those in distress to find a counsellor close to them and appropriate for their needs.
Rethink – The leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.
National Self Harm Network – (NSHN) The charity aims to empower individuals to explore reasons for their self-harm and to seek appropriate professional help.
A note about counselling (UK): if you are referred by your NHS doctor to a counsellor (can include one-on-one or group therapy) there is often a waiting list, but the counselling service is free of charge. Finding counselling services via a service like Youth Access will also be free of charge. An alternative to going via your GP is to find a private counsellor or psychotherapist yourself via local adverts, word-of-mouth recommendations, or a website like the Counselling Directory but you will have to pay for the counselling. Charges vary, but expect to pay £40-£100 per session/hour. Often counsellors offer a free initial consultation to help you decide if the service is suitable and with someone you want to work with. See the NHS page here for more information about counselling, the different types and how to access them.
Transgender
The NHS’s Gender dysphoria section
Substance abuse
www.talktofrank.com – Drugs advice and support.
www.drinkaware.co.uk – Information about responsible drinking.
Eating disorders
www.b-eat.co.uk – The leading UK eating disorders charity.
www.mengetedstoo.co.uk – ‘Men get eating disorders too!’