Gambling addiction a mental illness court hears - English

Many people acknowledge forms of addiction like alcohol, drugs, food, spending, and gambling as mental illnesses, but very few people treat money and power addictions seriously. We brush it off as if it isn't really a thing, or even if it's a thing, we don't think much about it.
I would argue that money and power are just as addictive, if not more addictive than the addictions we are used to hearing about. Earning money brings a dopamine rush. Lottery winners get a dopamine rush. Spending money gives a dopamine rush. Having power gives a dopamine rush. Over time, this rush gets less, and we require more of the thing to get the rush. For those addicted to money, the more money they have, the more they want. For those not addicted to money, the more money they have, the less they want, because they don't "need" it as urgently anymore.
If money and power are so addictive, why aren't people recognizing it as an illness but rather a character flaw? Money hungry people are seen as evil, sick, and twisted, but could at least a few of them be mentally sick in a similar way to an alcoholic? Now before you think I'm defending the rich and need to be crucified, I'm thinking of this from a mental illness point of view. Forget politics, inequality, and the whole class wars for just a moment, and let's focus on mental health. Inequality is definitely a huge thing and I find inequality disgusting and want to fix it, but if we put all of those aside, could some forms of addiction to money be a mental illness? Calling certain rich mentally ill isn't exactly flattering to them, but just like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic, being able to tell which rich person is in control of their money and who isn't can really open up areas of ideas that can solve inequality.
Are some rich people evil? For sure. Heck, even rich people who are addicted to money could be evil, similar to how some drug addicts are evil. Addiction doesn't exclude you from being evil, but it certainly doesn't help. Recognizing addiction when it happens can create a breakthrough in recognizing human behaviour.
One thing to understand about addiction is that you don't have to have much access to the thing to be addicted to it. For example, an alcoholic without any booze in his hand or in his cupboard is still an alcoholic. Alcoholism acts on your body and mind. It changes the way you think about alcohol. You feel you need alcohol. In the same way, you could be broke and powerless and still be addicted to money, but you don't know it. A lot of people feel they need money, and we do need money like we need food. But food addiction is a thing. What is the difference between food addiction and just being hungry? There is a lot of difference. You can be hungry, but not have an unhealthy relationship towards food. You could be full, but still have an unhealthy relationship towards food. If you find yourself wanting more money the more you have, then you could be at risk.
Similarly, addiction can reduce your quality of life even if you have the said thing. An alcoholic with access to alcohol isn't exactly living the best version of his/her life. Just because an alcoholic has alcohol doesn't mean they are happy. Their life may be out of control, and their life could be revolving around alcohol against his/her consent. They may be smiling when they are drunk, but they might be unhappy inside.
A lot of reasons why people associate money hungry people with evil is because when you get money, someone else doesn't get the money. They see it as a zero sum game, where money hungry people are getting money at the expense of others. If so, the same thing could be said of food. If I eat a hamburger, someone else doesn't eat the hamburger. There are starving people everywhere. Is it right to say that all food addicts are evil?
"Why don't the rich people who protest against inequality simply give away all their money if they are so concerned about inequality?" Because money is addictive. If alcoholics protest against alcoholism, is it so easy to give away all their alcohol? Even I wouldn't ask an alcoholic to simply "just give up alcohol". It's way more complicated than that.
We need to understand addiction better. Not only to help inequality, but to help all the addicts, including alcoholics, gamblers, eaters, spenders, and people with money.
TLDR: Money is addictive and people addicted to money could be mentally ill and need to seek professional help.

Sorry Damon, you’re not really a racist and I’m not going to fuck your daughter’s tight pussy (when she’s legal)... that was the anxiety talking.
Also sorry about when I said you cheat on your wife and you had a cocaine (and DayQuil) addiction I forgot to take my pills that day.
When I kept telling everyone about that car accident and the family that you injured... that was just because I was depressed.
Sorry Buddy... I didn’t mean to tell everyone you had a gambling addiction and that you steal from your friends. I now realise addiction is a mental disorder and shouldn’t be stigmatised. Like my depression.
All those times I was threatened you with weapons and when turned up to your house and terrorised your family... I was reaaaaaaally anxious that day.
Sorry Alex for all the stuff I said about you and your mum, but it wasn’t really my fault it was because of mental illness.
Anyway... Now that’s dealt with... I understand you guys want to see more of the original Vehicle Virgins that I started when I was just 19 and got my own YELLOW Gallardo at just 21 years old... did I tell you I love yellow?

Dear pal,
I am not a very good friend I've realized, and I feel ok with that. To clarify, I don't mean I am proud of it. It is more that I acknowledge that I am flawed, but I am ok with that.
I am flawed and I am ok with that. This is a new breakthrough for me. A huge milestone.
I've been so angry for so long at so many things, and that anger has had no healthy outlets for many years. That anger, with everything else back then, made me very mentally ill. This has taken a massive toll on my life in so many ways. It makes me fear how I will function in my 50's or 60's, it is easily one of my worst fears and greatest challenges in this life.
I made huge changes in my life for the chance of psychological rehabilitation, it wasn't a guarantee, it was easily the riskiest thing I had to do in my life, and yet the most meaningful.
I hate gambling, I was never a fan. I am glad I never developed this addiction at least. But this at least was one bet that I won.
Struggling with all of this stress and fear for 7 years, to earn this much healing in my life, has made me a bit self absorbed, a bit needy I think. I want to be more independent and more able to help others. I try to earn this as much as I can every single day.
I want to heal more so I can be a better friend, a better partner, a better person.
Even if it doesn't look like it, I am constantly burning myself out as I try to keep up with even just basic tasks around the house. It is improving, but it is very humbling.
There is something very humbling about losing things you didn't think you could lose. This is a humbling experience, but I know that I was tested to the upper limits of my capacity as a human being.
It was like hanging from an edge of a cliff for years, but it finally feels like we've pulled ourselves up from the ledge. I finally have solid grounding in my life, and it scares the shit out of me, I never thought it would feel so foreign and scary.
I have stability and I am so scared of losing it. It is so precious, it feels like an exotic and rare gem stone. I don't like jewelry, I never wore any of it. But things like this...I can't put it to words.
Right now, I'm not a good friend because there's a lot I need to heal from still. I love and care about you and I want you to have a wonderful life with wonderful people. But with trauma, with what I am still dealing with, I'm not an optimal person to have in your life and that is ok.
Now I see things less personally, psychosis is a real fear of mine. With all of the stress I've been dealing with for years while trying to heal from the things I needed to heal from, I regularly fear relapsing into psychosis. But that fear has substantially reduced and I feel less vigilant and anxious overall.
Me being mentally ill is an added challenge for other people, especially if they get closer. Seeing a loved one struggle with mental illness is painful, I don't want to have anyone hurt like that over me, especially people I care about.
So I pushed you away, I vomited out hurtful things to shove you so far away from me that I couldn't hurt you worse. I have done this to all of my friends that I loved.
I still think this was the best plan of action, at least it was the best I could do given the circumstances.
I don't want to be anyone's friend until I can be a good friend. I work on this every day.

Hi, I’m FeeBee, F46, and I’m well and truly out of my comfort zone. When soberingthought suggested during the week that I might like to volunteer for the Saturday Share, I said yes, no bother, immediately, and then proceeded to spend the last two days worrying. This spontaneous method of decision making is called “here’s me head, and me arse is coming” back home in Ireland, and it’s forever getting me in strife!
I had always loved a boozy night out in Uni and after work but I would say my drinking really only became problematic after I had kids, once they were old enough to sleep through the night. They’re in their early teens now. The Friday bottle of wine at home stopped being just Fridays. I’ve known since 2016 that I needed to stop drinking.
I’ve gone through all the turmoil of stopping 4 or 5 times, only to be sucked back in repeatedly, by all the moderation bullshit that swirls around in my head. My public drinking is unremarkable to others.
I knew this time had to be different because I’m so done with it all. I could feel my drinking progressing at a pace over Lockdown. I wanted to drink every day. I needed a hair of the dog by lunchtime at weekends. I didn’t want to drink more than a bottle of wine, so I’d start with a few gin & tonics, and have a single malt or two after the wine. I was hungover every day. I could never sleep. Wide awake at 3 a.m., hating myself, and making empty promises. My dad drank heavily my whole childhood, and I hated it, and here I was, doing the same thing, with my children asleep in their beds.
I can say, without a shadow of doubt, that I’m sober today, and I’m staying sober, because I don’t want my children to have drunk me as a mother. I want them to know that they’re my priority everyday. I want to be clear headed to guide them through their teenage years, and all the disruptions have at the moment. I hate that it’s taken me so long.
I found StopDrinking on Day 2, started checking in daily, and everything has been different, and better. Staying close to people at different stages of their sobriety keeps me actively thinking about where I want to be, and vigilant of the situation of the pitfalls. I couldn’t get my head round the Check-in at the start – I had a LOT of brain fog, and just wanted to eat sweeties, and NOT think about the origins of my drinking. How would it help?
In reply to one of the Check-ins, I remember saying that I think I had just evolved into a heavy drinker, because I was an extrovert with too much spare cash. I liked to party, simple. But the more I read about alcoholism, and addiction in general, is that it always points back to trauma somewhere in your past. Not everyone who experiences trauma will become an addict, but all addicts have a trauma somewhere in their past that they’re self medicating. None of this sat well with me, because it felt like I wasn't owning my own failings, and my own choices. But, I thought I’d have a poke around and try and make sense of some of the memories that I have that really bug me when I think about them.
I was brought up in a family which I think is best described by this description of his own show by Jerry Seinfeld –“No hugging, No Learning”.
My dad was a big drinker, he went to the pub 365 days a year. He was that good a customer that when pubs were legally shut, some would be open for him. We wouldn’t see him when he came in quietly at night, but at weekends he liked to day drink and gamble, and when he came home, he was mean and unpredictable. I was hit and manhandled sometimes. Fortunately, he was out of the house most of the time, and didn’t take too much to do with us.
My mother was bi-polar, which was poorly understood at the time and wasn't treated properly, so she spent my childhood in and out of mental hospitals. I was the middle child of five siblings, but as I was the eldest girl, I was basically mini mammy whenever my mum was in hospital or depressed. I always remember thinking that they’d love me if I cooked and cleaned and coped without complaint, but they never paid the slightest bit of attention to me. I don't know how much of my mother was her, and how much was her illness. She’s been medicated her whole adult life.
My best friend died when I was 14. I remember opening the front door to a neighbour, who had come to tell me. My mother was out of the house, playing golf, and I was hysterical. My dad bundled me into the car, and drove me to the golf club, calculating that my mum would be passing near the clubhouse soon. He found her, she came over and commiserated through the car window, and then went back to her game. My dad drove me home, and I spent the evening on my own in my room. I was so utterly unlovable, and so alone. I have lots of these wee pitiful anecdotes, but I can’t even fucking type them.
What I know to be true, is that the way we speak to our children becomes their inner voice. Mine told me I was worthless and invisible and unlovable. I don't want to carry around my parent’s opinions for the rest of my days, and I don't want or need booze to soothe me anymore.
I love my new sober life. I’m the me I should have been years ago. I’m getting fitter and slimmer (yay!). I get to challenge myself everyday with no crutch. My brain is returning to its undergraduate sharpness. I have proved to myself that I can succeed in the face of huge challenges once I lean in and push. I learning to like myself a lot- that’s what my inner voice AND the mirror are telling me to do. I’m good enough.

Bread and Circuses
This adage describes the method that the Roman elite used to maintain their grip on power and placate the masses. So long as people are fed and entertained, they won't feel compelled to rise up against the oligarchy. They would not question why the elite had more and were allowed to do more than themselves because at the end of the day their bellies are full and they can spend their spare time thinking of more banal things than how they could get their own villa with slave girls feeding them grapes. This system worked for centuries, and probably would have if the Roman vanity for expansion didn't leave themselves vulnerable.
Today, we are already at the circus. Most people today are addicted to something to consume their free time, such as: alcohol; drugs; marijuana; pornography; sex; social media; television; video games; compulsive spending; gambling and even their own jobs. People wake up, go to work, come home, satisfy their addictions, and do it all again the next day. They have their doubts. They see their leaders lie and take bribes and see celebrities flaunt their gluttony. Some grumble at it but their distractions are too entertaining or demanding to really be bothered by it. Most just ignore it or accept that's just how the world is.
Now that the circus is packed those in control, the global liberal elite, are distributing the bread. Higher minimum wages. Expansive welfare. Universal Basic Income. Handouts upon handouts. Some mask their intentions with charity, explaining that it's simple the responsibility of the haves to help the have-nots. Others are brazen enough to boast confidently about their lust for control. More money in people's pockets and less of them breaking into their car worth more than any amount of money they've ever laid eyes on.
They are approaching the completion of their goal. At the pace these policies are being implemented we'll probably see it within our lifetimes. The elite can relax in untold comfort, content that their status will never be challenged. Without both bread and circuses they weren't truly safe. In some dark basement, a man with genius intellect, immense frustration, and probably a decent chunk of mental illness would be plotting against them. Not anymore thanks to bread and circuses. Even though he'd really like to overthrow the oligarchy in the name of humanity, he's too addicted to bother. He's too addicted to even work for himself. Why ruin a good thing when the money to support them keeps coming in?
After nobody can care to put up even the slightest bit of opposition, those who sit above all else can consolidate their position. The masses are no longer jealous. Sure, the oligarchs possess more wealth than the commoners could ever hope to gain, but the commoners won't even grumble anymore because it's not like they're genuinely lacking.
This is the future western civilization is heading towards. Perhaps, it is simply nature for it to be the end-state of any society - that given enough stability and resources we will order ourselves into the pacified and enriched accordingly. In the Church of Mediocrity, ambition and courage will be sins, and gluttony and passivity are virtues. There's no reason to want more than you have when infinite bliss is always obtainable.
You will always have bread and circuses.

Hello everyone. My name is Collin, I’m almost 16, and I’m barely keeping my life together. Prepare yourself, because this is a fucking crazy story.
I guess the best place to start is my first memory. I think the first thing I remember was the 2008 recession. My dad was out of a job, my mom was with a new man, and they were in court because of me. My memories are obviously kind of spotty, considering I was barely 4 at the time, but what I do remember wasn’t good. I remember the first day I moved in with my step father and sister, everything seemed fine. It was new, obviously, but decent. The second day is when it all went to hell. I don’t remember exactly what she did, but that was when my sister started to abuse me. I tried to tell my mother and step father, and they did nothing. They didn’t even believe me. Eventually, I learned that no matter what I’d say they wouldn’t believe me, so I stopped telling them. It only got worse from there. My father and step father both have horrible anger issues, and I remember how many times they argued. It was terrifying to me. My mom kind of just sat there and let it happen. She never let my step father beat me, but I think if it wasn’t for her he would have. Instead of beating me, he yelled and screamed for hours, and when I put up an ounce of resistance he called the police. This went on for years, probably up until I was 10. Fortunately for me, my sister realized she was wrong, and we’re really close now. Unfortunately for me, I was heading into puberty and that meant I had new problems. 1, I was starting to be considered an adult by pretty much everyone, and 2, mental illness started to set it. I’ll never forget it, my 7th grade year is when it all went to shit. I was starting to have anger issues, so I went to see a therapist at my school. For some idiotic reason, I started actually talking to her about everything. At this point, my depression was bad, and I told her about the years of abuse I had gone through. She told my parents, and I don’t blame her for that, she was just doing her job, but that’s when everything really went downhill. It was just before spring break, and my mother and step father were pissed. I was so scared to go back over after break, and my mental health quickly deteriorated. I started self harming, and started to get suicidal thoughts. I went to the hospital several times in the following months, and then therapy for a year after that.
Fast forward a bit until last year. I’d just been through therapy, and everything had been kind of ok. Then it was Christmas break, and it all came crumbling apart. I’m not sure what the argument was about exactly, but it was the worst my mom and step dad had... pretty much ever. My grandmother came over for dinner, and they wouldn’t come downstairs because they were to busy arguing. She gave me my presents, watched me open them, kissed me and left. I remember sitting downstairs and listening to the silence as they had stopped for a bit, only to hear something like crying. I went upstairs and saw my mother on the floor, sobbing. I was instantly ready to fight my step dad, but controlled myself and went to comfort her first. I’d seen mom cry a few times, but this was different. This was rib shattering, lung collapsing sobs. I went downstairs to call my grandmother to get her to turn around so she could comfort my mother, I’m not good with people, and I hear my step father walk in and tell her how unhealthy she was. I wanted to kill him. I punched a hole in the wall, grabbed my headphones, and walked out. I couldn’t do it. I had to get away or I know I would’ve hurt him. I walked up to a park close to my house, and my mother pulled up to me, still crying. I went back, and could barely keep myself composed. I remember my parents had friends over that night, and Kevin (my step father) just lied and said they’d “just had a long week” I was so angry when I heard him say that. I wanted to scream and tell them what really happened. But I didn’t, I kept quiet and sat there like a good little child.
Nothing really happened with my mom and Kevin for a few months, they argued, but they always had so I didn’t think to much of it. However, it was around that time that I realized that my dad was going to some guys house in a not so great part of town. At first I didn’t think to much of it, until he told me one day that he used to abuse cocaine. Then it clicked together. I confronted him, and he told me he wasn’t on drugs, he was gambling. For some reason that made me feel better, and I didn’t worry to much. Then a few months later, I realized he was stealing from my grandmother (a different one then earlier) to finance his addiction. Personally, I didn’t care if he fucked up his life, that didn’t mean he could ruin hers. So I told her. It was a fiasco, and pretty much nothing changed. In March I met a boy, and we dated up until a few weeks ago, but we’ll talk about why later. Anyways, my mental health had declined throughout the year, and especially through COVID, but nothing major happened until about august. My mother had told me she was getting a divorce, and I 100% believed her and thought it was for the best. I could tell how miserable she was, and she flinched whenever Kevin moved. It was bad. Anyways, during the summer my dad stopped stealing from my grandmother (or so I thought) and just took money from me. I didn’t mind really, I didn’t have many friends and I didn’t spend a lot of money, so it wasn’t a big deal. Fast forward a bit more until about a week ago. My mental health is pretty much dog shit, and I broke up with my boyfriend because of it. I didn’t feel like I was mentally stable and I didn’t want to put him through that anymore. I started messing around with this girl, we’ll call her... B. Anyways, B was super hot, but not in the preppy cheerleader way, like the big titty goth gf way. I really liked her, and it was clear we were just going to be friends with benefits, and I was totally ok with that. Anyways, we started making out one day and we were getting to the point of sex, and for whatever reason I just couldn’t get up. So I told her that I.. needed a little assistance. She said she wasn’t comfortable with that, and just wanted me to hold her. I had absolutely no problem with that, and i held her for an hour or so. We kissed a bit, and I can’t remember if I touched her a little or not, but the important part is that after that one time she told me she wasn’t comfortable touching me, she never said no afterwards, and I’d touched her sexually before. Anyways, my dad called and wanted money. I had a small breakdown and just told him to come to her house. It was a mess, I gave him his money and ended up walking out on her. I apologize a million times that night, and she assured me that everything was ok and she wasn’t upset. She was supposed to come over the next day and we were supposed to go to a party, and she ditched me. She said she wasn’t feeling good. This made my mental state drop like a lead ballon. I thought I’d fucked up one of my only friendships. This went on for a few days, me asking if I did something wrong and if she was ok, and her assuring me that everything was fine. She just needed some space. Anywho, the other day, I asked again and she dropped a bombshell on me. She told me that I had sexually assaulted her. Naturally, I was shocked. I would never do that, and was a little offended she even said that. So I asked her what she was talking about and she told me that I had continued even after she said no. I didn’t say anything, but that really upset me. I stopped, and even if you wanted to make the argument that I shouldn’t have done anything for the rest of the night, which could be valid, all she would have had to say was that she didn’t want that tonight and I would have stopped. I even went into a whole speech telling her that it was ok to say no and that I wouldn’t be upset when I was holding her. She still hasn’t said anything to me, and I have no idea what to do. I also haven’t talked to my farther in days, and my mother still wants a divorce.
So... yeah. That’s me. And the kind of sad part is that isn’t even everything, that’s just the parts about my family that I could remember. That’s not even touching on the fact the my self harm thoughts are back and I probably will end up cutting again soon, or that my best friend hates hanging out with me unless I’m high. I don’t really know why I wrote this, I guess i just needed to spew. Thanks to anyone who actually took the time to read this, it means a lot oddly enough.

UK Mental Health Helplines:

ME CONNECT HELPLINE

https://meassociation.org.uk/information-and-support-line/
Got me/cfs fibro? Feel alone? Feel no one understands you? Not even Samaritans helps?
Volunteers at ME Association really do UNDERSTAND so call em:
We deal with each person individually, in a sensitive and professional manner. Every communication is kept completely confidential. ME Connect is staffed by a fully trained, and supervised, team of volunteers – most of whom have personal experience of M.E.

0344 576 5326

Available every day of the week between these times: 10am - 12noon, 2pm - 4pm and 7pm - 9pm.
Calls cost the same as other standard landline numbers (starting 01 or 02). If you have a call package for your landline or mobile phone then calls will normally come out of your inclusive minutes.
​
And on with...
​
... other valuable resources:
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Mental health helplines:
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. We can help with urgent issues such as: suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship challenges
Text Shout to 85258
(https://www.giveusashout.org/)
Mental Health Matters
Helpline for people with mental health problems, their carers, families and friends. The Team can offer emotional guidance and information and help people who may be feeling low, anxious or stressed or in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn. Support is also provided to people caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope. The service is confidential unless it is considered there is a risk to yourself or others. Webchat available 24/7
Phone: click here to find the different numbers for the geographical areas covered Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Supportline
We offer confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults by telephone, email and post. We work with callers to develop healthy, positive coping strategies, an inner feeling of strength and increased self esteem to encourage healing, recovery and moving forward with life.
Phone: 01708 765200 (hours variable - ring for details)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Silver Line
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. We also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.
Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90 Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/)
Breathing Space
A confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Phone: 0800 838587 (weekdays mon-thurs 6pm until 2am. Weekend Friday 6pm-Monday 6am)
(https://breathingspace.scot/)
C.A.L.L. Mental health helpline
Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
Phone: 0800 132 737 or text help to 81066
(https://www.callhelpline.org.uk/)
Lifeline Helpline
Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair. No matter what your age or where you live in Northern Ireland, if you are or someone you know is in distress or despair, Lifeline is here to help.
Phone: 0808 808 8000 or 18001 0808 808 8000 for Deaf and hard of hearing Textphone users. (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
(https://www.lifelinehelpline.info/)
One parent families Scotland
The Lone Parent Helpline provides advice and support to single parents. Call us about anything from dealing with a break-up, sorting out child maintenance, understanding benefits, money when having a baby, studying or moving into work. We provide a free confidential friendly service that provides advice and supports your wellbeing whatever you are going through.
Phone: 0808 801 0323 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://opfs.org.uk/)
RABI Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
Time is a precious commodity, especially in farming. But it’s something our staff will happily give you.
When you call you’ll speak to a member of our dedicated welfare team. We understand that making that very first call – and talking about personal things with someone you don’t know – might sound daunting. However, it’s 100% confidential, so you’ll be free to discuss what’s on your mind without judgement. We won’t disclose any information to third parties without your explicit permission and calls are not recorded. We’ll do our very best to make you feel at ease, listening with courtesy, sympathy and respect.
Phone: 0808 281 9490 (9am-5pm weekdays) Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://rabi.org.uk/)
The Drinks Trust:
We are the drinks industry community organisation, providing care and support to the people who form the drinks industry workforce, both past and present. The Trust provides individuals with services across vocational, well-being, financial and practical support. These services are intended to assist with and improve the circumstances of those who receive them
Phone: 0800 915 4610
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Contact form - To be eligible, you must have worked for at least two years full-time or four years part-time in the UK drinks industry.
(https://www.drinkstrust.org.uk/)
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you've been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
(www.anxietyuk.org.uk)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Peer support line: Arrange a call back from our Peer Support Line. Book in a call with our chatbot- simply type in 'I would like to speak to someone' and select a date and time that works best for you.
Email us: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(www.bipolaruk.org.uk)
Carers UK
We provide an expert telephone advice and support service. You can talk to us, no matter where you are in the UK or how complex your query is. We do benefits checks, and advise on financial and practical matters related to caring.
Phone: 0808 808 7777 (Mon-Fri 9am until 6pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Online forum: here
(https://www.carersuk.org/)
CALM
Our helpline is for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight - 365 days a year)
(www.thecalmzone.net)
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services
England&Scotland phone number: 08088004444 (8am - 8pm on weekdays and 9am - 5pm weekends).
(https://www.shelter.org.uk/)
Wales phone number: 08000 495495 (9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)
(https://sheltercymru.org.uk/)
For similar housing support in Ireland and NI: Ireland and Northern Ireland
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)
(www.mind.org.uk)
Mind Cymru: 0292-0395-123 (https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/mind-cymru/)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. Includes a helpline.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
(www.nopanic.org.uk)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm)
(www.ocdaction.org.uk)
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.ocduk.org)
PAPYRUS
HOPELINEUK is a confidential support and advice service for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (9:00 am to 12:00 am midnight every day including weekends & bank holidays)
Text: 07860 039 967
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(www.papyrus-uk.org)
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.rethink.org)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
(www.samaritans.org.uk)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: (http://www.sane.org.uk/textcare)
(www.sane.org.uk/supportforum)
(www.sane.org.uk/support)
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.youngminds.org.uk)
Veterans Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support. We put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
Phone: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 Email: submit here Live chat: here
(https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/)
First Person Plural
First Person Plural (FPP) specialises in working for and on behalf of all those affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and similar complex trauma-related dissociative identity conditions. These similar conditions include type 1 Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS), and a type of Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) which is described as DID-like.
Phone: 01902810082 (if we do not pick up leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible but this might not be for a few days as our office is not staffed everyday) Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Twitter: u/DissociationFPP
LGBT+ helplines:
Switchboard LGBT
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.
Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm every day)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://switchboard.lgbt/)
MindlineTrans+
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary..
Phone: 03003305468 (Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight.)
Mermaids UK
Mermaids provides a helpline aimed at supporting transgender youth up to and including the age of 19, their families and professionals working with them.
Phone: 0808 801 0400 (Open Monday - Friday; 9am - 9pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
(https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk)
Abuse helplines (child, sexual, domestic violence):
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
(www.nspcc.org.uk)
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
(www.refuge.org.uk)
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Live chat: Our hours are Monday to Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm. Here
Respect Men's advice line
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. We offer advice and emotional support to men who experience abuse, and signpost to other vital services that help keep them and their children safe.
Call: 0808 8010327 or visit: here
Respect phoneline
The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. We provide specialist advice and guidance to help people change their behaviours and support for those working with domestic abuse perpetrators.
Call: 0808 8024040 or visit: here
National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans+ Domestic Abuse Helpline:
Galop gives advice and support to people who have experienced biphobia, homophobia, transphobia, sexual violence or domestic abuse. We also support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer people who have had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system
Galop is completely independent – we are a community-led group and we are not connected to police. You can talk to us anonymously if you choose
Phone: 0800 999 5428 (Monday to Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm. Wednesday to Thursday 10:00am - 8:00pm)
(http://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/)
Honour based abuse/violence, forced marriage and/or female genital mutilation helplines
Freedom Charity
We aim to empower young people to feel they have the tools and confidence to support each other and have practical ways in which they can help their best friend around the issues of family relationships which can lead to early and forced marriage and dishonour based violence
(https://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/)
Phone: 0845 607 0133 ; or text "4freedom"to 88802 (24-hour helpline)
Halo Project
Halo Project Charity is a national project that will support victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and FGM by providing appropriate advice and support to victims. We will also work with key partners to provide required interventions and advice necessary for the protection and safety of victims.
Phone: 01642 683 045 (9am-5pm)
(https://www.haloproject.org.uk/)
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning National charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims
Phone: 0800 5999 247 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
(https://karmanirvana.org.uk/)
Addiction helplines (drugs, alcohol, gambling):
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
(www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk)
Gamblers Anonymous
Phone: 0330 094 0322
(www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk)
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily 10am to midnight)
(www.ukna.org)
Drugfam
Support for families, friends and partners affected by someone else’s addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
(https://www.drugfam.co.uk/)
Al-Anon UK&Eire
We are here for anyone affected by someone else's drinking. Our Helpline is manned by a team of friendly and helpful volunteers who are also members of Al-Anon. They will listen and be happy to answer your questions
Phone: 0800 0086 811 (10am-10pm, 365 days a year)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Alzheimer's helpline:
Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm)
(www.alzheimers.org.uk)
Bereavement helplines:
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
CruseChat
(https://www.cruse.org.uk)
Blue Cross for pets
If you have lost, or are facing saying goodbye to, a much loved pet and need somebody to talk to, our Pet Bereavement Support Service is here for you every day from 8.30am – 8.30pm
Phone: 0800 096 6606
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause
Phone: 0345 120 3785 (9:30am - 4:30pm Mon to Fri)
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide:
If you are 18+ and have been bereaved or affected by suicide and you would like to talk with one of our volunteers about your experience, you can get in touch in the following ways:
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and/or [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Helpline: open 9am to 9pm Monday to Sunday 0300 111 5065
You can also apply to join their online peer support forum here
(https://uksobs.org/)
Crime victims helplines:
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm)
(www.rapecrisis.org.uk)
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
(www.victimsupport.org)
Eating disorders helpline:
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
(www.b-eat.co.uk)
Learning disabilities helpline:
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.mencap.org.uk)
Parenting helpline:
Family Lives
Family Lives offers a confidential and free helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). Please call us on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Our helpline service is open 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday
Callers in Wales: If you would like to access this service in Welsh, find out how to request a call back here
Callers in Scotland: for callers from Scotland, Children 1st run Parentline Scotland and you may wish to contact them on 08000 28 22 33 Monday to Friday from 9am - 9pm.
Online chat: available 1:30pm-5:30pm every weekday excluding bank holidays here
Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Online forum: here
(https://www.familylives.org.uk/)
Relationships helpline:
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
(www.relate.org.uk)
​

Description:
The Black Viceroys are an African-American street gang and one of the enemy factions in the game. They were founded in 1961 as a civil rights group by Lloyd Pinkerton, however when Lloyd was murdered in 1966 they snapped and became a criminal organization involved in crimes such as kidnapping, embezzlement, extortion, bribery, drug, human and arms trafficking, and cybercrime. Lead by Delford Wade, nicknamed "Iraq", he helped to transform the Viceroys into a powerful gang - second only the Chicago South Club. Their main headquarters is in Rossi-Fremont, nicknamed "The Castle", where their gang members lived. They have worked with the Chicago Club for a human trafficking network, which would later be taken down by Aiden Pearce, who then took down targets in gang hideouts, eliminated or knocked out targets in Criminal Convoys, and eventually he infiltrated The Castle and killed Iraq and his henchmen. Afterwards, the Black Viceroys were effectively eliminated from any real relevance, and by the events that occur in Watch Dogs: Bad Blood, they are completely wiped from the map with the Pawnee Militia taking their place.
Mission Appearances:
Bottom of the Eighth, Jury-Rigged, Grandma's Bulldog, Not a Job for Tyrone, Uninvited, A Risky Bid, Planting a Bug, By Any Means Necessary
Criminal Convoys:
Juggernaut, Into The Pit, Lords of The Wards
Gang Hideouts:
Swap Meet, Complements For The Cook, Union Dues
Notable Members:
Delford "Iraq" Wade (Leader), Tyrone "Bedbug" Hayes (Lieutenant and cousin of Iraq), DeAndre Coleman (Iraq's bodyguard), Raul Lionzo (Prison Inmate), Gary "Rabbit" Diggs (Bedbug's Associate)
Ages: No younger than 15 and no older than 50
Occupations: Dealers, Unemployed, Suspected and Known Gang Members, Black Viceroys and Viceroy Associates, Lookouts, Runners
Incomes: Unemployed or up to $110,000
Profiles:

• Father of two
  
• Suspected of illegal firearm possession
  
• Failed Grade 10
  
• Collects baseball cards
  
• Accepted to technical college
  
• Youth outreach volunteer
  
• Victim of drive-by shooting
  
• Banned from night club
  
• Recent online searches: "Knockout"
  
• Lives with mother
  
• Recently purchased Qu'ran
  
• Diagnosed with mild arrhythmia
  
• Frequent online searches: "187"
  
• Writes short stories
  
• Rejected from military service
  
• Under investigation for weapons smuggling
  
• Recent online purchases: fertilizer
  
• Grew up in foster care
  
• Formerly on probation
  
• Frequent online purchases: pseudoephedrine
  
• On probation
  
• Comic convention fan
  
• Applied to military
  
• Frequent online searches: "Vigilante"
  
• Diabetic
  
• Writes protest songs
  
• Part time bodyguard at Dot Connexion
  
• Dyslexic
  
• Restores classic cars
  
• Police informant
  
• Failed driver's test
  
• Turntable enthusiast
  
• Frequent online searches: "how to cook meth"
  
• Assaulted roommate
  
• Suspected of narcotics smuggling
  
• Saving to buy house
  
• Posts voyeur videos online
  
• Diagnosed hypomaniac
  
• Blind spot in one eye
  
• Formerly confined to wheelchair
  
• Songwriter
  
• Obsessive-compulsive
  
• Frequent online searches: "Viceroy"
  
• Frequent purchase: plane ticket
  
• Recently married
  
• Suffers from panic attacks
  
• Vegetarian
  
• Writes computer viruses
  
• Adopted
  
• Collects blades
  
• Family history of mental illness
  
• Believes he is being monitored
  
• Victim of sexual assault
  
• Suspected pimp
  
• Lost sibling to gun violence
  
• Having affair with married woman
  
• Studying for high school equivalency
  
• Runs grow op
  
• Frequent online purchases: lighter fluid
  
• Unpaid phone bills
  
• Purchases penis enlargement pills
  
• Owns unpaid gambling debts
  
• Recently purchased used car
  
• Recent Police interrogation
  
• Father in prison for murder
  
• Studying photography
  
• Born with one testicle
  
• Banned from school zones
  
• Graffiti tagger
  
• Started fantasy sports league
  
• Drive-by shooting suspect
  
• Seminary dropout
  
• Near-sighted
  
• Secretly undergoing drug rehab
  
• In treatment for addiction
  
• High school honor roll student
  
• Ambidextrous
  
• Proficient with computers
  
• Paying for brother's college
  
• Denied child support payments
  
• Court case dismissed
  
• Under surveillance
  
• Addicted to prescription drugs
  
• Freestyle rapper
  

Fun facts:
Black Viceroys are the youngest gang in the game. Surprisingly, some of the members are actually under the age of 18, although they can only be found as Elites.
15-17 year old Elites share the same profile information as Fixers, and as such much of the information shown for them is fraudulent as Fixers are at least 25 years old, but a 15 year old Elite Black Viceroy can have "Unsuccessfully ran for city council" in their profile or something else that's nutty like that.
Most of the targets you have to take down in Gang Hideouts appear to have the same character model as a typical Viceroy veteran, but uses the Chicago South Club dialogue.

Hello. I'm reaching out for some advice.
My father has never been in my life he was a severe alcoholic before and after I was conceived and in and out of prison periodically as well. Usually because they would lock him up because he could not stop drinking.
My mother raised me alone and suffers from a chronic lifelong and painful disease.
There were times where my father would pop in and out for very short amounts of time but never would he be around long.
Until my teen years somehow he ended up living with us for about 2 years between the age of 15-16.
Unfortunately the rest of our family is toxic and abusive.
During my teen years my mother started gambling and it spiraled out of control into a gambling addiction and caused us a lot of suffering and eventually homelessness.
She blames her addiction on her loser ex husband, abusive family, and her illness, as well as the medication she was taking she claims warped her mind.
Today her addiction is an ongoing problem and we deal with it on a day by day basis.
The current situation of my father is that after years of rehabs and prison he finally became sober.
I dont know his exact sober time but he has worked jobs on and off and lives in a home where there are several others and pays low rent. he also spent several years prior living in a sober living home with other recovering alcoholics.
Unfortunately mental illness and toxic verbal abuse is a consistent factor in my family and plagues all of us.
My father's father and mother were mentally ill and abusive and subsequently he became the same way.
During his addiction my mother also got court ordered child support that he never paid any of and is still owed in the court system.
My question is really "is he actually sober"
Or what do you consider the definition of being sober.
In recent talks I've overheard between my father and mother there has been a lot of bashing from him towards her. He makes a lot of sick disturbing comments and constantly preaches about his 12 steps.
From what I've read, he never completed step 8 or 9. at least not with me.
He will always owe the child support and not having it has become a great burden on my life and future and when actually asked about him paying it. He told me he would change states and work under the table before doing so.
There have also been consistent threats of violence among other hateful statements.
I do have my own issues and struggles but basically Never will I allow this horrendous person to ever be around or a part of my life.
But my wonder is. would you consider something or someone like this to actually be sober.
Yes as I understand it he isnt drinking. but he acts as though he is a dry drunk. and when confronted with that statement he laughs and scoffs.
The only reason my mother even speaks to him is because I believe she has no one else in her life and has this desperate need for companionship and a constant void that needs to be filled in her mind.
But personally I just don't see how someone like this can act this way. Never resolve his debts to his son nor care to nor want to. And still be considered sober.
To me it's more that he clouds and hides his addiction and ongoing problems of today behind the shield that is sobriety.
I was hoping to gain some insight on others experiences here and hope I can gain some advice and help here.
Because I just don't know what to expect from this person anymore.
Can someone actually say they've adequately gone through the 12 steps if they refuse to ever even make good on child support money that a court of law ordered them to pay?.

Economic downturn is here and more Singaporeans will fall through the cracks. I hope we can share our experiences with each other.
Here goes my story...
Ever since early 2000s, my family struggled financially after my father was retrenched, due to the economic downturn. No companies wanted to hire him, despite his experience and capabilities, because he was deemed too old (in his 50s) and over-qualified for junior roles, couldn't even get past the recruiters.
After my father's start-up attempt failed, he took up any jobs possible that barely keep us afloat (Warehouse Executive in the day, Cook at fast food restaurant at night), because if he didn't, we would not be able to cover HDB loan, bills, debts and other expenses. He put up with the bullying from his boss (heavy workload, deducting his pay whenever something goes wrong) because he really needed the job. When he went to Social Services for financial help during the most desperate times, he recounted that the process was very demeaning and felt like a beggar. We got some financial aid, but it was far from enough.
Prior to that, I was blessed to have had resources (for enrichment classes, tuition etc..) for development, went to good schools and received good grades. As a result, my parents pinned high hopes on me that I would be the one to "rescue" the family, that kept them going during the difficult times. During the worst period, we nearly lost our home and had no money for our meals.
During my JC years, I was giving tuition to earn my pocket money. My parents didn't know I was struggling inside, I couldn't tell them, they had already crumbled under the immense pressure. They were miserable and started buying 4D, because they thought they could buy "a hope", they were happy only when they strike. I was crumbling under their heavy expectations, stress of going hungry, sense of shame from not having enough money to eat, maintaining my grades in a top JC. I was exhausted and had no one to confide in, even though I had people to hang out with.
I was falling into depression and couldn't absorb what I was studying. As expected, I didn't do well for the A levels, that sense of failure spiraled me further into depression. (I internalised the stigma of seeking therapy, because I thought the record would become an obstacle in my future, and if I hang in there, it would go away) My parents told me it was ok, but I know it's not from the way they behaved.
I refused to go down like that, I started working while my friends enter Uni. I thought I can save enough and pay for my own education (no one could be my guarantor for school loan), I was very clear about what my strengths are and what to study. I survived on less than $5 a day and enrolled in part-time degree after work. My mother would ask me for money for family expenses from time to time, I would give it to her to see her worry less. I was pushing myself very hard, lack of sleep and irregular meal times, my physical and mental health deteriorated. I went to Feiyue for free counselling service, the counsellor was kind but the only thing he could advice me, was to leave my family. It's impossible because I couldn't afford anymore financial burden to myself (rent. get my own household items etc..).
One day, my mother told me my father was going to get into big trouble, if I didn't help him pay off his debt. I didn't have the heart to let more misfortune befall him. I was totally crushed, that was my last straw. Even when I worked so hard to save, I couldn't study as I wanted, all my savings gone, just like that. I was very dejected and lived like a zombie, my parents said I should pull myself together and pressured me to do something productive.
I couldn't take it anymore, the pain was just too overwhelming. I was standing by the window, almost ready to take a dive. My sibling pulled me off the window, we hugged and cried. I know I need professional help immediately (because if I don't, there is no future to talk about).
I went to the polyclinic and got a referral to see a psychiatrist at KTP Hospital, diagnosed with depression and given medication. Experience with my doctor was poor, he was uncaring and insensitive, but I carried on, took my medication because it worked for me. I asked if there was any support group I could join, he said "nope" and that was it.
I returned to work after I felt ready again. I had a hard time looking for a job, the recruiters questioning about the gaps in my resume, the tone as though there I did something wrong. I was especially afraid of a section on the form that required me to declare whether I have any mental illness. (thankfully this section is no longer around) When I finally found one, I cherished it and did my best, got praises and then the bullying from co-workers started. I hanged on and stood my ground, but gradually it took a toll on me, and my depression relapsed. I told myself that I have to fight the right battles in life, and I quit my job.
This break is the turning point in my life, as I started going for psychotherapy and working out issues that I had. I strongly recommend anyone who is suffering from any trauma to seek therapy ASAP, don't bottle it up until it becomes debilitating, because the body keeps score and it will always win.
I'm in recovery and felt better than before I had depression, with a newfound understanding of myself. I convinced my parents to seek help for gambling addiction, and the financial situation improved. I am very proud of them for doing that.
However, I'm struggling with fears of being asked about the gaps in my resume when I apply for jobs, how people feel about working with someone with mental illness. Now in my early 30s, my struggle is far from over, I have problem finding a sustainable job without degree, and now I also have to worry about my parents' medical bills. I want to love and marry someone, have my own family, but I don't think I can afford to do so (My bf of many years broke up with me because he saw no hope in my situation).
A very big part of my life revolved around my personal battles that I cannot put onto my resume to add value, and too afraid to tell others because I don't want to be labelled as a failure by societal standards, or that I'm trying to get sympathy. Life is about spending time with your loved ones, having enough food to eat, a place to stay, doing meaningful work. I still want to work towards it.
I don't know how the future will turn out for me, I'm lost now. I was unemployed before Covid-19 hit, and did part-time job on and off, now my source of part-time jobs is gone too. I don't dare to sign up for jobs that has a lot human contact, because I'm afraid of passing the virus to my 2 elderly parents. I am trying to self-learn digital design (through free courses), and now I heard market is bad.
My story has come a full circle, from one economic downturn to this one. Thank you for reading all the way here. It's going to be tough but I hope by sharing my story, you know you are not alone.
​
What about you? How are you doing?
Edit1: Thank you for the awards, replies and stories, most of all the kindness, will try my best to reply everyone. As said, I hope this to be a discussion towards our live experiences (education, social services, mental health, young adulthood, old age unemployment etc...) I appreciate everyone for contributing.

For months now I have struggled with low energy and mood. Much of this feeling was due to all the tragic COVID virus and the total lack of leadership from a president who I have believed for several years was mentally ill and a danger to our country. Some of my energy was lost due to health problems which were diagnosed early in the pandemic. At 65 I’d been struggling with high blood pressure for the past few years; starting around the time I had 2 hip replacements in 2017. In March I was diagnosed with emphysema which I know my years of smoking probably caused, but that’s another story. After testing ordered by a pulmonologist I was officially diagnosed with asthma/COPD overlap syndrome. Also during this time my Sister in Law was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer. She had been in remission from ovarian cancer for almost 2 years and the cancer had metastasized to her brain. Less than 2% of ovarian cancers metastasize to the brain and she had to be one of them. After brain surgery to remove the large tumor and 15 rounds of radiation, she still has 7 or 8 smaller tumors and the cancer has now gone into her lungs and stomach. She is a warrior and a fighter like no one I’ve ever seen. Only 60 years old she is living day by day and refuses to give up and give in to the cancer which has ravaged her body. COVID and the pandemic, my Sister in Laws cancer, the daily insanity of an unstable president, the summer wild fires; not to mention my Father had shot himself 2 years prior at 92 having given up and just wanting to stop the ongoing despair of losing his health for several years, inch by inch. 2 more things were going on as well. 1. My youngest Sister had been going down the rabbit hole of belief that many devout Christians, alt-right, Qanon, and others who continued and many still continue to support a crazy despot who has tried to destroy our country and all that is good about it. Even after the horrible events on Wednesday, she still believes that we will all soon see the “truth”. She has talked about this on several occasions to me and now I am sick and broken hearted to see her still living in an alternate reality. I fear I may have lost her. 2. During all the events of the past year and for almost 35 years I have been the mother of a child-man who has suffered with severe mental illness coupled with being high functioning autistic. I have had my heart broken to pieces so many times I don’t keep count trying to support him and love him unconditionally. His Father can only be around him for limited periods, so me and his Step-Father have had him in our home the past almost 24 years since I remarried my incredibly supportive husband. Through years in alternative school for kids with emotional and behavioral problems, severe adolescent angst, in and out of many therapist and psychiatric offices, and a couple of suicide attempts along with psychiatric hospital admissions, where one of them led us to have him involuntarily committed, we have always let him stay with us. The rules we sat down for him in order to stay with us were 1. No drinking or drugs (I have over 42 years of sobriety and my husband has over 33) or gambling ( I am also in recovery for compulsive gambling ( a horrific addiction I took up at the end of my over 20 year marriage to my Son’s Father and that almost killed me. So along with the rules of no drugs, alcohol or gambling was the rule of No Dis-respecting me or Matt’s Step Father. The stress of COVID and the isolation has been too much for many of us, but for Matt, it took him over the edge. I love him so much I was almost ready to go over the edge with him. He had to go live with his Father almost a month ago after verbally berating his step-Father and my husband in a way that went so far it was frightening. 3 weeks or so after moving in with his Dad he was told to leave there and never come back to live. After leaving his house he called here to talk which escalated to him threatening his step- Father bodily harm and calling him vile names. He has had a psychotic break and is now in a psych unit under a 5 day hold. They will be giving him a voucher and sending him out on the street on Tuesday unless we can get him committed. Unfortunately after taking to the court liaison that won’t be possible until Matt physically accosts someone or he comes back 2 more times to the psych hospital. His 8 or 9 previous visits don’t count as it’s been several years since he has had a major breakdown. So.... here I am knowing that he cannot come back here. His Father won’t let him back. He will be on the streets and I believe he will more than likely attempt suicide or hurt someone else. Possibly get hurt or killed by someone because he doesn’t have a proper “filter”, part in due to his autism and part in due to his mental illness.
So there you have it in a nut shell Margie. Today I am feeling the traumatic results of the past year, on top of feeling I may lose the Son I tried to save for almost 35 years and cannot save anymore.

He wrote a lot about mentally ill people. How is it possible that he was able to provide such clear insights? Was he an outstanding observer with an extraordinary talent? Or was he one of the wicked, struggling with mental illnesses? I think it's both. Whenever I read Dostoevsky, I feel like he KNEW what he wrote about, he wasn't merely guessing or trying to understand what could happen inside the minds of such people. Let's say one experiences depression at some point of his/her life then he/she will able to understand people with depression. Dostoevsky preached very high morals but I feel like he had done a lot of different things in his life prior to that, probably even during his writing career.
In The Demons or The Possessed, Stepan Trofimovich says the following: "Oh, we will forgive, we will forgive, first of all we will forgive all and always.… We will hope that we too shall be forgiven. Yes, for all, every one of us, have wronged one another, all are guilty!”
I suppose Dostoevsky believed in this, that we all have sinned and we should practice more forgiveness.
Edit: Dostoevsky suffered epilepsy throughout his life which gradually got worse as he aged. He was also a gambling addict and had extramarital affairs until a certain point. He spent four years in a prison camp where I suppose he met with murderers and many different criminals. Based on these, I think he gained a certain insight that provided him a tremendous amount of inspiration which matched with his talent.

Here I will include a master post of UK mental health helplines/resources, feel free to message me directly if there is anything you would like me to add to this post or if you notice any contact or relevant information has changed since creating this. If you would like quick support on this site for legal or DWP related issues please consider checking out DWPhelp or LegalAdviceUK
If you live in England, you can refer yourself to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT).
If you would like to view some country-specific helplines&resources:

• England part 1
  
• England part 2
  
• England part 3
  
• Northern Ireland
  
• Wales
  
• Scotland
  

Mental health helplines:
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. We can help with urgent issues such as: suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship challenges
Text Shout to 85258
(https://www.giveusashout.org/)
Mental Health Matters
Helpline for people with mental health problems, their carers, families and friends. The Team can offer emotional guidance and information and help people who may be feeling low, anxious or stressed or in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn. Support is also provided to people caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope. The service is confidential unless it is considered there is a risk to yourself or others. Webchat available 24/7
Phone: click here to find the different numbers for the geographical areas covered Email: [email protected]
Supportline
We offer confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults by telephone, email and post. We work with callers to develop healthy, positive coping strategies, an inner feeling of strength and increased self esteem to encourage healing, recovery and moving forward with life.
Phone: 01708 765200 (hours variable - ring for details)
Email: [email protected]
The Silver Line
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. We also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.
Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90 Email: [email protected]
(https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/)
Breathing Space
A confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Phone: 0800 838587 (weekdays mon-thurs 6pm until 2am. Weekend Friday 6pm-Monday 6am)
(https://breathingspace.scot/)
C.A.L.L. Mental health helpline
Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
Phone: 0800 132 737 or text help to 81066
(https://www.callhelpline.org.uk/)
Lifeline Helpline
Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair. No matter what your age or where you live in Northern Ireland, if you are or someone you know is in distress or despair, Lifeline is here to help.
Phone: 0808 808 8000 or 18001 0808 808 8000 for Deaf and hard of hearing Textphone users. (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
(https://www.lifelinehelpline.info/)
One parent families Scotland
The Lone Parent Helpline provides advice and support to single parents. Call us about anything from dealing with a break-up, sorting out child maintenance, understanding benefits, money when having a baby, studying or moving into work. We provide a free confidential friendly service that provides advice and supports your wellbeing whatever you are going through.
Phone: 0808 801 0323 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm)
Email: [email protected]
(https://opfs.org.uk/)
RABI Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution
Time is a precious commodity, especially in farming. But it’s something our staff will happily give you.
When you call you’ll speak to a member of our dedicated welfare team. We understand that making that very first call – and talking about personal things with someone you don’t know – might sound daunting. However, it’s 100% confidential, so you’ll be free to discuss what’s on your mind without judgement. We won’t disclose any information to third parties without your explicit permission and calls are not recorded. We’ll do our very best to make you feel at ease, listening with courtesy, sympathy and respect.
Phone: 0808 281 9490 (9am-5pm weekdays) Email: [email protected]
(https://rabi.org.uk/)
The Drinks Trust:
We are the drinks industry community organisation, providing care and support to the people who form the drinks industry workforce, both past and present. The Trust provides individuals with services across vocational, well-being, financial and practical support. These services are intended to assist with and improve the circumstances of those who receive them
Phone: 0800 915 4610
Email: [email protected]
Contact form - To be eligible, you must have worked for at least two years full-time or four years part-time in the UK drinks industry.
(https://www.drinkstrust.org.uk/)
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you've been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
(www.anxietyuk.org.uk)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Peer support line: Arrange a call back from our Peer Support Line. Book in a call with our chatbot- simply type in 'I would like to speak to someone' and select a date and time that works best for you.
Email us: [email protected]
(www.bipolaruk.org.uk)
Carers UK
We provide an expert telephone advice and support service. You can talk to us, no matter where you are in the UK or how complex your query is. We do benefits checks, and advise on financial and practical matters related to caring.
Phone: 0808 808 7777 (Mon-Fri 9am until 6pm)
Email: [email protected]
Online forum: here
(https://www.carersuk.org/)
CALM
Our helpline is for people in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight - 365 days a year)
(www.thecalmzone.net)
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services
England&Scotland phone number: 08088004444 (8am - 8pm on weekdays and 9am - 5pm weekends).
(https://www.shelter.org.uk/)
Wales phone number: 08000 495495 (9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)
(https://sheltercymru.org.uk/)
For similar housing support in Ireland and NI: Ireland and Northern Ireland
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)
(www.mind.org.uk)
Mind Cymru: 0292-0395-123 (https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/mind-cymru/)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. Includes a helpline.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
(www.nopanic.org.uk)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm)
(www.ocdaction.org.uk)
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.ocduk.org)
PAPYRUS
HOPELINEUK is a confidential support and advice service for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (9:00 am to 12:00 am midnight)
Text: 07860 039 967
Email: [email protected]
(www.papyrus-uk.org)
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.rethink.org)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
(www.samaritans.org.uk)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: (http://www.sane.org.uk/textcare)
(www.sane.org.uk/supportforum)
(www.sane.org.uk/support)
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.youngminds.org.uk)
Veterans Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support. We put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
Phone: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 Email: submit here Live chat: here
(https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/)
First Person Plural
First Person Plural (FPP) specialises in working for and on behalf of all those affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and similar complex trauma-related dissociative identity conditions. These similar conditions include type 1 Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS), and a type of Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) which is described as DID-like.
Phone: 01902810082 (if we do not pick up leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible but this might not be for a few days as our office is not staffed everyday) Email: [email protected] Twitter: @DissociationFPP
LGBT+ helplines:
Switchboard LGBT
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.
Phone: 03003300630 (Open 10:00-22:00 every day)
Email: [email protected]
MindlineTrans+
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary..
Phone: 03003305468 (Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight.)
Mermaids UK
Mermaids provides a helpline aimed at supporting transgender youth up to and including the age of 19, their families and professionals working with them.
Phone: 0808 801 0400 (Open Monday - Friday; 9am - 9pm)
Email: [email protected]
(https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk)
Abuse helplines (child, sexual, domestic violence):
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
(www.nspcc.org.uk)
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
(www.refuge.org.uk)
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Email: [email protected] Live chat: Our hours are Monday to Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm. Here
Respect Men's advice line
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. We offer advice and emotional support to men who experience abuse, and signpost to other vital services that help keep them and their children safe.
Call: 0808 8010327 or visit: here
Respect phoneline
The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. We provide specialist advice and guidance to help people change their behaviours and support for those working with domestic abuse perpetrators.
Call: 0808 8024040 or visit: here
Honour based abuse/violence, forced marriage and/or female genital mutilation helplines
Freedom Charity
We aim to empower young people to feel they have the tools and confidence to support each other and have practical ways in which they can help their best friend around the issues of family relationships which can lead to early and forced marriage and dishonour based violence
(https://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/)
Phone: 0845 607 0133 ; or text "4freedom"to 88802 (24-hour helpline)
Halo Project
Halo Project Charity is a national project that will support victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and FGM by providing appropriate advice and support to victims. We will also work with key partners to provide required interventions and advice necessary for the protection and safety of victims.
Phone: 01642 683 045 (9am-5pm)
(https://www.haloproject.org.uk/)
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning National charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims
Phone: 0800 5999 247 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
(https://karmanirvana.org.uk/)
Addiction helplines (drugs, alcohol, gambling):
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
(www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk)
Gamblers Anonymous
Phone: 0330 094 0322
(www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk)
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily 10am to midnight)
(www.ukna.org)
Drugfam
Support for families, friends and partners affected by someone else’s addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
(https://www.drugfam.co.uk/)
Al-Anon UK&Eire
We are here for anyone affected by someone else's drinking. Our Helpline is manned by a team of friendly and helpful volunteers who are also members of Al-Anon. They will listen and be happy to answer your questions
Phone: 0800 0086 811 (10am-10pm, 365 days a year)
Email: [email protected]
Alzheimer's helpline:
Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm)
(www.alzheimers.org.uk)
Bereavement helplines:
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Email: [email protected]
CruseChat
(https://www.cruse.org.uk)
Blue Cross for pets
If you have lost, or are facing saying goodbye to, a much loved pet and need somebody to talk to, our Pet Bereavement Support Service is here for you every day from 8.30am – 8.30pm
Phone: 0800 096 6606
Email: [email protected]
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause
Phone: 0345 120 3785 (9:30am - 4:30pm Mon to Fri)
Email: [email protected]
Crime victims helplines:
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm)
(www.rapecrisis.org.uk)
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
(www.victimsupport.org)
Eating disorders helpline:
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
(www.b-eat.co.uk)
Learning disabilities helpline:
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.mencap.org.uk)
Parenting helpline:
Family Lives
Family Lives offers a confidential and free helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). Please call us on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Our helpline service is open 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday
Callers in Wales: If you would like to access this service in Welsh, find out how to request a call back here
Callers in Scotland: for callers from Scotland, Children 1st run Parentline Scotland and you may wish to contact them on 08000 28 22 33 Monday to Friday from 9am - 9pm.
Online chat: available 1:30pm-5:30pm every weekday excluding bank holidays here
Email: [email protected]
Online forum: here
(https://www.familylives.org.uk/)
Relationships helpline:
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
(www.relate.org.uk)
Mental health resources:

• PohWER - English Advocacy service
  
• Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
  
• Advocacy Support Cymru
  
• Inspire - Northern Ireland advocacy service
  
• Prescription Prepayment Certificates
  
• UK Men's Shed Association Finder
  
• SelfHelp services
  
• StepChange Debt Charity
  
• Change Grow Live
  
• The Blurt Foundation
  
• Camerados
  
• BACP therapist directory
  
• Directory of Chartered Psychologists
  
• Free IAPT workbooks and resouces
  
• Free self help resources
  
• Free NHS self help booklets
  
• Free generalised resources from Australian gov website
  
• St John's Ambulance mental health first aid training courses
  
• Womens Wellbeing Club
  
• Andys Man Club
  
• Talk Club - talking and listening clubs for men
  
• Student's against Depression
  
• The Wholeness of Your Nature - The Little Yoga Nidra
  
• Discovery of Your Self - The Deep Yoga Nidra
  
• How to Meditate: Mantra
  
• How to Meditate: Body Scan
  
• Kooth - free, safe and anonymous community for children and young people to get support
  
• turn2us benefits support
  
• PaNDAS Foundation - Post Natal Depression awareness support
  
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance
  
• YANA - help for those in Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcestershire involved in farming and other rural businesses affected by stress and depression
  
• Home Start UK - family support
  
• Family Action support services finder
  
• Mental Health Foundation
  
• The Masked AMHP blog
  
• NHS Every Mind Matters
  
• Hub of Hope
  
• Free online suicide awareness training
  
• UK support for self harm
  
• Mens Health Forum
  
• Bullying UK
  
• The Survivors Trust
  
• Naz and Matt Foundation
  
• Citzens Advice finder
  
• How to support mental health at work
  
• Mental health at work toolkit
  
• Reasonable adjustments at work explained
  
• Discrimination at work
  
• Mental health and the criminal justice system
  
• Different types of talking therapies
  
• Antipsychotics explained
  
• Antidepressants explained
  
• CMHTs explained
  
• Crisis teams explained
  
• Young person's guide to inpatient care
  
• Men and mental health
  
• Where to get urgent help for mental health
  
• The Mental Health Act
  
• Scottish Association for Mental Health
  
• The Lucy Rayner Foundation - Surrey
  
• Mary Frances Trust - Surrey
  
• Choice and medication
  
• Mental health apps library - NHS website
  
• Forward Carers, Carers Card - Birmingham
  

Here I will include a master post of UK mental health helplines/resources, feel free to message me directly if there is anything you would like me to add to this post.
Mental health helplines:
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. We can help with urgent issues such as: suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship challenges
Text Shout to 85258
(https://www.giveusashout.org/)
Mental Health Matters
Helpline for people with mental health problems, their carers, families and friends. The Team can offer emotional guidance and information and help people who may be feeling low, anxious or stressed or in extreme emotional distress and feel that there is nowhere else to turn. Support is also provided to people caring for another person and finding it difficult to cope. The service is confidential unless it is considered there is a risk to yourself or others. Webchat available 24/7
Phone: click here to find the different numbers for the geographical areas covered Email: [email protected]
Supportline
We offer confidential emotional support to children, young adults and adults by telephone, email and post. We work with callers to develop healthy, positive coping strategies, an inner feeling of strength and increased self esteem to encourage healing, recovery and moving forward with life.
Phone: 01708 765200 (hours variable - ring for details)
Email: [email protected]
The Silver Line
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. We also offer telephone friendship where we match volunteers with older people based on their interests, facilitated group calls, and help to connect people with local services in their area.
Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90
Email: [email protected]
Breathing Space
A confidential phoneline for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16, feeling low, anxious or depressed.
Phone: 0800 838587 (weekdays mon-thurs 6pm until 2am. Weekend Friday 6pm-Monday 6am)
(https://breathingspace.scot/)
C.A.L.L. Mental health helpline
Offers emotional support and information/literature on Mental Health and related matters to the people of Wales. Anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend can access the service. C.A.L.L. Helpline offers a confidential listening and support service.
Phone: 0800 132 737 or text help to 81066
(https://www.callhelpline.org.uk/)
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you've been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
(www.anxietyuk.org.uk)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Peer support line: Arrange a call back from our Peer Support Line. Book in a call with our chatbot- simply type in 'I would like to speak to someone' and select a date and time that works best for you.
Email us: [email protected]
(www.bipolaruk.org.uk)
Carers UK
We provide an expert telephone advice and support service. You can talk to us, no matter where you are in the UK or how complex your query is. We do benefits checks, and advise on financial and practical matters related to caring.
Phone: 0808 808 7777 (Mon-Fri 9am until 6pm)
Email: [email protected]
Online forum: here
(https://www.carersuk.org/)
Shelter
Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support, and legal services
England&Scotland phone number: 08088004444 (8am - 8pm on weekdays and 9am - 5pm weekends).
(https://www.shelter.org.uk/)
Wales phone number: 08000 495495 (9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)
(https://sheltercymru.org.uk/)
For similar housing support in Ireland and NI: Ireland and Northern Ireland
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
(www.thecalmzone.net)
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)
(www.mind.org.uk)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia/OCD. Includes a helpline.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
(www.nopanic.org.uk)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 5pm)
(www.ocdaction.org.uk)
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0845 120 3778 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.ocduk.org)
PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon to Fri,10am to 5pm & 7 to 10pm. Weekends 2 to 5pm)
(www.papyrus-uk.org)
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.rethink.org)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
(www.samaritans.org.uk)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: (http://www.sane.org.uk/textcare)
(www.sane.org.uk/supportforum)
(www.sane.org.uk/support)
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon to Fri, 9.30am to 4pm)
(www.youngminds.org.uk)
Veterans Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support. We put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need – from healthcare and housing to employability, finances, personal relationships and more.
Phone: 0808 802 1212 Text: 81212 Email: submit here Live chat: here
(https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/)
First Person Plural
First Person Plural (FPP) specialises in working for and on behalf of all those affected by Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and similar complex trauma-related dissociative identity conditions. These similar conditions include type 1 Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS), and a type of Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) which is described as DID-like.
Phone: 01902810082 (if we do not pick up leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible but this might not be for a few days as our office is not staffed everyday)
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @DissociationFPP
LGBT+ helplines:
Switchboard LGBT
Switchboard provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.
Phone: 03003300630 (Open 10:00-22:00 every day)
Email: [email protected]
MindlineTrans+
MindLine Trans+ is a confidential emotional, mental health support helpline for people who identify as Transgender, Agender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary..
Phone: 03003305468 (Mondays and Fridays from 8pm to midnight.)
Mermaids UK
Mermaids provides a helpline aimed at supporting transgender youth up to and including the age of 19, their families and professionals working with them.
Phone: 0808 801 0400 (Open Monday - Friday; 9am - 9pm)
Email: [email protected]
(https://www.mermaidsuk.org.uk)
Abuse helplines (child, sexual, domestic violence):
NSPCC
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
(www.nspcc.org.uk)
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
(www.refuge.org.uk)
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Email: [email protected] Live chat: Our hours are Monday to Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm. Here
Respect Men's advice line
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. We offer advice and emotional support to men who experience abuse, and signpost to other vital services that help keep them and their children safe.
Call: 0808 8010327 or visit: here
Respect phoneline
The Respect Phoneline is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. We provide specialist advice and guidance to help people change their behaviours and support for those working with domestic abuse perpetrators.
Call: 0808 8024040 or visit: here
Honour based abuse/violence, forced marriage and/or female genital mutilation helplines
Freedom Charity
We aim to empower young people to feel they have the tools and confidence to support each other and have practical ways in which they can help their best friend around the issues of family relationships which can lead to early and forced marriage and dishonour based violence
(https://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/)
Phone: 0845 607 0133 ; or text "4freedom"to 88802 (24-hour helpline)
Halo Project
Halo Project Charity is a national project that will support victims of honour-based violence, forced marriages and FGM by providing appropriate advice and support to victims. We will also work with key partners to provide required interventions and advice necessary for the protection and safety of victims.
Phone: 01642 683 045 (9am-5pm)
(https://www.haloproject.org.uk/)
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana is an award-winning National charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage. Honour crimes are not determined by age, faith, gender or sexuality, we support and work with all victims
Phone: 0800 5999 247 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
(https://karmanirvana.org.uk/)
Addiction helplines (drugs, alcohol, gambling):
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0845 769 7555 (24-hour helpline)
(www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk)
Gamblers Anonymous
Phone: 0330 094 0322
(www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk)
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily 10am to midnight)
(www.ukna.org)
Drugfam
Support for families, friends and partners affected by someone else’s addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Phone: 0300 888 3853
(https://www.drugfam.co.uk/)
Alzheimer's helpline:
Alzheimer's Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm. Weekends, 10am to 4pm)
(www.alzheimers.org.uk)
Bereavement helplines:
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
Email: [email protected]
CruseChat
(https://www.cruse.org.uk)
Blue Cross for pets
If you have lost, or are facing saying goodbye to, a much loved pet and need somebody to talk to, our Pet Bereavement Support Service is here for you every day from 8.30am – 8.30pm
Phone: 0800 096 6606
Email: [email protected]
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause
Phone: 0345 120 3785 (9:30am - 4:30pm Mon to Fri)
Email: [email protected]
Crime victims helplines:
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12 to 2.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm)
(www.rapecrisis.org.uk)
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
(www.victimsupport.org)
Eating disorders helpline:
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
(www.b-eat.co.uk)
Learning disabilities helpline:
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)
(www.mencap.org.uk)
Parenting helpline:
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 9pm. Sat to Sun, 10am to 3pm)
(www.familylives.org.uk)
Relationships helpline:
Relate
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
(www.relate.org.uk)
Mental health resources:

• PohWER - English Advocacy service
  
• Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
  
• Advocacy Support Cymru
  
• Inspire - Northern Ireland advocacy service
  
• Change Grow Live
  
• The Blurt Foundation
  
• Camerados
  
• BACP therapist directory
  
• Directory of Chartered Psychologists
  
• Free IAPT workbooks and resouces
  
• Free self help resources
  
• Free NHS self help booklets
  
• Free generalised resources from Australian gov website
  
• St John's Ambulance mental health first aid training courses
  
• Womens Wellbeing Club
  
• Andys Man Club
  
• Talk Club - talking and listening clubs for men
  
• Student's against Depression
  
• The Wholeness of Your Nature - The Little Yoga Nidra
  
• Discovery of Your Self - The Deep Yoga Nidra
  
• How to Meditate: Mantra
  
• How to Meditate: Body Scan
  
• Kooth - free, safe and anonymous community for children and young people to get support
  
• turn2us benefits support
  
• PaNDAS Foundation
  
• Mental Health Foundation
  
• The Masked AMHP blog
  
• NHS Every Mind Matters
  
• Hub of Hope
  
• Free online suicide awareness training
  
• UK support for self harm
  
• Mens Health Forum
  
• Bullying UK
  
• The Survivors Trust
  
• Naz and Matt Foundation
  
• Citzens Advice finder
  
• How to support mental health at work
  
• Mental health at work toolkit
  
• Reasonable adjustments at work explained
  
• Discrimination at work
  
• Mental health and the criminal justice system
  
• Different types of talking therapies
  
• Antipsychotics explained
  
• Antidepressants explained
  
• CMHTs explained
  
• Crisis teams explained
  
• Young person's guide to inpatient care
  
• Men and mental health
  
• Where to get urgent help for mental health
  
• The Mental Health Act
  
• Scottish Association for Mental Health
  

Hello guys,
First of all i hope you had a nice xmas with ur family and friends! I am 22 years old, addicted to gambling since i am 18 and i am from germany. To be honest i have thoughts of gambling right now, i have like 22€ left on my paypal (right now only online gambling is available in germany). Don't know had a good christmas with my family abd i am happy to see them all since covid fucked us.
Unfortunately my brother have some battery mental illness ( social phobia, sadly :() problems since 1-2 weeks and couse of this he had to leave earlier from our christmas evening with the family that hurt me a lot to be honest and my mother was sad af too.
Today i was alone (cause my brother can't right now with his social phobia) by my grandparent's it was a good day. Then in the evening i want to meet some "friend's" (don't now they are stoners addicted and we have a good relationship but unfortunately we didn't talk much about emotions feelings you know the real stuff)
Now i'm feeling a bit alone no deep relation ship to a good friend it's definitely a part of my problem cause in the last few years i isolated myself to my own emotion so i obviously did not share them with family and friends but since i am clean i want to share them and talk about it! I have one relay good friend i can talk with sadly he has some mental illness problems too (depression)! I wonder myself often that it seems to be that i only have friends with addiction problems or mental illness problems...
I definitely will not gamble again! Not gamble today! Any advice where i can spend my paypal money to something useful? Some advice maybe no contact with new people? Right now social live is fucked up to this crap covid shit? Some adices for making relationships deeper to the aspects of feelings, emotions? Some advices to help my brother with his social phobia problem (he feela strained with other people does not know what to say what he wants to say)
Holy that was a long post, my first post on reddit. Thanks for reading this! Whish you all the best stay clean and healthy! Try to do your best every day so you can go happy in your bed.

After I tried to stop this series and start a new series (which failed), I am back in the driver's seat for King's Survivor's final phase, since it would probably have lasted longer if Adobe didn't cancel Flash (thanks for rushing my series, mate!). This season, I tried to do what u/swoldow did before and make a season called Saints Vs Sinners, where 10 people who embody the term "Saint" will face off against the people who embody the term "Sinner", but unfortunately, it seemed like a lot of the people who signed up misunderstood the definition of saints and sinners. For the love of god, someone who is slightly villainous is not a "sinner", and average people are not "saints". Oh well. I guess it's the best I'm gonna get. Here is the cast:
Kahramanca (Saints) Tribe:
Ardet Prifti, 31, Rhythm Guitarist, u/Twig7665
Ardet lived a difficult life. Born in Albania with a family that was associated with the mafia meant that Ardet was never safe, and one day, he came back home to find his whole family had been murdered by the Albanian mafia. He spent years on the street, struggling to survive, before he discovered his musical talent. He played a guitar (which he had to steal), which enabled him to earn money. After a few years of doing that, he moved to the United States, where he did his best to get into the largest music college in that country, and actually succeeded. He met some people that became his bandmates, and soon they were pretty popular in the underground scene. When their fame exploded, Ardet's bandmates grew either egotistical or paranoid, but Ardet saw fame as a way to spread awareness for mental illness. He has now become a strong supporter of mental health charities around the country, and he signed up for Survivor to raise money for one of the charities he supports.
Ava Chrisly, 23, Kindergarten Teacher, u/Gemini_B
Ava was born deaf. After her father died when she was 3, her birthmother struggled to care for her and her 3 siblings. Ava was especially tough since she needed special treatment and one night her birthmother left her on the doorstep of a rich widow with a note explaining how Ava got there. The Widow, not wanting to deal with a deaf child, left her outside where she spent a cold night alone and scared. She came across Marissa, a young girl who ran away from home. Marissa took pity on her and the two banded together.
They spent years together on the street with Ava learning to read lips and Marissa learning sign language. Marissa quickly saw that Ava had a gift with children and encouraged her to find a job with kids. Ava didn’t want Marissa to leave, but then Marissa surprised her by revealing she had a scholarship to a teachers college. Ava went off to the collage and became a kindergarten teacher, but when she returned she learned that Ava had gone to jail for stealing from a rich old woman and using the money to bribe a college administrator. Ava promised she’d help bail Marissa out, and learned about survivor. She’s hoping she can win the million to help free Marissa and get their lives on track.
Chelsea Rutherford, 22, Lifeguard, u/IAmWolfNinja
Chelsea was the heiress to the throne of a foreign country with a corrupt government. The wealth that came with such a status meant nothing to her, since she was utterly disgusted with the actions of her family. Knowing her resentment for their governmental policies, Chelsea's family gradually became verbally abusive towards her. Unable to take any more, she escaped as a teen to pursue her own path. When she arrived in America, Chelsea wanted to do everything she could to erase her dark past and the actions of her family, so she got a job as a lifeguard, where she has saved countless lives. She's occasionally recognized as an heiress, but when it's brought up, she tends to have nervous breakdowns.
Chester "Cap'n" Richardson, 67, Retired Naval Officer, u/swoldow
Some may see him as just the average old man, but Cap’n has seen and done things most people couldn't fathom. Cap’n joined the navy at a ripe young age about 5 years before the Cold War began, and learned everything from afar, slowly working up the ranks. When things got bad in Vietnam, he was given the chance to take charge of a ship during the war, and he immediately said yes. He ran the ship strictly, but he got both respect from everyone, as well as being genuinely liked as a person by his crew. He led them to many naval victories but unfortunately that didn't last, when his ship was shot with a torpedo, which blew the whole thing up and killed everyone on it, except for Cap’n. With the emotional baggage of watching people he has gotten to know kick the bucket, he immediately resigned from the navy after. As a result of the shipwreck, his mindset has changed, as he’s now super overprotective of his family, and still can't let the explosion go after years and years of retirement. He hopes Survivor can help him learn more about himself, and be the thing he needs to live the rest of his life in peace.
Cornelius Von Helton, 52, CEO, u/Gemini_B
Cornelius was raised by a family that had fallen from riches and was in tough times. He never expected to get to go to university but got lucky by getting a scholarship for his creative greeting cards. While at university, he enrolled in a business course and after collage started a greeting card business with some friends. All of his friends quickly gave up on the business, but Cornelius stuck through it. When he made a greeting card that was delivered to Eddie Murphy, the comedian was impressed and hired him to do his greeting cards to his friends, family, and invitations to parties. Quickly other celebrities started to hire his business and many fans wanted to get into the trend. His business rapidly expanded and he soon found himself with a company that covered parties, greeting cards, published books and even dabbled in a touch of Realestate. While in his thirties though, Cornelius was mugged while on a walk in the park and got stabbed. He was quickly rushed to the hospital and while there, he was nursed back to health by his soon to be wife. He claims that she saved his life and proceeded to date her after leaving the hospital. She was reluctant at first, but he quickly charmed her and the two have been married for 15 years now. He has two children, a son aged 10 and a daughter aged 8. He's continued to run his business, but leaves most of the work to his higher-ups as he wants to be able to spend as much time with his family and employees as possible. He views his employees as his family and does his best to remember all their names and make the workspace as nice for them as possible. He's come to survivor because his wife loves the show and wanted to compete, but due to growing health issues can't. She's trained him to win, and he wants to do this and win for her.
Dana Vasquez, 43, Stay At Home Mom, (filler character)
Greg Zimmer, 40, High School Teacher, u/AngolanDesert
Greg is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He is very trusting and kind and will do anything for the people he loves. Since he grew up in Texas, hard work has always been his priority. He knows that if he wants to win this game, he has to work hard at everything he does. Greg decided to be a high school teacher so he could teach his students the importance of hard work. He has been a fan of survivor for a while, so when he saw that applications for survivor were going out, he knew he had to join in. Hopefully, he won’t disappoint his students.
Gwendolyn "Gwen" Wallerby, 52, Baker, u/ghetra
Gwen works at a bakery where she gets to do what she loves every day: make many different kinds of pies. She is a very warm, loving person and has a reputation for helping out whoever needs it, usually by baking for them. Baking takes a lot of patience and strength, and she is stronger than she looks. She naturally has a very loud voice that sometimes irks people, but once they get to know her it quickly becomes endearing. Now that her children are out of the house, she has started reading much more and taking classes on different subjects that interest her. The world is her oyster.
Kirk Smolarek, 62, History Teacher, u/Twig7665
Kirk never had a normal childhood. His mom walked out on his family not long after he was born, and his father was a former Polish soldier with PTSD and a severe drug addiction, leading to Kirk experiencing abuse from him for as long as Kirk can remember. Wanting to escape his miserable life, he smuggled himself on a boat bound for Australia when he was 16. Lo and behold, the ship got caught in a windstorm and ended up sinking, and Kirk and a few other survivors ended up stranded on an island. After spending more than a month there, he was taken back to his homeland after being found there. He ended up being the only survivor of the whole ordeal. He was returned to his deranged father, where the next time his father tried to abuse him, he fought back, causing his father to end up in the hospital. Deemed not guilty because he defended himself, Kirk did not spend time in prison for this. His father on the other hand did spend time there for drug-related charges and child abuse, but was killed by another inmate before he could be released. Kirk then went to college, where he studied history there, and decided to become a history teacher. He then kept that job title for over 40 years now, and despite being in his 60s, he is still an enjoyable presence for his students, as he incorporates unusual teaching methods to make his students interested in what he's teaching. Despite being financially stable, he wants to win the money so he can be well off when he retires in a few years.
Maralyn Sander, 32, Tour Guide, u/Void_Drone
Maralyn gives tours of New York, driving around in her bus, answering questions, watching broadway shows. And she spends most of her money on her family, except for the money she spent on her pink pearl necklace. She enjoys the tours for the most part, but when she's alone she vents about how annoying the tours can be.
Kotu Adam (Sinners) Tribe:
Alexa Station, 20, YouTuber, u/IAmWolfNinja
A 3AM YouTuber who arrived late to the trend, Alexa has a tendency to flex her belongings when no one really cares. She was recently involved in a scandal where she faked her boyfriend's death, causing endless amounts of controversy, and a near arrest. Her sub count is dropping significantly every day, so she joined to help gain her popularity (relevancy) back.
Carter Witworth, 23, College Student, u/JTsidol
Witworth, he was born to a extremely rich family, but his parents didn’t have time for him, but spoiled him rotten, when he got into school, he was known for being a bully, however no one confronted him, and everytime he’d get in trouble or fail a test, his parents would pay his way out, last year, he got a slap in the face, when his parents yet again had to bribe the college board to accept him, they cut off his allowance, he’s playing just for the money, nothing else.
Irvin Eamers, 32, Olympic Sprinter, u/asiansurvivorfan
A born athlete, Irvin loved competing in all sports but wasn’t known to play fair as he was never a team player and would often torment others to win. He started training for the Olympics at the age of 17 and eventually got the opportunity to compete in multiple Olympics where he took home many gold medals. However, they were striped from him when he was caught doping and using steroids to give him an edge in races. After the controversy, Irvin’s current wife left him and he was banned from competing in any future competitions. He came on Survivor for one reason and that is that is the money as he’s currently being sued by the Olympic committee.
Jessica Abrefa, 25, Poker Player, u/Twig7665
Jessica wasn't the most well off growing up, she lived in Alabama, where racism was rampant. As such, she was bullied for her race, until one day, she decided that they will all be wrong about her not being able to do anything because of her skin colour. She publicly humiliated the whole football team at her high school, and that stunt got her expelled in her senior year. She didn't care, and then she decided to run away to Las Vegas, which she did. While there, she started modeling, but found it boring. She then picked up the hobby of gambling, and played her first poker match when she was 21. She proved herself to be a formidable foe by beating one of the top poker players at the time, a dude named Brett Herman. Impressed by her skills, he tried to form a bond with her, but she turned him down due to him being a very paranoid man. Now, Jessica dates and cheats on men almost daily, and is considered one of the top female poker players, despite only playing for a few years. An avid Survivor fan, she wants to be as flirty and manipulative as she is in her real life. The only problem would be meeting another poker player, but she finds it unlikely that she will.
Joey "Wildcard" Caruso, 24, Poker Player, u/wordonthestreet2
Joey did not grow up with the best moral compass as his father notoriously had ties to the mafia. He used the money his father made through illegitimate businesses to gamble throughout his teenage years. When his father learned about his poker abilities and how easy it was for him to manipulate his opponents they began using his poker career as a way to launder mafia money through various casinos. He is known for his excellent poker face and unpredictable style of play which earned him the nickname Wildcard.
Maize Nguyen, 28, Heiress, u/Vicctoryy
From the outside looking in, the Nguyen Family Dynasty of San Francisco looks like a well supported and strong business, but from the inside, things are crumbling apart. The matriarch and patriarch are always at each other's necks over the company, leaving their children to clean up their messes. Maize, being the oldest, has taken it upon herself to lead the company, and she leads with an iron will and even harder iron fist. While she seems like a worthy replacement for her faulty parents, she has never been afraid to leave with force. Anyone at the receiving end of a verbal lashing from Maize is likely to not return to work the next day, or ever again. She is arrogant, rude, demeaning, and yet she gets things done. Saving the company from absolute bankruptcy caused a lot of backlash, but Maize couldn't care less. Success should be accomplished by stepping on the necks of those who aren't ready for the power, and Maize has done that exact thing. Any person in Maize's way has been an obstacle she has to conquer, and with a flip of her finger, that obstacle is no longer a problem. She has never been afraid to crack a few eggs to make an omelette, and unfortunately, those eggs have just been working class people struggling to make minimum wage and put dinner on their table. Too bad for them according to Maize. Maize has come to Survivor to prove that the Nguyen Dynasty is far from over, and their business monopoly will run on for years with Maize at the front of it. She is the iceberg, everyone else is a ship with no idea of what's in their way. Those too bold to step in her way are trampled, quite literally. Maize has no problem with controversy, controversy brings attention, attention brings money, and money brings power.
Molly-Anne Benson, 26, Marketing Assistant, u/ghetra
Molly-Anne is a social butterfly. She loves chatting with people about pretty much anything and loves meeting and getting to know new people. She has a natural charm about her that draws people in, but sometimes people are bothered by how chatty she is. She also loves to gossip and is not above spreading rumors. However, she is rather sensitive and can be set off by just about anything. She frequently will push people's buttons if they offend her and will hold a grudge until the end of time.
Nikki Lopez, 29, Stripper, u/Void_Drone
Randall Martin, 49, Real Estate Agent, u/TDSwaggyBoy
Being a self proclaimed sleazeball, which is a very weird thing to be proud of, Randall's life was never too good. He didn't grow up with a lot of close friends. Sure, people liked him at first, but when they really got to know him they didn't appreciate him nor his antics very much. Randall had to make a name for himself. He quickly found a career in the world of real estate. Not even his co-workers enjoyed his company, but they appreciated his skills. Being a fast and smooth talker really pays off in his industry. And now, Randall wants to put his skills to use in SURVIVOR. How well will that pan out?
Vito Luco, 49, Used Car Salesman, u/swoldow
Vito is the last person you'd want to trust with anything. A true con-artist at heart, he now has a job selling used cars, but his past jobs would make you run away from him in fear. When he was younger, he was a part of a major drug-trafficking operation run by the mafia, and he later got a job selling illegal fireworks, both of which got him to do jail time for a decade. Newly released, he seems to be back to his old ways, as he scams people out of their money daily with his faulty cars. He was born constantly overshadowed by his perfect younger brother, who is a popular politician, while he just swindles from people. As a result, he hates people who play loyally, and wants to prove that evil is the best way to play. He isn't afraid to play hard, as that's what he did all his life, and he'll either win, or go out swinging.
Link to Season
Episode 1: The 20 new contestants are welcomed into Turkey, where their first task is to compete in a challenge for reward. The Sinners tribe win this reward due to having more young and fit members than the Saints tribe. As a result, the Saints are already demoralized as they arrive at camp. Cap'n starts to feel good vibes from Ardet and Maralyn, and takes them under his wing to form an alliance. Ava, on the other hand, reveals that she is deaf to Chelsea and Gwen, and the three form another alliance due to being close to one another already. Cap'n sees this and scrambles to find an idol, and does so. Over at the Sinners tribe, Witworth and Jessica see their opportunity to look for an idol, and they find it, giving them more security, while back at camp, Maize and Nikki get into a fight over thinking that the other has an idol, which neither of them do. Vito becomes the moderator of this fight, saying that the three of them plus Irvin and Molly need to stick together in the long run. Randall sees this alliance form and tries to get Alexa, Jessica, Witworth, and Wildcard on board, which they all agree to at first, but then Wildcard sees this as his opportunity to cause conflict within his tribe, so he becomes content with being a swing vote. The Sinners win immunity, and on the Saints tribe it quickly becomes a race to see who can scrape up the swing votes the fastest between Cap'n's alliance and Ava's alliance. Dana becomes the target for Ava's alliance because of her weakness in challenges and her blind loyalty, while Greg is targeted by Ardet and Cap'n due to his shiftiness. They are able to get Kirk and Dana on board to blindside Greg, and they try to talk to Gwen, but she does not flip. Instead, at tribal council, we end up with a 5-5 split, followed by a 4-4 vote split due to no one flipping. Then a rock draw occurs on the first vote of the season. Ardet becomes the victim of the rocks, sending him out of the game despite never receiving a single vote.
Episode 2: After an explosive first vote, Cap'n tries to figure out who flipped on the six and sent Ardet home. No one tells him who did it, so he assumes it was Ardet. Ava tries to flip Maralyn from Cap'n's alliance, but is unsuccessful at doing so. At the Sinners camp, Jessica and Witworth, despite being closely aligned, argue over who gets to keep the idol, and Witworth ends up keeping it in the end. The Saints pull out a surprise victory over the fractured Sinners, and back at camp, Wildcard decides to snake the alliance he was pretending to work with, and joins Vito's alliance. Their first target is none other than Alexa, who saw this game as nothing other than a tool to get more relevancy back, and it particularly irked Vito, who wanted to play against people who played hard. So together, with his alliance and Wildcard, they vote for Alexa. Meanwhile, the four person alliance realizes that Wildcard snaked them, so they vote for him, and Alexa becomes the second person voted off in a 6-4 vote.
Episode 3: After Alexa's vote off, Irvin tries to bond with Vito, wanting to be his right hand man, and they become closer due to both being sleazy people. Wildcard begins to feel like he's in control, and it starts to annoy people on his tribe. At the Saints camp, Cap'n starts to rub people the wrong way because of his cockiness due to having an idol, but no one catches on to him having an idol, which is good news for him, because he plans on holding onto the idol until the merge. The Sinners win immunity for the third time, and they grow cocky because of this. Cap'n and Kirk, being the two oldest men on the tribe, join forces with Dana and Maralyn to take out their biggest threat in the opposing alliance, Greg. However, the other side has majority, and they decide that Dana has been blindly loyal to the other three, and hasn't been pulling her weight in challenges, so she becomes the third person voted out in a 5-4 vote.
Episode 4: After a somewhat boring vote, Greg starts to get paranoid, since he's already gotten 9 votes and it's only episode 4. He then tries to get the minority alliance to pin their votes onto Gwen, but Gwen gets angry at him for doing so, and they have an argument. At Sinners camp, Jessica tries to talk to Irvin, trying to get his alliance to help hers take out Wildcard, and Irvin tells Vito about the plan, and Vito starts to see Wildcard as not being of use anymore. After losing the reward challenge, the Saints come back harder and beat the Sinners at the next challenge. Wildcard lets Vito know that he is going to vote Maize, since he wants to make a big move early on. This becomes the final nail in Wildcard's coffin, as Vito was quite close to Maize. At tribal council, Wildcard becomes the first unanimous boot of the season, going out in a 8-1 vote.
Episode 5: Vito starts to think that Irvin has been playing way too loyally, and he gets into a discussion with him that slowly devolves into a full-blown fight between them, but Vito, realizing that Irvin would make a bad enemy, tries to make it up to him, and it works. The Sinners win both reward and immunity, and they feel elated about it. Cornelius goes to Cap'n and proposes an alliance to him, allowing them to control things from behind the scenes with Maralyn. He also reveals that he has grown a disdain for Greg, and that they need to flip the numbers on him. They get Gwen and Kirk on board, or so they think, but Gwen blabs to Greg and their alliance, leading to Kirk to flip as well. They decide to vote Cornelius out due to him being the biggest gamer on the tribe, and he goes in a 5-3 vote.
Episode 6: The tribes pack up their things, anticipating a swap, but then the host announces that they will be competing for individual immunity on their tribe, and whoever wins will be safe from the double tribal council taking place that night. Maralyn wins for the Saints, and Vito wins for the Sinners. The Sinners also win reward, earning food to enjoy while they watch the other tribe go to tribal council. Witworth, Jessica, and Randall decide it was now or never to get rid of Maize, who had a fight with Randall earlier that day, but Vito, hearing about this, decides that Randall is the biggest sleaze on his tribe, and he needed to go as soon as possible. In his voting confessional, he states there can be only one sleazy guy on the tribe, and that was himself, so Randall had to go, and Randall becomes the sixth person voted out in a 5-3 vote, and he is bitter as all hell about it. At the Saints tribe, Cap'n becomes angry over the fact he cannot vote in the majority, and it makes the majority annoyed with him, so they decide to vote him off. Luckily for Cap'n, he still has an idol, so he and Maralyn vote for the most threatening player in their minds, Chelsea, and Cap'n plays his idol, sending Chelsea out of the game in a 2-0 vote.
Episode 7: After Chelsea's idol out, Cap'n officially became public enemy number one on his tribe, and he tries to find his rehidden idol, but Kirk finds it instead. Maralyn and Greg have a fight due to the food on their tribe running low, and morale being even lower. At the Sinners tribe, Nikki begins to be seen as an easy goat due to her one-sided loyalty to Vito. Morale at the Saints tribe dips even lower when they lose both reward and immunity. Not wanting to lose again,the majority decide to vote off their oldest member, Cap'n, as a last ditch attempt to prevent them from going on a losing streak. Cap'n and Maralyn vote for Greg, and Cap'n becomes the eighth person voted out in a 5-3 vote, missing out on the jury by one placement.
Episode 8: After Cap'n's vote out, there are only five members on the Saints tribe, compared to the Sinners having seven. The Sinners increase their winning streak by two by winning both reward and immunity. At the Sinners camp, Jessica and Witworth have another fight over the idol, with Jessica insisting that she keep it. This causes the rest of the tribe to be alerted to the fact that Jessica and Witworth have an idol, and Witworth becomes a target because of this. At the Saints tribe, the women form a tight three, and Kirk and Greg are forced to band together to survive. At tribal council, the three women stay strong, and Greg is voted out 3-2 and becomes the first member of the jury, leaving only four Saints left in the game.
Episode 9: With his back up against the wall, Kirk knows that he's probably gone next if he didn't have the idol, which ensured his survival until merge. The Saints finally win a challenge, a reward challenge, but lose immunity once again to the inflated egos of the Sinners. Not much else happens this episode, but Kirk tries to get Maralyn to flip and vote out Ava, but she disagrees to do so, and she votes for Gwen instead, making Kirk not trust her, and he decides to vote for her, while also playing his idol. This causes a 1-1-0 tie between Gwen and Maralyn, and Ava, misunderstanding what would happen if she forced a tie, votes for Gwen while Kirk votes for Maralyn, and Ava becomes the second person in King's Survivor history to be eliminated by default, due to there being no other options, and she becomes the second member of the jury
Episode 10: At long last, the tribes merge into the purple Ucurum tribe, meaning balance in Turkish. Left in the game is Witworth, Gwen, Irvin, Jessica, Kirk, Maize, Maralyn, Molly, Nikki, and Vito. At first, it seems like it would be Saint Vs Sinner, but Jessica and Witworth come to the three Saints left in the game, and they convince them to vote with them come tribal council. Vito wins his second immunity challenge of the season, and his target was Witworth for being the strongest male not in his alliance, and also for lying about not having an idol, which he believed was given to Jessica. At tribal council, the lines cause a 5-5 divide between Irvin and Witworth, and on the revote, Maralyn randomly decides to flip to avoid a tie, and Carter Witworth becomes the third member of the jury, and also another person to go out with an idol in their pocket. He is understandably pretty pissed about this ordeal, but wishes his tribe well.
Episode 11: The day after Witworth's blindside, the nine remaining contestants compete in a reward challenge, which the team containing Irvin, Maralyn, and Vito win. At the reward, Irvin and Vito realize how dangerous Maralyn could be after she starts trying to talk game with them. Soon afterwards, Maralyn finds the idol, and Jessica calls out Molly for following Vito almost blindly. Nikki wins the second post merge immunity challenge, and Vito tries to recruit Jessica for the vote, which succeeds. They then choose to target Maralyn, since she was the most threatening out of the three Saints, and the six remaining Sinners pin votes onto her. Unfortunately for them, Maralyn pulls out an idol, and the Saints vote for Irvin, a potential immunity threat, making him the fourth member of the jury in a 3-0 vote.
Episode 12: After Irvin's blindside, only two men are still in the game, compared to the six women. Nikki is able to find an idol, after thinking that she hasn't been playing hard enough, while Molly gets into a fight with Maralyn over the latter pulling out an idol, which she hadn't wanted her to do. Molly wins immunity, and it becomes a battle of the Saints Vs the Sinners, just like the theme of the season. The Saints go after Maize, wanting to weaken Vito further before going after him, but they are unable to swing anyone over and Vito, fueled by vengeance, gets his alliance to vote for Maralyn. In a 5-3 vote, Maralyn becomes the fifth member of the jury. Back at camp, the final seven become annoyed at Nikki's arrogance after being safe from being voted out, so she becomes a target for the two remaining Saints left. Kirk also becomes a target for being a perceived leader for Gwen, causing him to be target numero uno. After Kirk wins immunity, the target shifts from him to Gwen, due to her being perceived as not wanting to play the game, and rather would be along for the ride, which Vito found unpalatable. Kirk and Gwen then try to vote out Molly for her strength in challenges, and in the end, Gwen gets the boot in a 5-2 vote, making her the sixth juror.
Episode 13: With only six people left in the game, the final reward challenge takes place. Maize wins it, and she shares it with Vito, her closest ally, and Jessica, who her and Vito wanted to bring closer. Soon, they realize what a threat she could be, especially because she's a poker player, she becomes the biggest target instead of Kirk. Luckily for her, she wins immunity. Kirk tries to bond with Maize as a way to get Vito to not vote him out, but it backfires, and he becomes the biggest target yet again. At tribal council, he votes for Molly, but everyone else votes for him, making him the seventh juror in a 5-1 vote and completely eliminating the Saints from the game.
Finale: Jessica, Maize, Molly, Nikki, and Vito remain. Five players who had remarkably different playing styles, but all came from the same tribe. They compete in the second-to-last immunity challenge, which Maize wins, and the biggest target becomes Jessica again, who has proven herself to be the only player not following Vito, and only voting with him just to get further in the game. Vito does not feel the same way about keeping Jessica around, so he and his alliance with Nikki, Molly, and Maize vote for her, and Nikki plays her idol in case someone flipped on her, and Jessica becomes the eighth juror in a 4-0 vote. Back at camp, Vito feels incredibly cocky, and he tries to influence a fight, and he does so between Nikki and Maize. He then goes on to win final immunity, and Nikki tanks her own game with her fight with Maize, and everyone votes her out, causing her to become the ninth juror in a 3-1 vote. The final three consists of Maize, Molly, and Vito. Molly gets criticism for her lack of strategy, only using her social game to get far, and her challenge capabilities. Maize is seen as following too closely to Vito, but the jury is willing to vote for her if Vito tanks his jury speech. He does not, and explains his game in great detail, saying he started out forming a five person alliance on the first night, he commenced the Wildcard blindside, the Witworth blindside, the Jessica blindside, etc. He did it all, but the bonds he formed in the game were genuine, and he didn't intend his villainous backstabbing to be taken personal. In the end, he gets all the jury votes, even from two people he never met, Greg and Ava. Maralyn wins the Fan Favorite for standing up to Vito and her idol play.
Winner: Vito Luco, u/swoldow
Fan Favorite: Maralyn Sander, u/Void_Drone
Potential Returnees (yeah, I haven't done this in a while): Vito, Jessica, Kirk, Maralyn, WItworth, Ava, Cap'n, maybe Ardet, if I do a first boot season
Next season, will be the final season before season 35, I won't spoil the theme for 35, but trust me, it won't be a season to miss. Season 34 however, with the release of the new Island Of The Idols sim, it will feature two King's Survivor Idols, who will be revealed with the sign ups. Next season will be King's Survivor Venezuela: Island Of The Idols!