BEAT - Helpline

BEAT is here to support people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members.
They have a number of specialised guides for different situations you might be facing if you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder.

UK
BEAT - One-to-One Web Chat

You can talk one-to-one with BEAT using their secure instant messaging service. Beat’s advisors are highly trained, and available to talk to anyone affected by an eating disorder 365 days a year . They’ll listen to your concerns in a non-judgemental way, provide you with support, and help you to decide on your best next step.

Can be contacted Monday-Friday 09:00-20:00, Saturday-Sunday 16:00-20:00

UK
BEAT - Solace (Support Group for Supporters)

Solace is a free video-based peer support group hosted over Zoom. It's for anyone supporting somebody with an eating disorder and gives you the opportunity to share your feelings and get support from others in a similar situation.

UK
BEAT - The Sanctuary (Online Chat Room)

The Sanctuary is an online chat group created specifically in response to coronavirus and the anxieties this could lead to for people with an eating disorder. It is a safe, online space for people with an eating disorder to share concerns and advice on how they are coping with the pandemic.

UK
BEAT - Message Boards

The message boards are a community who support each other, laugh, commiserate and recover together, whether you are concerned about yourself or someone you love. You can ask a question and get lots of different perspectives on a problem you are facing, come back to helpful threads whenever you want or use your own experiences to reach out a supportive hand to others.

There are 3 message boards-- 1 for under-18s dealing with an eating disorder, 1 for over-18s dealing with an eating disorder, and 1 for people supporting others.

UK
LGBT Foundation

An organisation that delivers support in a wide variety of ways, from peer support to sexual health screenings, help in accessing therapy

UK
LGBT Health & Wellbeing

LGBT Health and Wellbeing works to improve the health, wellbeing and equality of life of LGBTQ+ people in Scotland, providing both information and listening/support.

Can be contacted tuesdays and wednesdays between 12pm and 9pm.

They also offer messaging services and a BSL user service.

UK
Trans Lifeline

Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.

Open to those who identify as trans, are questioning whether they are trans, or have trans loved ones

All operators are trans themselves and can speak both English and Spanish.

Canada and USA
Switchboard

Switchboard offers advice and support without telling you what to do. All their helplines are staffed and run by self- defined members of the LGBTQ+ community.

They offer listening as well as information services. They can be contacted by phone from 10am - 10pm every day

UK
Mindline Trans+

MindLine Trans+ offers confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Trans, Agender, Gender Fluid or Non-Binary and their loved ones

They are open Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight and can be contacted from anywhere in the UK.

UK
MindOut

MindOut works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities.

They offer online chat support and advice, peer support groups, and advocacy for LGBT+ people of all ages; the service is entirely run and staffed by LGBQ+ people. The mental health chat service is available at different times on different days, which are shown on their website.

UK
Mermaids

Mermaids offers resources and support to gender-diverse children and young people in the UK (up to age 20) and their families.

The Mermaids phone helpline, online chat and text chat services are all available 9am-9pm Mon-Fri.

UK
Scottish Trans Alliance

Government-funded project working for trans equality in Scotland. They do not offer immediate support, but have resources on trans rights and offer training.

UK
Scotland
Equality Network

National charity working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex equality and human rights in Scotland. They do not offer immediate support, but have resources on LGBTI rights.

UK
Scotland
LGBT Helpline Scotland

Provide information and emotional support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families, friends and supporters across Scotland. They can also support those questioning or wanting to discuss their sexuality or gender identity.

The helpline is staffed by experienced, trained, non-judgemental, non-directive staff and volunteers.

UK
Scotland
LGBT Youth Scotland

Provide support and resources for young LGBT people in Scotland. They also have a confidential Live Chat feature on their website, run by digital Youth Workers, on Mondays and Thursdays 6pm-8pm.

UK
Scotland
Galop

UK based, LGBT+ anti violence charity. Provides hate crime, domestic abuse, and sexual violence support for LGBT+ individuals. You can contact them through the online form on their page, through email, text message, WhatsApp, or phone. They also have a peer-to-peer online forum for LGBT+ suvivors of domestic abuse.

Email at advice@galop.org.uk is open Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.

National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans+ Domestic Helpline: 0800 999 5428 Monday to Friday: 10:00am - 5:00pm. Wednesday to Thursday: 10:00am - 8:00pm.

UK
Mind for LGBTQI+

Webpage which gives information about mental health support for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer or questioning (LGBTIQ+). There is a list of useful contacts on the page.

UK
Regard

Regard is a national organisation of LGBTQ+ people who self-identify as disabled.

Their website provides news, advice articles, and resources for allies of LGBTQ+ disabled people.

UK
Gendered Intelligence

Focuses on supporting young trans people under the age of 21. This organisation offers youth groups (currently online for covid-19), where youth workers are trans and/or non-binary.

The website also offers a variety of resources for young people.

UK
Imaan

A UK LGBTQI Muslim charity which offers support meetings and faith activity.

UK
Hidayah LGBT

Offers support to LGBT+ Muslims. They have a confidential email service and a mentoring scheme; large UK cities have in-person meetings once a month (London, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and alternating between Glasgow/Edinburgh and Cardiff/Newport).

Use the subject line "CONFIDENTIAL - Enquiry" in an email to the confidential email service linked below.

UK
The Trevor Project

Listening and advice service for LGBT+ youth (under 25). They offer a 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline, a text service, and an IM service.

Canada and USA
LGBT National Hotline

Provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat, and email peer-support. The hotline is a confidential and anonymous safe space for callers to discuss issues and concerns like coming out issues, gender and/or sexuality identities, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, suicide, and much more. Staff are trained volunteers who identify somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum.

The website also offers information, including lists of local resources across towns and cities in the USA.

The hotline is opening weekday evenings, and Saturday in the middle of the day; check the website for details.

Canada and USA
PFLAG Hotlines Page

Hotlines page for LGBT+ specific contact points. This website also contains support sections for allies and family members, with information and resources.

PFLAG is an LGBT+ individual, family and ally organisation and the website homepage has information about finding a local chapter in the US.

Canada and USA
The GLBT National Resources Database

This website has a list of over 15000 GLBT resources in the US. You can search local ones by zip code and travel distance and by category.

Canada and USA
National Black Justice Coalition

The NBJC is a civil rights organisation dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Their website also offers a number of resources.

Canada and USA
ILGA

An organisation working towards equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people in Europe and Central Asia. Their website offers a number of resources, including on mental health for LGBTI people.

Europe
UK
Beijing LGBT+ Center

A public welfare organization that provides psychological counseling, legal counseling, and community services in Beijing.

They also offer a confidential support hotline for transgender people, people in a state of anxiety or doubt about their gender, or anyone with relatives or friends in that situation. They are able to offer one hour of consultation a week.

China
OUT South Africa

Provides health services, counselling, and general support to LGBTQ+ people, sex workers, MSM, and injecting drug users in South Africa.

The organisation has clinics in Johannesburg and Pretoria that are able to provide health services. Telephone and video counselling appointments can be booked at 012 430 3272.

South Africa
Ahwaa

An anonymous and secure Arab LGBTQ+ network for those across the Middle East and North Africa that works like a forum. Offers chat rooms and in-person meetups, and the forum is gamefied so that only trusted users can access additional privileges.

Middle East
North Africa
Saints LGBT+

A subcommittee of the Students' Association with the purpose of providing support and resources for the LGBT+ student community at St Andrews. They organize a range of events throughout the academic year.

Coffee Meetups: most Sundays, they run coffee meetups where anyone can drop by for coffee, tea, or biscuits. Each one has a particular identity it is geared towards. Reach out via their contact details to know more.

Trans Clothing Drive: if you’re transgender and looking to update your wardrobe to better match your gender, Saints LGBT+ have got a collection of donated clothing. Just email their support email, queerpeers@st-andrews.ac.uk, and someone will be happy to set something up.

St Andrews
Identity Inc (Cupar)

LGBT+ youth group in Cupar run by Fife Council, for 11-21 year olds. Meets Thursdays 4pm-5:30pm.

Fife
St Andrews
Scotland
Spectrum (Dundee)

LGBT+ youth group in Dundee for 16-25 year olds. Meets Wednesdays 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Fife
St Andrews
Scotland