Connect and Offload- CandO Mental Wellbeing Helpline

CandO (Connect and Offload) support to adults living in Gloucestershire who are experiencing mild to moderate wellbeing difficulties, such as anxiety, low mood, or depression, including support for self-harm. We can also provide support and information to friends, family, carers, and professionals.

Our Helpline provides anonymous and confidential person centred wellbeing support through telephone, text, or web chat. Our team will listen to you and help you navigate the most useful support for you at that time – whether this be emotional and or practical support. The team can access a wide variety of online self-care tools and resources, which they can explore with you and if appropriate, signpost you to other sources of support both nationally and within Gloucestershire. The Helpline is available 365 days a year between the hours of 2 pm and 9 pm.

We have a dedicated Gloucestershire-based Clic online peer support forum to support adults with their mental health. Whether you have questions about mental health or want to share tips and advice, you can access this free online, fully moderated peer support forum 24 hours.

The new "CandO" helpline

The new helpline, ‘Connect and Offload’, or CandO (pronounced ‘can do’) for short is designed to provide support when someone first notices signs and symptoms of their mental health worsening.  It will be open to any adult who is experiencing issues with their emotional wellbeing, such as low mood, anxiety, stress and loneliness.

It also includes support and advice for individuals seeking help with self-harm allowing them to receive the support they need, alongside wider support for their overall emotional wellbeing.

The ‘Connect and Offload’ helpline will:

• Offer support to adults (aged 18 plus) without the need for a referral, or an appointment.
  
  
• Enable people to access help anonymously, between the hours of 2pm-9pm, seven days a week, 365 days per year, via
  
  
  • Phone on 0808 801 0606
  • Text 07537 410 022
  • Webchat via the website
  • Email cando@rethink.org
    
    
• Provide emotional support, information on local services and a ‘listening ear’.
• Promote coping strategies, safety planning and advice on self-care.
• Give advice and support to carers, friends or family.
• Signpost to sources of community-based support and other mental health services, or to organisations who can help with wider issues such as concerns over finance, debt, bereavement, or employment.

The new helpline is delivered and managed by Rethink Mental Illness, a leading mental health charity that offers a range of services across England and Gloucestershire, including award winning helpline services.