If you find it difficult to understand your care and support or find it hard speak up, there are people who can help or act as a spokesperson for you.
Advocates can help you understand the care and support process, talk about how you feel about your care, make decisions, challenge decisions about your care and support if you do not agree with them and stand up for your rights. They can write letters for you and attend meetings with you.
Advocates will support you during assessments, care and support planning, safeguarding and reviews and are independent of social services and the NHS. A paid carer cannot act as an advocate for you.
How your council can help
Your council will provide an advocate if you do not have family or friends to help and you have difficulty:
• understanding and remembering information
• communicating your views
• understanding the pros and cons of different options
Contact social services at your Gloucestershire County Council and ask about advocacy services, or click here
Alternatively, take a look at the following support service options:
The National Stalking Helpline gives practical information, support, advocacy and advice on risk, safety planning and legislation to victims of stalking, their friends, family, and professionals working with victims.
Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre provides support and advice and aims to increase understanding and recognition of sexual violence through education and public awareness. T
Inclusion Gloucestershire is a user-led self-advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism or mental ill health.
RELEASE is an independent charity and a national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law.
Citizens Advice offers information and support for those struggling to pay bills, help with debt, budgeting, rent arrears and more and have local branches in your area.
Coram Voice is a charity representing children’s rights and supporting children and young people in or leaving care.
POhWER is a charity and membership organisation providing information, advice, support and advocacy to people who experience disability, vulnerability, distress and social exclusion.
Healthwatch Gloucestershire is the county’s independent health and social care champion.
Gloucestershire Community Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a confidential service that provides information advice and support for patients, families and carers.
The LGBT Foundation is a national charity offering information, advice, and support services, including a Talking Therapies Programme.
Time to change is a social movement led by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness aimed at ending mental health discrimination.
Free, practical information to help you to understand your child and support them through whatever they are going through.
Mental Health Foundation Provides information and research on prevention and mental health
Childline is a national free, private and confidential service for children and young people under the age of 19 where you can talk about anything big or small with trained counsellors.
Young Gloucestershire (YG) is a charity that supports young people who are facing very difficult times.
On Your Mind Glos is a website providing information about to bullying, eating disorders and anxiety and where you can go for more support.
One-to-one support, personal support plans and signposting to other services for adults in Gloucestershire.
A confidential service that provides information advice and support for patients, families and carers. PALS seek to promote the importance of listening to patient enquiries and concerns. To support this, the PALS team work closely with staff who have direct contact with patients, their families and carers, providing help and information regarding enquiries or concerns raised by those receiving care or treatment.
The National Stalking Helpline gives practical information, support, advocacy and advice on risk, safety planning and legislation to victims of stalking, their friends, family, and professionals working with victims.
Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre provides support and advice and aims to increase understanding and recognition of sexual violence through education and public awareness. T
Inclusion Gloucestershire is a user-led self-advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism or mental ill health.
RELEASE is an independent charity and a national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law.
Citizens Advice offers information and support for those struggling to pay bills, help with debt, budgeting, rent arrears and more and have local branches in your area.
Coram Voice is a charity representing children’s rights and supporting children and young people in or leaving care.
POhWER is a charity and membership organisation providing information, advice, support and advocacy to people who experience disability, vulnerability, distress and social exclusion.
Healthwatch Gloucestershire is the county’s independent health and social care champion.
Gloucestershire Community Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a confidential service that provides information advice and support for patients, families and carers.
The LGBT Foundation is a national charity offering information, advice, and support services, including a Talking Therapies Programme.
Time to change is a social movement led by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness aimed at ending mental health discrimination.
Free, practical information to help you to understand your child and support them through whatever they are going through.
Mental Health Foundation Provides information and research on prevention and mental health
Childline is a national free, private and confidential service for children and young people under the age of 19 where you can talk about anything big or small with trained counsellors.
Young Gloucestershire (YG) is a charity that supports young people who are facing very difficult times.
On Your Mind Glos is a website providing information about to bullying, eating disorders and anxiety and where you can go for more support.
One-to-one support, personal support plans and signposting to other services for adults in Gloucestershire.
A confidential service that provides information advice and support for patients, families and carers. PALS seek to promote the importance of listening to patient enquiries and concerns. To support this, the PALS team work closely with staff who have direct contact with patients, their families and carers, providing help and information regarding enquiries or concerns raised by those receiving care or treatment.
It can be hard to know where to turn when we’re struggling with our mental health but support is available, from NHS and council-commissioned services to local and national charities. Many services are free, confidential, and you can access them yourself without a referral from a professional.
Find out what support is available to you.
There is a wide range of support for children, young people and families in the county.
More information about additional support that is available for older people locally and nationally.
Getting help with issues you're struggling to deal with on your own is one of the most important things you can do
If you think you or your partner may be experiencing mental health difficulties, you can get expert help
The past year has been a particularly challenging time for everyone but whatever you’re worried about, please reach out for support – help is available
If you can’t find what you are looking for, please get in touch to let us know what mental health support information would be useful to you at this time
