If you're in immediate crisis.

Talk to someone now. The services below are the most widely-used crisis lines in the UK and US — they're free, available 24/7, and don't require you to be in a "bad enough" state to call. They exist for moments like this.

United Kingdom

Samaritans

Call 116 123 (free)

Trained volunteers will listen to whatever you want to talk about. You don't need to be suicidal to call. Free from any phone.

24 hours, every day

Shout

Text SHOUT to 85258 (free)

Text-based crisis support. Useful if speaking is too much, or if you're somewhere you can't talk out loud.

24 hours, every day

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

Call 0800 58 58 58 · Webchat at thecalmzone.net

Crisis support originally aimed at men but available to anyone. Phone or webchat.

5pm to midnight, every day
United States

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 · Chat at 988lifeline.org

National crisis line for mental health, suicidal thoughts, substance use, or general distress. Spanish: dial 988 then press 2, or text AYUDA to 988.

24 hours, every day

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741

Trained crisis counselors via text. An alternative if 988 isn't the right fit, or if texting feels easier than calling.

24 hours, every day
Anywhere else

If you're outside the UK or US, the findahelpline.com directory lists verified crisis lines by country. Type your location and you'll see what's available in your region.

For ongoing mental health support.

Information, peer support, and signposting — for the slower work, between crises.

United Kingdom

Mind

mind.org.uk · Infoline 0300 123 3393

UK's largest mental health charity. Detailed information on conditions, rights, treatments, and a network of local Minds offering peer support and services.

Infoline: Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm

Hub of Hope

hubofhope.co.uk

Searchable directory of mental health support in the UK by postcode. Useful for finding local services beyond the big-name organisations.

United States

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

nami.org · Helpline 1-800-950-6264

Information, peer support, and a national HelpLine for navigating mental health systems and finding local resources.

Helpline: Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm ET

SAMHSA National Helpline

Call 1-800-662-4357 · Text HELP4U to 435748

Free treatment referral and information service for mental health and substance use. Doesn't provide counselling itself, but routes you to local services. English and Spanish.

24 hours, every day

For ND-specific support.

Information, community, and signposting from organisations that actually understand neurodivergent experience.

United Kingdom

National Autistic Society

autism.org.uk · 0808 800 4104

Information, advocacy, and community for autistic adults and their families. Useful for late-diagnosis support and navigating workplace adjustments.

ADHD UK

adhduk.co.uk

Run by people with ADHD, for people with ADHD. Particularly good on adult late-diagnosis, the political/policy side, and signposting toward NHS pathways.

ADHD Foundation

adhdfoundation.org.uk

UK neurodiversity charity providing training, resources, and adult support. Strong focus on workplace and education accommodations.

United States

CHADD (Children and Adults with ADHD)

chadd.org

National resource for ADHD, with extensive adult-focused content, peer support groups, and a professional directory.

AANE (Association for Autism and Neurodiversity)

aane.org

Adult-focused autism organisation with peer-led groups (including women, late-diagnosed, AuDHD-specific), and a therapist/coach directory.

ADDA (Attention Deficit Disorder Association)

add.org

Adult ADHD-specific organisation. Online community, virtual peer groups, and resources particularly aimed at adults navigating diagnosis and treatment.

For eating-related support.

If your relationship with food has become difficult — whether or not you'd call it an eating disorder.

United Kingdom

Beat

beateatingdisorders.org.uk · Helpline 0808 801 0677

UK's largest eating disorder charity. Helpline, online support groups, and information specifically for adults. Separate Youthline available on 0808 801 0711.

Helpline: 3pm-10pm, 365 days a year
United States

National Alliance for Eating Disorders

Call 1-866-662-1235 · allianceforeatingdisorders.com

Helpline run by licensed therapists specialising in eating disorders. Treatment referrals and information. Their findEDhelp.com directory finds appropriate care by location and insurance.

Helpline: Mon-Fri, 9am-7pm ET

ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

Call 1-888-375-7767 · anad.org

Free peer-led helpline plus support groups, mentorship programs, and recovery resources.

Helpline: Mon-Fri, 10am-10pm ET

Finding an ND-friendly therapist.

Not every therapist understands neurodivergence well. Searching specifically can save you a lot of time and a few rough first sessions.

Embrace Autism Practitioner Directory

embrace-autism.com/practitioner-directory

International directory of autism-affirming practitioners — including those who specialise in late-diagnosed adults and AuDHD.

AANE Therapist & Coach Directory (US)

aane.org/services/find-a-therapist

Vetted directory of US-based therapists and coaches who specialise in autism and AuDHD across adult life stages.

Psychology Today / Counselling Directory (general)

psychologytoday.com (US/global) · counselling-directory.org.uk (UK)

Filterable directories where you can search specifically for "autism," "ADHD," or "neurodivergent" specialism. Read profiles carefully — "experience with" is different from "lived experience of."

What this page isn't.

This isn't comprehensive. It's a starting point — the resources I'd hand to a friend who asked. There are many other excellent organisations not listed here, and the right fit for you may be something more local or specialised.

None of these are paid placements. Listing here doesn't constitute endorsement of every aspect of an organisation; it constitutes "this exists, it's broadly considered helpful, here's how to find it."

If you find a resource that genuinely helps you — particularly one specific to AuDHD that I should know about — the contact form on the about page reaches me. I'll happily add it.

// You don't have to be in crisis to deserve support. You don't have to be sure it's "bad enough." If something here helped you find what you needed, that's the page doing its job.