Support & resources.
Mettle is a private practice, not a crisis service. This page brings together the organisations that fill the gaps - crisis lines, men's mental health charities, domestic abuse support, local services, and help for veterans and emergency workers.
All organisations listed are independent of Mettle. Phone numbers and hours are correct at time of publishing but may change - check each organisation's website for the most current information.
In crisis right now
If you need to talk to someone tonight.
These lines are free, confidential, and staffed around the clock. You don't need to be suicidal to call. Struggling, overwhelmed, or just not coping is enough.
Immediate danger — call 999Samaritans
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Free from any phone. No judgment, no agenda - just someone to talk to.
CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably
Built for men. Daily 5pm-midnight. If you're struggling and need to talk, CALM is there.
Shout
Text-based crisis support for when talking out loud feels like too much. 24/7, free.
NHS 111 - Mental Health Crisis Line
Call 111 and select option 2 to reach the mental health crisis line. Any time of day or night.
Men's mental health
Support that understands men.
Organisations specifically designed for men, or well-suited to the way men tend to reach out. Free. No referral needed.
Andy's Man Club
Free, peer-led support groups for men across the UK. Monday evenings (except bank holidays). You turn up, you sit down, you talk. No professional facilitators - just men who get it.
Hub of Hope
The UK's most comprehensive mental health support database. Enter your postcode and it shows what's available locally - including things your GP may not have told you about.
Mind
National mental health charity. Practical information, local Mind groups, and an online community. Useful if you want to understand what you're experiencing before deciding what to do about it.
Mind Infoline - Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm.
Mental Health Foundation
Research-based mental health organisation with practical guides, podcast content, and policy work. Less about crisis support, more about understanding mental health and reducing stigma.
Domestic abuse
Support for men experiencing abuse.
Domestic abuse affects men too - and it is significantly under-reported because of stigma, disbelief, and not knowing where to go. These organisations exist specifically for that.
ManKind Initiative
National charity supporting male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence. Trained advisers. Confidential helpline. They understand the barriers men face in asking for help - including not being believed.
Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. If you're in immediate danger, call 999.
Men's Advice Line
Specialist helpline for men experiencing domestic abuse. Run by Respect - an organisation with 25 years working on domestic abuse. Practical advice and emotional support.
Mon-Fri 9am-8pm. Free and confidential.
Galop - National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
For LGBT+ people experiencing domestic abuse. Specialist advisers who understand the specific dynamics that arise in same-sex relationships.
Local - Sefton & Merseyside
What's available near Southport.
NHS, community services, and peer support in and around Southport. Waiting lists can be long - Mettle can often act as a bridge while you wait for a funded place.
NHS Talking Therapies - Sefton
Free CBT and counselling for adults in the Sefton area. Self-referral. Waiting times vary - if the wait is too long, Mettle can act as a bridge. This is the formal NHS route.
Also accessible via your GP if you prefer a referral.
Cheshire & Wirral Partnership - Crisis Line
Mental health crisis support for people in Sefton, South Sefton, and surrounding areas. If you're in crisis and need urgent mental health support.
24 hours. Free. For adults in the CWP area.
Andy's Man Club - Southport
Free peer-led support for men. Meets Monday evenings (except bank holidays) in Southport. No professionals, no agenda - just men in a room talking through what's on their minds.
Salvation Army Southport - Project Sandgrounder
Free, by-appointment counselling for adults in Southport facing barriers to access. Part of Project Sandgrounder, it provides confidential support regardless of circumstances.
Email to request an appointment.
Hub of Hope - Local Search
Postcode-search database for mental health support. Enter a Southport or Sefton postcode and it surfaces what's actually available nearby - community groups, charities, NHS services.
Veterans & armed forces
Specialist support for service and ex-service.
These organisations understand what service does to a person - and what leaving it can feel like. Specialist trauma-informed support, available free.
Combat Stress
UK's leading veterans' mental health charity. Specialist treatment for PTSD, depression, and anxiety in veterans, service leavers, and reservists. Free, confidential, 24/7.
Veterans' Gateway
First point of contact for veterans, their families, and carers seeking support. Connects you to the right charity, service, or specialist - so you're not navigating it alone.
24/7.
NHS Op COURAGE
Specialist NHS mental health team for veterans, reservists, and their families. Covers trauma, addiction, relationships, and complex mental health presentations linked to service.
Emergency service workers
Support that understands the job.
For ambulance, fire, and police personnel. These lines are independent of your employer - nothing gets back to HR. Staffed by people who know the culture.
TASC - The Ambulance Staff Charity
24/7 crisis and emotional support for ambulance, fire, and police staff. Independent of your employer - nothing shared. Run by people who've worked in emergency services.
Oscar Kilo - Police Wellbeing Service
24/7 crisis line for police officers and staff in England and Wales. Confidential. Run by the National Police Wellbeing Service.
Fire Fighters Charity
Physical, mental, and social support for the fire and rescue community - active personnel, retirees, and their families.
Finding a therapist
If Mettle isn't the right fit.
Chris will tell you honestly on the free call if he's not the right person for your situation. If that's the case, here's where to look.
NCPS - Find a Counsellor
Search for accredited counsellors via the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society - the body Chris is accredited with. Accredited Registrants meet professional standards set by the PSA.
Counselling Directory
UK's largest directory of qualified counsellors. Searchable by location, presenting issue, and specialism. Includes profile photos, approach descriptions, and fees.
Psychology Today
International therapist directory with a strong UK presence. Useful if you want to filter by specific modality (CBT, EMDR, etc.) or insurance panel.
Men's Counselling Service
Directory specifically for male-specific counselling services and therapists who specialise in working with men.
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Mettle Therapy is a private counselling practice, not a crisis or emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E. Information on this page is provided as signposting only and does not constitute clinical advice. Links to external organisations are provided in good faith; Mettle has no commercial relationship with any organisation listed.