Connect Helpline

Connect is a telephone helpline open 6-10.30pm every night of the year for people living in Leeds. The service provides emotional support and information for people in distress.

We receive around 5000 calls a year. People can ring who are in crisis, anxious, depressed or lonely. They will be offered non judgemental and empathic support and information about other services, if requested.

Connect supports people in crisis, as well as providing a preventative service, by supporting people before they reach crisis point. Connect also receives funding to provide emotional support to people who are carers.

Connect is staffed by volunteers who have gone through a comprehensive and rigorous training programme and receive ongoing supervision, training and support. Many of them have their own experiences of mental health problems. Each shift is supervised by a paid shift supervisor.

In 2013 we launched Connect Online, where Leeds’ residents can get support via instant chat.