We Are With You

14/07/2025

Happy International Non-Binary People's Day! 🌈❤️

Non-Binary is an umbrella term to explain a gender identity where a person does not identify as a man or woman but may identify with both masculine/feminine identities, neither identities, or a more fluid experience of their gender.

Today aims to raise awareness around the issues faced by non-binary people around the world. 70% of non-binary people have experienced depression, and we want you to know that we are with you and are here to support you if you are struggling with a low mood or anxiety.

Please reach out today:

https://www.iaptportal.co.uk/ServiceUser/SelfReferralForm.aspx?sd=b3124783-7974-4a47-a227-3572b68df4f8

10/07/2025

Not feeling your best today?

Whether it was M**A, coke, 3-MMC, or a cocktail of chaos, you might be in the thick of the comedown.

This short video walks through a real self-care checklist that actually helps.

No fluff. No miracle cure nonsense. Just:
- Eat
- Hydrate (slowly)
- Shower
- Don’t spiral
- Text a mate
- Be kind to yourself

If something doesn’t feel right; don’t guess.

Get medical help. It’s always better to check.

And if this is more than just a one time thing and you're worried you're becoming dependent? You don't have to face it alone, speak to our trained adviser at wearewithyou.org.uk

💬 Tag someone who needs this today, or save it for when your own Sunday turns sideways.

09/07/2025

"M-Cat"," Monkey Dust", "Bath Salts"... cathinones use is on the rise again.

These synthetic stimulants are being used in party scenes, chems*x contexts, and beyond, and the harms are showing up too.

Redosing loops. Paranoia. Heart strain. Long comedowns.

Let's take a look at what cathinones are, how people use them, and how to reduce risk without judgement.

09/07/2025

The NHS 10-Year Plan is ambitious. But it misses a critical opportunity.

This Alcohol Awareness Week, the Drugs, Alcohol and Justice APPG, which WithYou is proud to be part of, has launched a new report: Action on Alcohol Harm – Priorities for Policymakers.

It couldn’t come at a more urgent time.

Alcohol was a factor in over 20,000 deaths and more than one million hospital admissions in England last year

The total cost to the country is £21 billion, with £3.5 billion falling on the NHS

Yet the new NHS 10-Year Plan includes only passing reference to alcohol harm

Drug-related harm is not mentioned at all

That silence speaks volumes.

Our CEO Simon Phillips said:

“There is no serious engagement with the role of the voluntary and community sector, and more concerning still is the total omission of plans to address drug-related harm. We are pleased to see the commitment to shifting to a community-led preventative model for alcohol, but would like to see a more ambitious plan for this given that alcohol was a factor in 20,000 deaths and over one million hospitalisations in England last year.

Though the plan is ambitious and full of policies, ultimately its refusal to acknowledge the reality of the impact that drug and alcohol harm can have shows just how much work we still need to do to challenge the systemic stigma our sector faces.”

We support the APPG’s recommendations around alcohol harm and the need for a specific national strategy.

At WithYou, we call on national decision-makers to ensure drug and alcohol harm are no longer sidelined. This is a national health issue, and it requires a plan to tackle it together.

08/07/2025

Benzo to end the trip? Not always the safe call.

When a psychedelic experience gets overwhelming, it’s common for people to reach for something that they hope will “switch it off.”

But coming down from a trip with benzos, alcohol, or sleeping pills doesn’t just carry risk; it can hide distress that needs support, not suppression.

This post breaks down:
✔ Which substances people use to comedown from a trip
✔ Why mixing is dangerous
✔ Safer alternatives to manage a bad trip

🎯 No judgement. Just evidence-based harm reduction to help people make better choices in high-pressure moments.

07/07/2025

If your dose is in milligrams, your scale needs to be more than just ‘cheap and small.'

Cheap milligram scales sold online are widely used by people trying to measure powders like benzodiazepines, ketamine, 2C-type substances, or synthetic cannabinoids.

They look legit but they’re often wildly inaccurate under 10–15mg.
That’s a huge problem when you’re dealing with substances where the difference between 2mg and 5mg can mean blackout, hospitalisation, or worse.

This video breaks down the risks and the basics of measuring safely:
📌 Don’t rely on scale readouts under 10mg
📌 Use volumetric dosing when you can
📌 Always start low and measure in a stable setting

04/07/2025

Benzo to end the trip? Not always the safe call.

When a psychedelic experience gets overwhelming, it’s common for people to reach for something that they hope will “switch it off.”

But coming down from a trip with benzos, alcohol, or sleeping pills doesn’t just carry risk; it can hide distress that needs support, not suppression.

This post breaks down:
✔ Which substances people use to comedown from a trip
✔ Why mixing is dangerous
✔ Safer alternatives to manage a bad trip

🎯 No judgement. Just evidence-based harm reduction to help people make better choices in high-pressure moments.

03/07/2025

Summer’s great. But if you’re using drugs in hot weather, it’s important to understand how heat changes things.

Substances like M**A, alcohol, and co***ne can increase your heart rate, dehydrate you faster, and make it harder to regulate body temperature.

Add high heat to the mix and the risk of harm; overheating, fainting, or worse, goes way up.

This post walks you through the key risks and some simple, stigma-free advice for staying safer.

📢 Share this with someone heading to a festival, a party, or anywhere they might be using drugs or alcohol this summer.

02/07/2025

Unlabelled pills. Unknown ingredients.

They're called ‘blues’, ‘benzo bars’, ‘Xans’; but what’s actually in them is anyone’s guess.

As street benzos spread across UK cities, we’re seeing rising harms: blackouts, hospitalisations, and even overdoses when they’re mixed with alcohol or opioids.

But people are using them for sleep, anxiety, comedowns, or just to take the edge off.

That’s why we’re sharing this: practical, judgement-free info to help you reduce harm and spot the risks.

📢 Please share; this is information that could save a life.

02/07/2025

Free, confidential counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in Surrey. All our therapists are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.
To register for our service, you can do so online now. You don't need to be referred by a GP, you just need to be:

aged 17 or over
registered with a GP in Surrey

Please complete the online registration form below, and we will schedule your appointment with one of our therapists.

https://www.iaptportal.co.uk/ServiceUser/SelfReferralForm.aspx?sd=7924fbf4-482d-4204-8d49-9410a5614648

30/06/2025

As Pride Month draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a part of harm reduction history that’s often left out.

LGBTQ+ communities didn’t wait for permission to save lives.
In the 1980s and 90s, when stigma was everywhere and support was scarce, they built their own systems of care:

✔ Safer s*x guides from lived experience
✔ Early syringe access and peer-led education
✔ Mutual aid and support networks that laid the foundations for today’s harm reduction services

That legacy still shapes how we care, support, and protect each other, whether we realise it or not.

Every naloxone kit.
Every peer worker.
Every non-judgemental conversation.

All of it traces back to people who refused to be silent.

🎥 Watch the full video
🔁 Share to honour the LGBTQ+ roots of harm reduction

29/06/2025

Let's Talk 2CB

28/06/2025

Today is - a time to honour and thank those who serve, and have served, in our Armed Forces.

At WithYou, we’re proud to offer a dedicated support programme for veterans, serving personnel, reservists, and their families, because we recognise the unique challenges they face.

Linda Naveran, our Armed Forces Lead in North East Lincolnshire, shares why this work is so close to her heart:

“Having served myself, and as a wife of a 17/ 21st Royal Lancer for 30 years, I know only too well the highs and lows service life can bring; moving around and being ready for deployment at the click of a finger. However, the resilience and sense of duty and camaraderie I have experienced enabled me to make friends for life.

“It is that sense of duty and family I experienced that meant I didn’t hesitate to take up the challenge when asked to be the North East Lincolnshire Veteran Lead.

“Being a part of WithYou’s offer to the Armed Forces Community and supporting people to manage the challenges they may be facing is a huge privilege. Guiding clients through their recovery journey using my own experiences and personal challenges, in a language they understand, hopefully helps them to see that there is a light at the end, and you can be who you always wanted to be.”

Our specialist programme can support any member of the Armed Forces community:
🔹 If you’re worried about your own alcohol or drug use or someone else's
🔹 If you have served more than one day in any of the UK Armed Forces, including the UK Reserve Forces (or someone in your family has).

All our services are free of charge; we’re here to listen and provide support without judgement.
Whether you’re looking for someone who understands military life, need help with your recovery journey, or just want to talk, we’re WithYou 💙

Learn more or get support at wearewithyou.org.uk

25/06/2025

Mixing drugs happens more often than most people admit — but the risks are rarely talked about honestly.

Polydrug use means taking more than one substance in the same session.
It’s common in party scenes, festivals, LGBTQ+ spaces, and weekend binge culture.

But here’s the issue:

Effects get harder to predict
Doses become harder to control
Overdose risk goes up; especially with depressants like G, alcohol, or benzos
You might not realise you’re in danger until it’s too late

This isn’t a scare story. It’s harm reduction; real talk, no shame.

Watch the video and share to help others

13/06/2025

The theme this year is "Caring About Equality". This year's focus is on the inequalities faced by unpaid carers and calling for greater support for them. The week aims to raise awareness of the challenges carers face, including the increased risk of poverty, social isolation, and poor mental and physical health.

If you need support with your mental health, speak to us today: Call and make a referral on 0300 012 0012 or complete an online referral by visiting our website.
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/surrey-talking-therapies/services/talking-therapies

10/06/2025

Men experience domestic abuse too. If someone close to you puts you down, controls where you go or who you speak to, or makes you feel anxious, isolated or afraid, this could be coercive control. It’s not always easy to see it. During Men’s Health Week, we want to say clearly, your experiences are valid and you're not alone.

Your Sanctuary offer confidential, non-judgemental support specifically for men who are affected by domestic abuse, including emotional or controlling behaviour. See the comments for more information.

04/06/2025

Postive quote to start the day ☀☀☀

02/06/2025

It’s Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate and reflect upon the successes and challenges, past & present, faced by the LGBTQ+ community. While it is important to acknowledge the progress made, we must also recognise the need for continued effort for equity.

LGBT+ History Month is also a moment to lift up people’s stories about their mental health.

Being LGBTQIA+ does not cause mental health problems. But some things you may go through as an LGBTQIA+ person can make you more likely to experience a mental health problem.

Some things you may go through if you’re LGBTQIA+ include:

Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia
Experiences of stigma and discrimination
Difficult experiences of coming out
Social isolation, exclusion and rejection
'Conversion therapy'
Difficulties getting the healthcare you need for reasons such as discrimination, or long waiting lists for gender treatment if you’re trans
In fact, because of these issues LGBTQIA+ people are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience a mental health problem.

And many young people experience a lack of inclusive environments – from home to school and beyond. Nearly a quarter of young people who are at risk of homelessness identify as LGBTQIA+.

The impact that discrimination and isolation has on the mental health of LGBTQIA+ people is clear, and avoidable. That’s why we all need to do more to make sure things change – for the better.

Please remember you’re not alone. We Are With you.

https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/surrey-talking-therapies/services/talking-therapies

23/05/2025

Take some time for you, this bank holiday. Try some tips in post.

Need to talk to someone? Contact us on 0300 012 0012 or complete a referral form online wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/surrey-talking-therapies/services/talking-therapies

21/05/2025

20/05/2025

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe conditions that cause severe tummy pain and diarrhoea. IBD is long-term, but there are treatments that can help with the symptoms. The main types of IBD are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Talking therapies can also help you to cope with the symptoms of IBD. Book an appointment with us today to see how we can help you.

https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/surrey-talking-therapies/services/talking-therapies

19/05/2025

**Motivational Monday**

12/05/2025

It’s and at WithYou, we recognise the importance of having open conversations about the way we’re feeling. We can all experience difficulties with our mental health at times. What this feels like, and how we cope, varies from person to person and often from moment to moment.
This awareness week highlights something really important - the power of community.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we're WithYou.