If you are not safe right now
If you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, for urgent mental health help, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or ask for an urgent GP appointment. These routes are explained in the NHS urgent-help guidance. Let’s Just Talk OK is not an emergency or crisis service. Do not wait for a booked call in an emergency. Our urgent-help page brings the main support routes together.
“I have no one to talk to” can mean there is nobody around, or that the people around you do not feel like people you can confide in. You might want to talk about something difficult, share an ordinary day, or simply hear another voice. You do not need a polished explanation before asking for a conversation.
The next step depends on what you need now. Free listening support, someone you already know and a planned befriending call serve different purposes. This guide starts with support you can contact without buying a call.
Free listening support
Samaritans offers free listening support, day or night, every day of the year. Call 116 123 to speak about what is troubling you. Its volunteers listen and help you explore your thoughts and feelings rather than making decisions for you.
You could begin with something as simple as “I am finding things difficult and I do not know where to start.” There is no need to turn your experience into a neat story. You can explain what is happening today and take the conversation from there.
The NHS urgent-support directory also lists free services, including options for different ages and ways of communicating. Check the linked service’s current opening hours and contact methods. A service being open does not guarantee that you will be connected immediately; use emergency help if you are unsafe.
Is there someone you could ask differently?
You may genuinely have a very small circle. You may also know people but feel unsure whether you are allowed to ask for their time. Neither situation means you have failed at friendship. Before deciding whom to approach, think about who has treated you with kindness and respected your boundaries.
That person could be a relative, friend, neighbour or colleague. They do not have to be the person who knows every part of your life. You can ask for one manageable conversation without asking them to become your only source of support.
- “Have you got ten minutes for a chat this week? I have been feeling a bit cut off.”
- “Could you listen for a moment? I am not looking for advice just now.”
- “Would you like to have a cup of tea together? I could do with some company.”
These are suggested opening lines, not accounts from our customers. Change the words until they sound like you. If calling feels difficult, a short message asking for a time to talk may be a more comfortable beginning.
What if they do not reply?
An unanswered message can hurt, especially when sending it took effort. It does not explain everything about the other person’s feelings or circumstances. They may be busy, uncertain how to respond or unavailable at that moment.
If appropriate, you can suggest a specific time once. You can also try another person or a suitable support service instead of leaving your whole evening dependent on one reply. Respect a request for space, and do not keep sharing personal information with someone who repeatedly responds unkindly.
When there really is nobody in your circle
A longer-term starting point can be a setting where you see familiar people regularly: a library activity, community group, adult-learning class or volunteer role. You do not have to arrive ready to make a close friend. Asking an organiser what happens on a first visit is a useful first step in itself.
Check the practical details before committing. Cost, transport, accessibility, hearing needs and the size of a group can make a difference. Ask whether someone can welcome you on arrival or whether you can observe before joining in. Choosing a setting that fits your circumstances is more useful than forcing yourself into one that does not.
For more gradual ideas, our guide to making friends as an adult looks at building contact over time. New connections do not have to replace help you need today.
When to involve your GP
If low mood has continued for more than two weeks, you are finding it hard to cope or your own attempts to help are not working, the NHS recommends speaking to a GP. You can describe what daily life has been like without deciding on a diagnosis first.
You might write down what has changed and what you want help with before the appointment. Ordinary conversation and healthcare are different kinds of support. Having a befriending call does not replace an assessment, counselling or treatment you may need.
Where does a booked call fit?
A booked befriending call may suit an adult who wants a planned, ordinary conversation with someone outside their personal circle. It is optional paid support, with no promise that a call will change how you feel. You can choose free support or speak to somebody you know instead.
Let’s Just Talk OK offers phone-only calls for adults aged 18 and over. You choose a befriender, who calls from the office number. Calls are not recorded. A 30-minute call costs £30 and a 60-minute call costs £45. Availability depends on the calendar; this is not an instant helpline.
Our How it works page explains the process, and the FAQ covers practical questions. If you are considering the length, see 30 or 60 minutes. The service is befriending, not therapy, counselling or crisis support.
If that is the kind of conversation you want, the someone to talk to page explains the option without requiring you to book.
Sources and support details checked: 3 November 2026. This guide provides general information, not a medical assessment.
