GET SUPPORT
If you, or someone you know needs urgent help and support.
If there is, or is likely to be:
- a risk to life;
- use or immediate threat of use of violence;
- serious injury caused to a person;
- serious damage caused to a property; or
- an offender disturbed, or detained, at the scene who poses, or is likely to pose, a risk to other people.
Please call emergency services on 999.
If you are in distress or despair
Please call the Lifeline Helpline on, 0808 808 8000.
Lifeline is a confidential service where trained counsellors will listen and provide you the help and support you need. Lifeline counsellors are experienced in dealing with, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, trauma, relationship breakdown, abuse and many other areas of crisis.
The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also access the Lifeline website at www.lifelinehelpline.info or NI Direct at Mental Health Emergency.
For a network of over 30 Northern Ireland health and social wellbeing helplines visit www.helplinesni.com. Many are free to call or offer text/chat service.
For mental health and emotional wellbeing resources, self-help guides, links to other supports and services and ideas on how to support your mental health please visit www.mindingyourhead.info
Samaritans also provide confidential emotional support through their telephone helpline. Call for free any time, from any phone on, 116 123. You can also contact them by email or post at Samaritans.
The Programme funds a number of projects.
Some prevent harm before it occurs, some aim to deal with harm immediately as it’s happening, and some projects are about reducing the long-term impact of paramilitarism and organised crime. To find out more information on our projects, please visit our ‘What the Programme Does’ page under the ‘About Us’ section.
For more immediate and urgent sources of support, please see below:
Victim Support 028 9024 3133
Victim Support NI is an independent charity supporting children and adult victims of crime throughout Northern Ireland. You do not have to have reported the crime to police to avail of their support, and it doesn’t matter how long ago the crime occurred. Get in touch via the main Hubs in Belfast 028 9024 3133 or Foyle 028 7137 0086 or email info@victimsupportni.org.uk You can find out more about their work at www.victimsupportni.com
Women’s Aid NI 028 9024 9041
Women’s Aid provide specialist trauma informed support for women, children and young people affected by domestic abuse. There are 8 local Women’s Aid groups throughout Northern Ireland who are here to help you, or someone you know, who is experiencing domestic abuse. Please know if you are experiencing domestic abuse that you are not alone, and that specialist support is here for you throughout NI. For more information on accessing support visit: www.womensaidni.org
Children
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
NSPCC Helpline 08001111
Social Services Gateway
The Gateway team visit children, young people and their families in their own homes, to assess what they need. They link with children and families to see what support is needed and ensure everyone involved with a child can contribute to the assessment of the child and his or her family.
The Gateway team are on hand to ensure there is an immediate response to safeguard children in need of protection. The Social Workers will speak to other professionals involved with the family to ensure their views are included in the assessment. They also refer families to locally based services where support is needed.
Northern Trust 028 9442 4459
Belfast Trust 028 9050 7000
South Eastern Trust 0300 100 0300
Western Trust 028 3756 7100
Southern Trust 028 9504 9999
Domestic and Sexual Abuse
Nexus 028 9032 6803
If you have experienced domestic or sexual abuse, or would like confidential advice on supporting someone who has, call The Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414, it is available 24/7 for any individual impacted by domestic or sexual abuse, either directly or indirectly. Support is also available via email at help@dsahelpline.org and online at dsahelpline.org to ‘Live Chat’ with an advisor. The DSA helpline is hosted by Nexus on behalf of the Departments of Health, Justice and Communities.
Nexus is Northern Ireland’s leading organisation supporting people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships, you can find out more or self-refer to its services here www.nexusni.org or by calling 028 9032 6803. Mon – Wed 9am – 9PM, Thursday 9am – 5pm and Friday 9am – 4pm.
DSA Helpline 0808 802 1414
Advice NI, the Independent Advice Network, runs a free and confidential, debt service offering practical advice and support to people dealing with debt of any description, including illegal loans, credit cards, loans, mortgages and rent arrears. In 2019/2020, Advice NI and its members dealt with 540,983 advice queries. Its highly trained members are ideally placed to provide local advice to local people.
Are you struggling to make ends meet? Do you know someone who is struggling financially? Advice NI, the Independent Advice Network can help.
Advice NI provide free, impartial and confidential advice on issues such as:
- Benefits
- Debt
- Housing
- Employment
- Disability
- Community Care
- Consumer issues
- EU Settlement Scheme
