Support for you · Finding other people
Talk to people who understand
Find a UK forum, helpline or group for friends and family. You do not have to call yourself a carer.
Start with you
Do you need help for yourself?
If the situation is affecting your own mental health, start with the page about you.
Want to find people with similar experience? Choose what you're dealing with below. We've kept the list to spaces that clearly welcome friends and family.
If someone is in dangerForums cannot respond to emergencies. Go to urgent help.
Protect their privacyLeave names, locations and identifying details out of online posts.
Find the right space
What are you looking for support around?
Or open any section below. Only one is shown at a time, so the page stays manageable.
General support
If the diagnosis is unclear, or you just want people who understand the strain, start here.
Mental Health Forum - Caring & Mental Health ↗
A long-running, anonymous UK forum with a board for people supporting someone with mental illness. Members can post at any time.
Rethink support groups ↗
Local and online groups run by Rethink for family and friends - including some just for siblings, and some for specific conditions.
Mind - Side by Side ↗
Mind's moderated online community. Open to anyone affected by mental health problems, including people supporting someone else.
Psychosis, paranoia, hearing or seeing things
For when someone believes things that aren't true, seems suspicious or frightened, or hears or sees things others don't.
POPS UK ↗
A private UK Facebook group for parents, family and friends of people with psychosis or schizophrenia.
Hearing Voices Network - online forum ↗
A secure forum from the Hearing Voices Network, with separate spaces for supporters. For anyone close to someone who hears voices, sees visions or experiences paranoia. Posts are visible only to registered members.
Mania & bipolar
For people supporting someone through bipolar highs, lows or the period between episodes.
Bipolar UK eCommunity ↗
An anonymous, moderated forum from Bipolar UK, open to anyone affected - including family and friends, not just people with the diagnosis.
Self-harm & suicidal thoughts
For when you've found out someone's hurting themselves, or talking about not wanting to be here.
Battle Scars - family & friends group ↗
A UK self-harm charity running a weekly virtual support group (on Zoom) just for the family and friends of people who self-harm, plus a moderated private Facebook group. Their definition of self-harm includes eating disorders.
PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 ↗
This is a helpline rather than a peer group. PAPYRUS supports people under 35 who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and anyone worried about them. Call 0300 102 2470 for the quickest response. Text HOPE to 88247; replies can take up to 24 hours.
Bereavement, including after suicide
For support after someone has died, including peer support from people affected by a suicide loss.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide ↗
UK peer-led support for adults affected by suicide loss, including local and online groups, a members-only forum and a support line.
Cruse Bereavement Support ↗
Bereavement information and support after any kind of death, including a helpline and local services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Cruse Scotland ↗
Bereavement support for adults, children and families across Scotland, including a free helpline and online chat.
Eating disorders
For people supporting someone with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating or related difficulties.
Beat - carer support (POD & Solace) ↗
Beat runs POD, a community for carers with peer-support forums, and Solace, a free video group for people supporting someone with an eating disorder.
OCD & intrusive thoughts
For rituals, checking or distressing thoughts that are also affecting friends or family.
OCD-UK ↗
A charity run by and for people affected by OCD, with information and support for families and friends. A good first port of call to understand what you're seeing.
OCD Action ↗
Support and information on OCD and related conditions, including guidance and support routes for the people around someone who's struggling.
Postpartum psychosis
Specialist support for partners and family after someone experiences postpartum psychosis.
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) ↗
A UK charity with peer-support groups for partners, dads and co-parents, and grandparents, plus an online forum.
Supporting a child or teenager
If the person you're worried about is under 18, these are aimed at parents and carers of young people.
YoungMinds - Parents & carers ↗
Information and a free parents' helpline for anyone worried about a child or young person's mental health.
Voice Collective - parent groups ↗
Online peer-support groups for parents of children and young people who hear voices, see visions or have unusual sensory experiences. Run within the Hearing Voices movement.
Find a group near you
If you'd rather sit in a room with people than post online, these help you find something local.
Hub of Hope ↗
A UK-wide database that uses a postcode to show local mental-health support, including some groups that welcome family and friends.
Carers UK - local support ↗
Helps you find your local carers' centre - many run groups and one-to-one support for anyone looking after someone, whether or not you'd use the word "carer".
Carers Trust - find a local service ↗
Search by town, city or postcode for services in the Carers Trust network. Local offers vary and can include one-to-one support, counselling, groups, benefits help and replacement care.
Links checked 27 August 2026. Communities can close or change their rules. If you find outdated information, use the contact form on the About page. Listings focus on recognised charities and groups with clear moderation or safety information. A moderation label means the provider says the space is moderated; it does not mean posts are checked by health professionals.
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