Forums are a great place for people to share their experiences and build connections. However, if you - or someone you know - is struggling to cope it's a good idea to find some extra support.

If you need help quickly

If you're worried about your safety, or the safety of someone else it's really important to reach out and get some help.

Undertanding Voices has a good page on finding support quickly. It includes calling 999, 111 or accessing supportive helplines (e.g. samaritans). It helps explain what to expect.

Our page on getting help & support also gives information on how you can get help from your GP and your rights:

If you're wanting to find out the location of a Hearing Voices Group

If you're in England, check out our list of groups. It is organised by area. We do not run the groups ourselves, so are reliant on people telling us about changes. We always suggest that people contact the facilitators before attending the group - so they can check out that it suits them and to make sure the day/time is correct.

If you're from the US, we have a sister organisation called Hearing Voices Network USA that also houses a list of groups. You can contact them if there isn't a group in your area. They also offer online groups (that can be accessed from anywhere in the world).

If you're from another country, please see Intervoice's National Networks page. Intervoice is a charity set up to support the international Hearing Voices Movement. There are networks in many countries of the world, so it's a good place to connect with.

Useful resources:

If you, or someone you care about, is struggling to cope you may find some of the following resources useful. We will get back to you individually when we can, but until then we hope that these resources give you a starting point. If you need support to get through a crisis - please read the info on getting support (above). You don't need to go through this alone.

For anyone

Understanding Voices: Living with Voices section: https://understandingvoices.com/living-with-voices/ Includes coping strategy toolkit, managing difficult voices at work/study and plenty of information written by people who hear voices for people who hear voices. The rest of the site has useful information as well.

Our Multimedia section - with lots of info on voice-hearing and different ways of understanding and working with voices: http://www.hearing-voices.org/resources/films-radio/
Our free downloads section - with coping strategies etc: http://www.hearing-voices.org/resources/free-downloads/
Rufus May’s resources (Rufus was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his youth and is now a psychologist. I really like some of his resources): http://rufusmay.com/category/resources/
A practical guide to coping with voices: http://www.intervoiceonline.org/support-recovery/a-practical-guide
The British Psychological Society’s ‘Understanding Psychosis’ report: https://shop.bps.org.uk/understanding-psychosis-and-schizophrenia.html

Our Getting help and support page: http://www.hearing-voices.org/voices-visions/getting-help-support/
Our approach to Hearing Voices: http://www.hearing-voices.org/about-us/hvn-values/
Engaging with Voices: https://openmindedonline.com/portfolio/engaging-with-voices-videos/ A series of videos exploring ways of engaging with voices in a more compassionate way

Living with voices: 50 stories of recovery (book)

Find a Hearing Voices Group: http://www.hearing-voices.org/hearing-voices-groups/find-a-group/
Hearing Voices Forum (in assoc. with Intervoice) https://www.mentalhealthforum.net/forum/forums/hearing-voices-forum.36/
Samaritans: www.samaritans.org | 08457 90 90 90 | joatsamaritansdotorg . A 24-hour confidential helpline that is open 365 days a year

Rethink Advice Line: 0300 5000 927: Open Monday – Friday, 10.00am – 1.00pm, offers practical advice and information

For Young People

Voice Collective: www.voicecollective.co.uk (aimed at children and young people under the age of 25, but has a great range of strategies and ideas for all. They also run a support forum for people under 25 and their supporters (see their website for more info). For those able to get to London, they support a small network of peer support groups and can offer some individual support (email, phone and in person).

The Mix: Help, I’m Hearing Voices: https://www.themix.org.uk/mental-health/anxiety-ocd-and-phobias/help-im-hearing-voices-25683.html?fbclid=IwAR2rFPDemypTozwrzrJ73eRr4sRfrf4H63pJHFvADjZAhLkk0tU3Ehi6Ppg
Listen Up! Youth Voice Hearing Exhibition in Durham (includes podcast and artwork from young people) https://hearingvoicesdu.org/listen-up/
Breaking the Silence: a fresh approach to hearing voices in childhood and adolescence: https://jmp.sh/6WpZf5S
Young People Hearing Voices: What you need to know and what you can do; Dr Sandra Escher and Dr. Marius Romme (book)

Parents - don’t panic if your child is Hearing Voices, it’s actually quite common: http://theconversation.com/parents-dont-panic-if-your-child-hears-voices-its-actually-quite-common-78964

For family and friends

An article on how to talk with someone who is hearing voices: https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/20/believing-me-is-crucial-how-to-talk-to-somebody-who-is-hearing-voices-7487842/