Our objectives
Reach Out for Mental Health is a suicide prevention charity offering compassionate, peer-led support to people in emotional pain. We believe in the healing power of being truly heard by someone who understands. Our volunteers—including a majority of student counsellors—bring lived experience of mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts, and they walk alongside those who feel overwhelmed, offering empathy and hope.
We provide up to 12 weeks of free counselling, available face-to-face, by phone, or online. For those seeking a more informal approach, we offer befriending calls, peer-led coffee groups, and a crisis service in Harwich offering immediate, local support.
Why Essex needs us
Essex has some of the highest suicide rates in the UK. In areas like Tendring and Colchester, the numbers are significantly above the national average—driven by social isolation, deprivation, and a lack of accessible support. Between 2017 and 2019, Essex recorded over 500 suicides, and the impact continues to grow.
Since 2023, we’ve seen demand for our services surge by over 125%, a heart-breaking reflection of just how many people are struggling. We’re here to meet that need—with compassion, honesty, and a powerful belief that no one should have to face the darkness alone.
We evaluate clients after they've completed support with us these are some of the responses we've received:
- 100% of clients said our service had helped them.
- 100% of clients said they felt they were treated with dignity and respect
- 100% of clients said they would recommend us to friends and family
- Over 82% of those who felt suicidal when receiving our service said they now feel less suicidal
- 98% of people said they felt they could now recognise when their mental health would decrease
Our activities
ROFMH offers individuals an opportunity to talk about what they’re going through. This could be recent events or things from the past. We know sometimes talking can be difficult, we also know it can really help. Our service is run by a small team of volunteers who are friendly, good listeners and genuinely want to make a positive difference to those going through a tough time.
