Helpful Phone Numbers Options

[saucy_tara]

Sometimes it's easier to talk about personal problems with someone you have never met, and on The Other Side Forums most of us will lend moral support and a listening ear.
However, sometimes personal issues can be a little outside the scope of the advice we can offer here, so here is a list of contacts that may be of use.
At present, we have contact phone numbers and websites for the UK and USA, but any more would be appreciated, just add them here.

UK CONTACTS
The Samaritans: Offer 24 hour telephone help and advice CLICK HERE
Rape Crisis: Offer helplines and drop in centres CLICK HERE
Childline: Offers a 24 hour helpline for young people CLICK HERE
Saneline: offers support to those affected by mental health problems CLICK HERE
Cruse Bereavement: Offer help to those affected by a bereavement CLICK HERE
Depression Alliance:Offers help for those suffering from depression CLICK HERE
Lesbian and Gay Switchboard: CLICK HERE
Domestic Violence Helplines :Also contains other useful contacts CLICK HERE
Re-Solv_ Offer a helpline for those affected by solvent abuse CLICK HERE
Frank: Offers helplines and online advice about drug abuse CLICK HERE

USA CONTACTS
Planned Parenthood
Clinics providing abortions, birth control, and pregnancy checkups
www.plannedparenthood.org
For the nearest P.P. clinic 1-800-230-PLAN
For general info on abortion 1-800-829-7732
For referral to an abortion clinic 1-800-230-7526

Abuse
Childhelp USA and National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453

the Covenant House
1-800-999-9999 crisis hotline
Although written for young kids, this site can provide useful information for adolescence on how to cope with abuse
www.covenanthouse.org/nineline/kid_abuse.html

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE

Acupuncture
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/generalinfo.html
1-800-521-2262

Adolescent Health
Adolescent Health On-line
Information on adolescent health from the American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1947.html

Adolescence Directory On-Line (ADOL)
A resource on adolescent health for teens, parents and educators from the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University
www.education.indiana.edu/cas/adol/adol.html

Society for Adolescent Medicine
An organization "committed to improving the physical and psychosocial health and well-being of all adolescents."through research, awareness, and by helping you find the appropriate medical professionals that can help alleviate your specific proplems.
www.adolescenthealth.org/

Adoption
National Adoption Center
www.nac.adopt.org
1-800-862-3678

National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
(301)231-6512

AIDS
HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service
www.hivatis.org

The CDC National HIV/AIDS Hotline and AIDS Packet
1-800-342-AIDS
1-800-244-SIDA (for Spanish)
1-800-243-7889 (Hearing impaired)

Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
Alcoholics Anonymous
Group support for your addiction to alcohol
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Family Group Headquarters
Group support for those with family members who suffer from alcoholism
www.al-anon-alateen.org

Asthma
American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org

Naturally Free From Asthma Report
This 48-page report explains how you can free yourself from asthma, sinus and allergies using a safe, natural, fast-working, drug-free treatment. Results from clinical trials show that severe asthmatics are able to totally eliminate their need for asthma treatment drugs (or reduce it by over 90%) using this method. The report offers…

An easy to follow, step-by-step guide for eliminating asthma, sinus & allergy symptoms, and for preventing further attacks.
Information on the side-effects of prescription asthma medications and how to free yourself of these medications.
A more restful sleep for more energy during the day.
A natural way to address the root cause of asthma, while many drugs only address trigger factors and symptoms.
Information on the scientific basis of the treatment, as well as the research and scientific reports that back it up.
Information on additional health and lifestyle benefits resulting from the treatment.
Ongoing email support
Anorexia & Bulimia
Anorexia and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED)
www.anred.com

American Anorexia/Bulimia Association
www.members.aol.com/amanbu/index

National Eating Disorders Organization
www.laureate.com/nedointro.html

Males and Eating Disorders
www.primenet.com/~danslos/males.html

Body Piercing
The Association of Professional Piercers
www.safepiercing.org

Child Abuse
Childhelp USA and National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453

Cholesterol
American Heart Association Cholesterol Page
Updates and tips on controling cholesterol.
www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1516

LoweringCholesterol.net
A web site owned and operated by Herbal Pharmacia, LLC, providing comprehensive information on natural ways to lower cholesterol.
www.loweringcholesterol.net

CPR
National Heart Association CPR
1-800-242-8721

Crisis & Grief Counseling
Boys Town National Hotline
Crisis counseling for girls and boys and referral to local help
www.ffbh.boystown.org
1-800-448-3000

National Urban league
Organization that "helps youth fight the temptations of the street"
1-888-326-YOUTH

National Runaway Switchboard
1-800-621-4000

The National "YOUTH" Crisis Help line
1-800-999-9999

Kristin Brooks Hope Center
A national organization that links callers to local crisis centers
www.livewithdepression.org
1-800-SUICIDE

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Great info on suicide and suicide prevention with useful links
www.afsp.org
1-888-333-AFSP

the Covenant House
1-800-999-9999 crisis hotline
www.covenanthouse.org/cov/con.htm
Although written for young kids, this site can provide useful information for adolescence on how to cope with thoughts of

Running away www.covenanthouse.org/kid/kid_run/kid_run.htm

Suicide www.covenanthouse.org/kid/kid_sui/kid_sui.htm

Abuse www.covenanthouse.org/kid/kid_abu/kid_abu.htm

Grief Recovery Institute
www.grief-recovery.com
1-800-445-4808

Diet, Nutrition & Fitness
American Dietetic Association Hotline
Nutritional advice
www.eatright.org
1-800-366-1655

Women's Sports Foundation
Info on women's sports, physical fitness and sports medicine
www.lifetimetv.com/WoSport
1-800-227-3988

Personal Nutritionist
Nutritional and weight assessments provided by the American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org/insight/gen-hlth/pernutri/pernutri.htm

Shape up America!
Information on safe weight management and physical fitness
www.shapeup.org/general/index.html

Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233

Drug Abuse
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and National Hotline
Treatment & referrals
www.samhsa.gov/csat/csat.htm
1-800-662-4357

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
www.health.org
1-800-729-6686

Narcotics Anonymous World Service Office in Los Angeles
An international, community-based association, holding weekly meetings for recovering drug addicts.
(818) 773-9999 To locate your local chapter
www.na.org/links-toc.htm

Alcoholics Anonymous
Group support for your addiction to alcohol
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous Family Group Headquarters
Group support for those with family members who suffer from alcoholism
www.al-anon-alateen.org

American Cancer Society Information on quitting smoking
www.cancer.org
1-800-227-2345

Smoking, Tobacco and Health Information Line
1-800-232-1311

Tips 4 Teens - Stop Smoking Help
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/osh/tipsteen.htm

Drug Overdose
Call 911 immediately!

Bodyteen Drug Overdose page
www.bodyteen.com/drov.html

Eating Disorders
Anorexia and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED)
www.anred.com

American Anorexia/Bulimia Association
www.members.aol.com/amanbu/index

National Eating Disorders Organization
www.laureate.com/nedointro.html

Males and Eating Disorders
www.gurze.net/site12_5_00/abouteating_males.htm
www.caringonline.com/eatdis/topics/males.htm
www.eating-disorder.org/men.html

Recovery Programs
You may consider checking into a recovery program for a period of time.

Shades of Hope
If you are open to religion and at least 13 years old you may want to consider calling Shades of Hope. They offer a 42 day stay at a pretty location in Texas, during which you'll receive exercise therapy, individual and group counseling, addiction education, nutritional assessment, food plans, etc. Their philosophy: "We believe that eating disorders are an addiction and thus treat them as such. We believe that although behaviors may be learned if the issues causing the behaviors is not addressed then recovery is not attained. Shades of Hope strongly feels that those with addictions have a "hole in the soul" a lost connection with one’s spiritual self. Until one admits one is helpless to the disease and that without help from something – a God of one’s own understanding- that recovery is limited."
PO Box 639
Buffalo Gap, Texas 79508
1-800-588-HOPE (4673)
www.shadesofhope.com


Emergency contraception
To find your nearest provider and more information
http://ec.princeton.edu/providers/index.html

Planned Parenthood
Clinics providing the morning after pill in addition to abortions, birth control, and pregnancy checkups
www.plannedparenthood.org
For the nearest P.P. clinic 1-800-230-PLAN
To have them call in a prescription to the nearest pharmacy for the morning after pill, call 1-866-222-3248. listen to the warnings, talk to a professional, give them your credit card number, and go pick up your prescription.

Epilepsy
The Epilepsy Foundation of American
www.efa.org
1-800-332-1000
Information on epilepsy and referrals to local chapters
www.alt.support.epilepsy
Chat rooms and message boards for people with epilepsy

Exercise and Fitness
Women's Sports Foundation
Info on women's sports, physical fitness and sports medicine
www.lifetimetv.com/WoSport
1-800-227-3988

Information on Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmedicine.about.com/health...cs/flexibility/

Shape up America!
Information on safe weight management and physical fitness
www.shapeup.org/general/index.html

Gay & Lesbian Adolescents

National Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Youth Hotline
1-800-347-TEEN

National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth
www.outproud.org

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
www.pflag.org

General Health
The Mayo Clinic
A terrific all encompassing health site.
Check out the First Aid and Self Care pages
www.mayohealth.org/home

General Adolescent Health
Adolescent Health On-line
More information on adolescent health from the American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org/adolhlth/adolhlth.htm

Adolescence Directory On-Line
An resource for teens and parents about health
www.education.indiana.edu/cas/adol/adol.html

Virtual Children's Hospital
Reference on adolescent health issues
www.vh.org/VCH/Patients/ForKids.html

Society for Adolescent Medicine
Provides referrals to local physicians specializing in adolescent medicine
www.cortex.uchc.edu/sam/introduction-index.shtml

Grief Counseling
Grief Recovery Institute
www.grief-recovery.com
1-800-445-4808

Boys Town National Hotline
Crisis counseling for girls and boys and referral to local help
www.ffbh.boystown.org
1-800-448-3000

The National "YOUTH" Crisis Help line
1-800-999-9999

Herpes
National Herpes Hotline
919-361-8488

Headaches & Migraines
National Headache Foundation
www.headaches.org
1-800-843-2256

Homosexual Adolescents
National Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Youth Hotline
1-800-347-TEEN

National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth
www.outproud.org

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
www.pflag.org

Mental Health
National Mental Health Association
Information and referrals to mental health groups
www.nmha.org
1-800-969-6642
1-800-433-5959

Depression Awareness Hotline
1-800-421-4211

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
www.aacap.org

National Institute of Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov

Girl Power!
A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services site
www.health.org/gpower/index.htm

American Psychology Association's Psychology in Daily Life
www.apa.org/pubinfo

Migraines
National Headache Foundation
www.headaches.org
1-800-843-2256

Morning-After Pill
To find your nearest provider and more information
http://ec.princeton.edu/providers/index.html

Planned Parenthood
Clinics providing the morning after pill in addition to abortions, birth control, and pregnancy checkups
www.plannedparenthood.org
For the nearest P.P. clinic 1-800-230-PLAN
To have them call in a prescription to the nearest pharmacy for the morning after pill, call 1-866-222-3248. listen to the warnings, talk to a professional, give them your credit card number, and go pick up your prescription.

Nutrition
Personal Nutritionist
Nutritional and weight assessments provided by the American Medical Association
www.ama-assn.org/insight/gen-hlth/pernutri/pernutri.htm

Parenting
Baby Center
www.babycenter.com

Storksite
www.storksite.com

National Parenting Center
www.tnpc.com

Piercing
The Association of Professional Piercers
www.safepiercing.org

PMS
PMS Access Hotline
Research information on PMS
1-800-222-4767
www.womenshealth.com/hotline.html

Pregnancy
Planned Parenthood
www.plannedparenthood.org
1-800-230-PLAN For the nearest P.P. clinic

Rape
Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE

Sex Education & STDs
Dr. Drew's Office
From the "Loveline" show features online chats, articles, and advice for relationships, sex, health, and addiction as well as entertainment for young adults.
www.drdrew.com/

Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
www.siecus.org

Dr. Ruth Online
www.drruth.com
Provides answers to teen questions

Safer Sex Page
www.safersex.org

National Sexually Transmitted Disease
Hotline Information and referrals to STD treatment centers
1-800-227-8922

Centers for Disease Control
www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/nchstp.html

Smoking
American Cancer Society Information on quitting smoking
www.cancer.org
1-800-227-2345

Smoking, Tobacco and Health Information Line
1-800-232-1311

Tips 4 Teens - Stop Smoking Help
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/osh/tipsteen.htm

Sports Medicine

Information on Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmedicine.about.com/health...cs/flexibility/

[porcelainwarrior]

Can I suggest the Terrence Higgins Trust for the UK list? It's a helpline for those living with, or affected by someone living with AIDs or HIV.

www.tht.org.uk

0845 1221 200

[porcelainwarrior]

Oh, and the Victim Support charity, also in the UK. It offers support and counselling for people finding it hard to cope with crime, whether it be that you were attacked or broken into and don't feel safe at home, pretty much anyway that crime could have made you a victim really.

www.victimsupport.com

(this is the home page which links to the Victim Support sites for different regions as the laws differ from country to country in the UK).

[froggle-rock]

UK

Stone Wall (LGB): 020 7881 9440

Shelter (housing): 0808 800 4444, this one is free phone btw.

[waytogokip]

Cutters (self-mutilation) who are trying to stop or need help: 1-800-DONT-CUT

(as far as I know this is US only)

[Cath Sparrow]

This is a link I came across on a program about self harm/cutting. It's run as a surport group and modorated by ex self harmer so thought it might be of interest in case you didn't feel comfortable going to more official people for help.

http://www.recoveryourlife.com

[SPEAKERfortheLOS...]

I dont know if I should really post this here or not...

however it is glaringly painful to see this from where I sit. So here goes...

With the sheer number of US contacts compared to the relatively small number of UK contacts, it would be construed that the US has an inordinant ammount of help lines. Whether or not this deserves the attention of the people at large or that it is an unfortunate misrepresentation I have no idea.

I just found it to be interesting...

[Mata]

There are a lot of people in the US, but there is also a wider culture of seeking therapy than in the UK. Over here there is a general belief in the 'stiff upper lip', i.e. don't whine about it and get on with life. In the US the culture is the opposite, sharing everything, even on national television is supposed to be good for the soul. I suspect that the truth is somewhere in the middle, but I guess that's one of the reasons for the difference in support lines.

Then again, we probably do have loads more: perhaps we just haven't got organised enough to catalogue them all.

[froggle-rock]

UK only



Women's Therapy Centre


Sliding scale, which means if you don't earn much you don't pay much. There is a phone number on their site, but they arn't open all the time so check.

[leopold]

There are a lot of people in the US, but there is also a wider culture of seeking therapy than in the UK. Over here there is a general belief in the 'stiff upper lip', i.e. don't whine about it and get on with life. In the US the culture is the opposite, sharing everything, even on national television is supposed to be good for the soul. I suspect that the truth is somewhere in the middle, but I guess that's one of the reasons for the difference in support lines.

Then again, we probably do have loads more: perhaps we just haven't got organised enough to catalogue them all.

This is all very true. As a nation we are all far more reserved than in the US. It seems like everyone in America has a psychotherapist or a counsellor to talk to, but over here the whole issue of mental suffering is still met with the general view of "that person must be a nut-job". Shame, really, as I think this country could do with more help!

Here's a couple of counselling services:

Mind: Counselling and mental health service - this is a free service! http://www.mind.org.uk or telephone 0845 766 0163

Relate: Relationship / couples counselling http://www.relate.org.uk

[Miss-Smiley]

Thank you this is a thoughtful thread, which would potentially help lots of people! .