Up against it?

Finding life hard to cope with? feeling all alone? problems seem insurmountable? Don't Panic - and don't think you're all alone - you're so not. Most people go through phases in their life when they just can't cope and don't know who to turn to. It can be really - really hard, especially when you're young - people can be vulnerable for all sorts of reasons. It isn't easy out there and sometimes you just don't feel you can turn to your family or to your friends - you just don't think anyone can understand where you're coming from. Deppression is nothing to be ashamed of, neither is mental illness (which will affect one in four of the population at one time or another) Many other people have and are coping with similar problems - they are surviving and overcoming them - you can to.

Did you know that the most common cause of death in young men in the UK is suicide? and that lots of men still find it hard to talk about their feelings? In 2004 1,457 men aged between 15 and 35 committed suicide - that's more than die from heroin overdose (344 in the same year) Road traffic accidents (1,131 in the same year) and aids related illnesses (25)

We've put together a list of website resources that might just help you out - give it a try - you've got absolutely nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain. Please remember that suicide doesn't just happen - if you feel depressed and suicidal the reason you are feeling so bad is because the pain you are feeling at the present time is greater than the abilty you have to deal with it just at the moment. There are other ways to cope. Just take a few moments to have a quick look at some of the resources that can and will offer you help:

Mental Health:
www.thecalmzone.net - you can also phone them in confidence on 0800 585858
www.papyrus-uk.org - you can phone them on 0870 1704000
www.childsuicide.homestead.com - a lot of help and support for those affected by child suicide
www.studentdepression.org - students and depression - much more common than you might realise - there is a way through.
www.mind.org.uk - major resource for mental health issues
www.sane.org.uk - SaneLine is a national, out-of-hours telephone help-line for anyone coping with mental illness. Their lines are open from 12 noon to 2 am every day of the year. Phone: 0845 767 8000 ( local call rate )
www.depressionalliance.org - self help groups nationwide

Drugs might be an issue for some people
www.talktofrank.com - major resource
www.release.org.uk - been around a long time - a wealth of information
www.drugscope.org.uk

Sexual health and other realted issues:
www.ruthinking.co.uk - for younger people
/www.likeitis.org - likewise
www.tht.org.uk - The Terrence Higgins Trust
www.rapecrisis.org.uk - basic information for survivors and their families
www.napac.org.uk - National association for people abused in childhood

Bullying - a serious issue
www.bullying.co.uk - get help here - a wealth of on line resources
www.bullyonline.org - simply the best resource around

Self Harm - other people understand and can help
www.nshn.co.uk - a site for survivors, professionals and family
www.selfharmalliance.org - National surviver led support

Eating disorders:
www.edauk.com - The eating disorders association
www.eating-disorders.org.uk - National centre for eating disorders

Psoriasis is a skin condition that can be controlled but not cured
www.psoriasis-help.org.uk - really helpful informative site

Obviously safeconcerts cannot be held in any way responsible for the content of external sites but have put this together in good faith and hope they prove helpful.