![A chair with a scarf over its back by a window at night, the curtain tied back and a lamp left on](https://viacara.com/img/content/under-18s-young-feature-light.webp) # If You Are Under 18 You do not have to be in crisis to ask for help. These UK services are built for people your age, with their real numbers and opening hours. You do not have to be in crisis to talk to someone. You do not need a diagnosis or a referral. ViaCara is for adults, so we cannot help you ourselves. The services below can. None of them are run by us. We list them because they help. ## If you want to talk today [Childline](https://www.childline.org.uk) Under 19 Confidential support on anything at all. You can call, chat online with a counsellor, or send a message and get a reply within a day. Calls will not show on the phone bill. Open 24/7 [Call](tel:+448001111) [Chat online](https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/1-2-1-counsellor-chat/) [Shout](https://giveusashout.org) Any age A text conversation with a trained volunteer, for when talking out loud is too much. On a few UK networks the text will not send at all. Free on all major UK networks Open 24/7 [Text](sms:85258?body=SHOUT) [Samaritans](https://www.samaritans.org) Any age Someone to talk to at any hour, about anything. The call does not show on your phone bill. Welsh language line 0808 164 0123, 7pm to 11pm daily. Open 24/7 [Call](tel:116123) ## If you want ongoing support [Soluna by Kooth](https://www.solunaapp.com) Young people Text chat with a mental health professional, now or booked ahead, plus self-help tools. Kooth is now Soluna. Funded in some areas only, so sign up to see if it covers your age and where you live. [Sign up](https://web.solunaapp.com/intro) [The Mix](https://www.themix.org.uk) Ages 13 to 25 Short-term counselling you book yourself, with no GP letter needed. They have no phone helpline. Webchat sessions are paused, so counselling is by phone or video for now. Text line 24/7 [Text](sms:85258?body=THEMIX) [Book counselling](https://www.themix.org.uk/counselling/) [Meic](https://www.meic.cymru) Up to 25 Wales A helpline for children and young people anywhere in Wales. 8am to midnight daily [Call](tel:+448088023456) [Text](sms:07943114449) [Chat online](https://meic.cymru/) ## For something specific [Beat](https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk) All ages Support for anyone affected by an eating disorder, including friends and family. No diagnosis needed. - England [0808 801 0677](tel:+448088010677) Weekdays 3pm to 8pm - Scotland [0808 801 0432](tel:+448088010432) Weekdays 3pm to 8pm - Wales [0808 801 0433](tel:+448088010433) Weekdays 3pm to 8pm - Northern Ireland [0808 801 0434](tel:+448088010434) Weekdays 3pm to 8pm [Galop](https://galop.org.uk) Ages 13 to 25 Support for LGBT+ young people experiencing abuse or violence. Under-18s use the referral form, not the phone line. [Make a referral](https://galop-org-uk.my.site.com/s/make-a-referral) [Mermaids](https://mermaidsuk.org.uk) Under 20 Support for trans and gender-diverse young people and their families. Not a crisis line. Closed Fridays and weekends. Mon and Wed 10.30am to 6pm Tue and Thu 1pm to 8.30pm [Call](tel:+448088010400) [Email](mailto:info@mermaidsuk.org.uk) [Muslim Youth Helpline](https://myh.org.uk) Young Muslims Faith-sensitive support from a youth-focused team, by phone, chat or email. 4pm to 10pm daily [Call](tel:+448088082008) [Email](mailto:help@myh.org.uk) [Chat online](https://myh.org.uk/how-we-can-help/chat-with-us/) [SafeCall](https://www.missingpeople.org.uk) Young people If you have left home, are thinking about it, or feel trapped somewhere unsafe. Run by Missing People. Not open overnight. After 10pm, Childline and Shout are. Calls 10am to 5pm Texts 10am to 10pm [Call](tel:116000) [Text](sms:116000) ## Asking for NHS help The service is usually reached through a GP or someone at school. A teacher, school nurse or mental health lead can all refer you. Some areas let you refer yourself. Many do not. Ask your local service which it is. Your school can help too. Mental health support teams now work in almost 11,800 schools and colleges in England. Asking your school gets things moving. Source: [DfE: mental health support](https://viacara.com/support/under-18s/if-you-are-under-18/#ref-1) ## About the wait Waiting lists for young people are long. That is not your fault. In 2024-25, just over a million children in England had an active referral. Around a third were still waiting at the end of the year. That is a fact about the system, not about you. The services above exist because of that gap. You can use them while you wait. If you need help today, our [UK crisis page](https://viacara.com/crisis/gb/) lists people you can contact at any hour. Source: [Children's Commissioner: CYPMHS](https://viacara.com/support/under-18s/if-you-are-under-18/#ref-2) ## References 1. Department for Education (2026). *Record numbers of children with mental health support in schools*. [Link](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-numbers-of-children-with-mental-health-support-in-schools) 2. Children's Commissioner for England (2026). *Children's and Young People's Mental Health Services: 2024-25*. [Link](https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/resource/childrens-and-young-peoples-mental-health-services-2024-25/) ## Related ### [Worried About Your Child](https://viacara.com/support/under-18s/help-for-your-child/) Where a parent or carer can get help for a child's mental health in the UK, what the NHS route looks like, and where to turn if home is not safe. ### [Finding the Right Practitioner](https://viacara.com/guides/finding-a-practitioner/) A practical guide to finding a mental health practitioner who fits your needs, preferences and budget.