Complex PTSD Support in the UK: Who to Call, by What Happened to You
Is there a complex PTSD helpline in the UK? Not one. There are excellent free services, organised by what happened to you rather than by the diagnosis, and knowing which one to ring is most of the battle.
The specialist helplines and the Carers UK line on this page were checked on each organisation's own website on 4 October 2026. If one has changed, tell me.
If you need help right now
- Emergency: 999. If life is at immediate risk.
- Samaritans: 116 123. Free, 24 hours, any reason. You do not have to be suicidal to call.
- NHS 111, mental health option, 24 hours a day.
- SHOUT: text 85258. Free, confidential text support, 24 hours, for when speaking out loud is too much.
Who to call, by what happened
Complex PTSD usually grows out of trauma that was repeated and hard to escape. The best support comes from the people who specialise in that kind of trauma.
If you were abused as a child: NAPAC, 0808 801 0331. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood supports adult survivors in the UK, whatever kind of abuse it was, and the people supporting them. Lines are open Monday to Thursday 10am to 9pm and Friday 10am to 6pm.
If it was sexual violence: Rape Crisis, 0808 500 2222. Free, 24 hours, 7 days, for anyone affected by rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse or any other form of sexual violence, no matter when it happened. There is also online chat.
If it was domestic abuse: National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247. Free, 24 hours. Prolonged domestic abuse is one of the examples NICE gives of the kind of trauma that leads to complex PTSD. If it is still happening, this is the call to make first.
If you served in the armed forces: Combat Stress, 0800 138 1619. Free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for veterans from every service and conflict. You can also text 07537 173683. Their treatment focuses on complex mental health problems resulting from military service.
If you are not sure where you fit: Mind Infoline, 0300 123 3393. Weekdays 9am to 6pm. Not a crisis line, but good at finding what exists near you, in England and Wales. In Scotland, SAMH offers support.
Are there complex PTSD support groups in the UK?
Honestly: there is no national NHS network of complex PTSD support groups. I could not find one, and nor will you.
What does exist:
- Through the specialist charities above. They are usually the best route to a group that fits what happened to you, locally or online.
- Online communities. Large ones exist, and for some people they are the first place they feel understood. Their quality and moderation vary enormously, and a feed full of other people's worst moments can make flashbacks worse rather than better. Use them, but notice how you feel after.
- Groups attached to treatment. Some NHS trauma services run group programmes as part of therapy. Ask when you are assessed.
A group is a complement to treatment, not a replacement for it.
Getting treatment, not just support
Helplines help you through. Treatment is what changes things. NICE recommends trauma-focused therapy for complex PTSD, with extra time built in, and in England you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing a GP first. This is the full route, and what to say.
If you support someone with complex PTSD
You are a carer, and you are allowed to need help too. In England you can ask your council for a carer's assessment, and Carers UK runs an advice line on 0808 808 7777. This is how to support someone with complex PTSD without losing yourself.
If you are a parent
The fear of passing it on is often loudest when you are struggling most. Start here, and Grounded: Parenting with Complex PTSD is the whole of it, written from the inside.
For the full list of support, including EUPD, ADHD and parenting services, see the support resources page.
Nothing here is medical advice, it's lived experience, meant to sit alongside real support, not replace it. If you're in crisis in the UK, call Samaritans free on 116 123, or dial 999 in an emergency.