Self-help materials

You don’t need to be referred to us to get help. Our self-help guides and resources are available to everyone.

NHS guide library

You can find self-help guides covering things like anxiety, eating disorders, depression and low mood, and stress from the NHS guide library.

Visit the NHS website to view the self-help guides (opens in new browser tab)

Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation have several guides covering topics such as overcoming fear and anxiety, mental health at work, and managing and reducing stress.

Visit the MH Foundation website (opens in new browser tab)  

About CBT

You can find more information about cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) including worksheets, guides and audio clips.

Find CBT self-help support (visit the getselfhelp website) 

Mind - Support line

For free and confidential support about mental health. Open 9am -6pm. This is not a crisis service, for if you are struggling to cope.

Helplines | Mind - Mind

Mind - Side by Side

Online peer support community to talk about mental health and connect with others. Moderated daily from 8am - midnight.

Side by Side: our online community - Mind

The Samaritans 116123

Free listening service for support without advice or judgement. Call 116123 to talk on the phone or email jo@samaritans.org

Talk to us on the Phone | Samaritans

Shout 85258

Shout 85258 - Free, confidential mental health text service available to anyone who is struggling to cope. Open 24 hours a day. 

Shout: the UK's free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org)

The Helplines Partnership

Visit the Helplines Partnership for a directory of UK-based helplines 

Find a Helpline (helplines.org)

 We sometimes recommend apps to use during your therapy with us. Here are five that you may find helpful alongside your treatment with us:

  1. FearTools
  2. WRAP
  3. Insight Timer
  4. MoodTools
  5. Sleepful

Veterans support

If you’re a military veteran, reservist, or service personnel approaching discharge, Berkshire Healthcare can help you access NHS veteran’s mental health and wellbeing services.

Visit the Op Courage NHS Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service website (opens in new browser tab)

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice offer impartial support on things like housing, debt and money, law and courts and immigration. If you’re coping with stress because of matters in your personal life, they may be able to support you. Citizens Advice offer different support whether you’re living in West or East Berkshire.

Citizens Advice if you’re living in West Berkshire (Reading, Newbury or Thatcham) (visit the website)

If you live in Reading, Citizens Advice also offer Making Life Better coaching sessions.

Find details about Making Life Better coaching sessions (visit the website)

If you live in Slough, Bracknell, Windsor, Maidenhead or Ascot (East Berkshire), you can find local support from their website.

Citizens Advice if you're living in East Berkshire (visit the website) 

Patient advice

Information about treatments, medical terms and medication written by UK care professionals

Patient UK information (visit the website)  

Mental health support

The charity Mind offer information and advice about types, causes and impact of different mental health challenges

Mind (visit the website)

Friends in Need provide a way for people living in East Berkshire to meet and talk about their experiences of depression

Friends in Need (visit the website)

Sport in Mind is a charity which promotes the great benefits sport can have in staying physically fit and overcoming things like stress and anxiety

Sport in Mind (visit the website)

Need help now? 

If there’s someone you can talk to – a family member, a friend or a neighbour – ask if you can spend a few moments with them to help you relax.

If you or anyone else is in immediate danger or harm, please call 999

If you urgently need medical help or advice, but it’s not life threatening, please call NHS 111

If you want to talk to someone about how you feel, what you’re experiencing or how to deal with someone else's behaviour, you can contact the Samaritans 116 123