Mental health support

Our prison services include IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and a range of health and wellbeing interventions.

However, if you’re struggling with your mental health and need someone to talk to, our Reach Out online chat service could help. You can also find other organisations that provide mental health support here.

Who we help

Our face-to-face mental health and wellbeing services are only available to people who are currently residing in one of the prisons we work with, listed below. However, our Reach Out online chat service is open to everyone aged 16 and over.

What to expect

Reach Out provides free, confidential advice on a range of issues, including drug or alcohol worries and mental health – whether they affect you directly or a friend or relative. It is currently available between 9am and 3pm Monday-Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). Visit the Reach Out page to find out more.

Our prison-based IAPT services support people with mild-to-moderate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. In some of our health and wellbeing services, we also train prisoners to become either Health & Wellbeing Champions (HAWCs) or Peer Supporters, so that they can help fellow prisoners to access physical and mental health services in prison.

Unfortunately, we’re are unable to accept referrals for our prison services from family and friends – if you have a loved one in prison that needs support for their mental health, they will need to put in an application to the service in that prison, or ask their Personal Officer to do so on their behalf.

How do I get help?

If you want to speak to someone confidentially online, chat to us on our Reach Out service. Please note that Reach Out is not a crisis service. If you are in an urgent situation or emergency, such as a suspected overdose, call 999. If you are in crisis, contact the Samaritans.