Support & Help Resources
You don’t have to navigate challenges alone. There’s a comprehensive network of people and organisations ready to support you in the UK.
MindJam’s Services: Your Digital Wellbeing Partner
At MindJam, we offer tailored support designed with all young people in mind, including those who are neurodivergent.
- 1-to-1 Mentoring: Our experienced and understanding mentors connect with young people through their shared love of video games. This creates a comfortable, low-demand space to build trust, explore emotions, and develop coping strategies. Mentors provide a non-judgmental space where young people are free to share and talk about their experiences across all areas of wellbeing, helping them find the right tools and approaches for self-management.
- Counselling Services: We provide online counselling for young people and their parents. This includes individual counselling and unique BlockJam counselling set in a specially designed Minecraft world, offering a safe and confidential space to process feelings and work through challenges with a qualified professional in an accessible format.
- Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Sessions: These structured group sessions are a fantastic way to boost social skills, collaborative problem-solving, and imaginative communication in a fun, low-pressure environment.
- Digital Skills Development: Beyond gaming, we teach valuable digital skills like game design, 3D modelling, digital art, and animation, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and a sense of achievement.
Crisis Support (Immediate Help): If You Need Help Right Now
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If someone’s life is at risk or they are in immediate danger, always call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department. A mental health emergency is as serious as a physical one.
For urgent, non-life-threatening mental health support:
- NHS 111: Call 111 (select mental health option) for urgent advice and to be directed to the right local service.
- Samaritans: Call 116 123 (free, 24/7). You can talk about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult. https://www.samaritans.org/
- Shout Crisis Text Line: Text “SHOUT” to 85258 (free, 24/7). Confidential text support for anyone struggling to cope. https://giveusashout.org/
- Childline: Call 0800 1111 (free, 24/7). For children and young people under 19. The number won’t show on your phone bill. https://www.childline.org.uk/
- PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK: Call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org. For young people under 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned about a young person. https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
UK National Charities & Organisations
- Mind: Provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. https://www.mind.org.uk
- YoungMinds: A national charity campaigning for young people’s mental health. Offers comprehensive guides for young people and parents, a helpline, and advocacy. https://www.youngminds.org.uk
- The Mix: Essential support for under 25s, covering mental health, relationships, money, and more. Offers a helpline, text service, and online chat. https://www.themix.org.uk
- National Autistic Society: The leading UK charity for autistic people and their families. Provides extensive advice, support, and campaigning. https://www.autism.org.uk
- ADHD Foundation: The UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering strength-based support and services for ADHD and co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions. https://adhdfoundation.org.uk
- Action for Neurodiversity: Provides autism-specialist counselling. https://actionforneurodiversity.org/
- Autistica: The UK’s leading autism research charity, focusing on understanding and preventing early death in autistic people, including suicide. https://www.autistica.org.uk
- The Brain Charity: Supports anyone with a neurological condition, including neurodiverse individuals. https://www.thebraincharity.org.uk/
- The PDA Society: For families supporting children with a PDA profile of autism. https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
NHS Services & Pathways
- Your GP (General Practitioner): Your first point of contact for any mental health concerns. They can offer advice, prescribe medication, and refer to specialist services.
- CYPMHS (Child and Young People’s Mental Health Services): NHS services providing specialist mental health assessment and treatment for children and young people. Referral is usually via a GP, school, or other professional. (Search “CYPMHS [your local area]” to find local services).
- NHS Website: Provides a wealth of information on mental health conditions, self-help guides, and how to access NHS services. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
Online Communities & Further Resources
- Hub of Hope: The UK’s leading mental health support database. Find local, national, peer, community, charity, private, and NHS mental health support services. https://hubofhope.co.uk/
- The Neurodivergent Collective: A neurodivergent-led organisation providing support for employment, wellbeing, burnout recovery, and pre/post-discovery support. https://theneurodivergentcollective.co.uk/
- Embrace Autism: Research and experience-based autism content, by autistic people, for autistic people. https://embrace-autism.com/
- Parent Talk (Action for Children): Provides excellent articles for parents on supporting young people with anxiety or anxious feelings: https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/mental-health/anxiety/
- NHS Dorset – Helpful Resources: A useful page for various digital, practical, and sensory tools to manage different aspects of neurodivergent lives: https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/neurodiversity/support/resources/
MindJam Support & Mental Health
At MindJam, our mentoring offers a safe, non-judgmental space where young people can explore their feelings and experiences related to mental health challenges and neurodiversity, often through the lens of shared gaming interests. Mentors, with their training and understanding, provide a grounding presence to help young people articulate their unique brain wiring and identify personal triggers. The goal is to help them discover and implement tools and approaches for self-management.
Our counselling services, including individual and BlockJam counselling (set in a specially designed Minecraft world), provide a safe and confidential therapeutic space. The familiar, low-pressure environment of Minecraft can make it easier for some young people, particularly those who are neurodivergent, to engage in deeper conversations about their mental health and neurodiversity.
For parents, our counselling provides a vital space to process their own emotions, gain insights into their child’s specific mental health or neurodevelopmental profile, and learn practical strategies for support. We help families navigate diagnoses, understand how challenges like anxiety or burnout manifest uniquely in neurodivergent young people, and provide guidance on accessing further professional help, ensuring a holistic approach to understanding and support.
FAQ'S
For answers to our most commonly asked questions regarding sessions, please visit the FAQs page.
Benefits of Gaming
Read our guide to the benefits of gaming, that looks at current research around health and wellbeing.
We'd love to hear from you.
If you would like our team to get in touch with you to discuss how we can help you and your young people through our services, please feel free to fill out our contact form, and we will be in touch as soon as possible to talk you through enrolling with one of our mentors or counsellors