Wellbeing
It's a big deal, and it's OK to find it hard
Losing a job can hit your confidence, your routine and your sense of who you are, not just your bank balance. If it's weighing on you, talk to someone. These services are free and confidential.
Support in Ireland
- Samaritans 116 123 Free, any time, day or night
- Pieta 1800 247 247 Crisis line, 24 hours. Or text HELP to 51444
- Text About It Text TALK to 50808 Free, 24/7 text support
- Aware Support Line 1800 80 48 48 Depression and anxiety, 10am to 10pm daily
- MABS Helpline 0818 07 2000 Free money and debt advice, Mon to Fri
- Citizens Information Phone Service 0818 07 4000 Your rights and entitlements, Mon to Fri
Support in Great Britain
- Samaritans 116 123 Free, any time, day or night
- Shout Text SHOUT to 85258 Free 24/7 text support
- Mind Infoline 0300 123 3393 Mental health information, Mon to Fri
- StepChange 0800 138 1111 Free debt advice
- National Debtline 0808 808 4000 Free debt advice
- Acas helpline 0300 123 1100 Employment rights, Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm
Support in Northern Ireland
- Lifeline 0808 808 8000 Northern Ireland crisis line, 24/7
- Samaritans 116 123 Free, any time, day or night
- Shout Text SHOUT to 85258 Free 24/7 text support
- Advice NI 0800 915 4604 Free money and benefits advice
- StepChange 0800 138 1111 Free debt advice
- LRA Workplace Information Service 03300 555 300 Employment rights
Support in United States
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 Free, confidential, 24/7
- 211 Dial 211 Local help with food, housing, bills and more
- American Job Centers careeronestop.org Free job search and training help
Support in Canada
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline Call or text 988 Free, 24/7, in English and French
- Credit Counselling Canada creditcounsellingcanada.ca Non-profit debt and budgeting help
- Employment Ontario ontario.ca/employmentontario Job search and training support in Ontario
Support in Australia
- Lifeline 13 11 14 24/7 crisis support. Text 0477 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 24/7 mental health support
- National Debt Helpline 1800 007 007 Free financial counselling, weekdays
- Fair Work Ombudsman 13 13 94 Workplace rights and entitlements
Support in New Zealand
- Need to talk? Call or text 1737 Free, 24/7, talk to a trained counsellor
- Lifeline 0800 543 354 Or text HELP to 4357
- Suicide Crisis Helpline 0508 828 865 24/7
- Employment mediation (MBIE) 0800 20 90 20 Free employment mediation
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
Looking after yourself
It's not a verdict on you
Redundancy is about a role, a budget or a restructure. Good people are made redundant every day, and most land somewhere new.
Keep a shape to your days
Get up at the same time, set job-search hours and stop at the end of them. Evenings and weekends still count as time off.
Move, even a little
A walk, a swim, a run. Exercise is one of the most reliable ways to take the edge off anxiety.
Stay connected
Tell people. Former colleagues, friends and family are your best source of support and, often, of your next job.
Know your numbers
Uncertainty feeds worry. Working out your runway turns a vague fear into a date and a plan.
Runway plannerAllow the ups and downs
Shock, anger, relief and worry can all show up in the same day. That is normal. Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a friend.
Looking forward
When you're ready: a fresh start
There's no rush. But when the dust settles, support for retraining, changing direction or starting a business can turn this into something good.
Back to Education Allowance, straight away
If you got statutory redundancy, you can get the Back to Education Allowance immediately (skipping the usual waiting period) for a course starting within a year of your redundancy.
Citizens InformationFree courses with Springboard+
Springboard+ courses are free if you are unemployed and getting a qualifying payment such as JPRB. Many ETB and Skillnet Ireland courses are free for jobseekers too.
Springboard+Start something
The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance lets you keep your jobseeker’s payment rate while you start a business, with a start-up grant of up to €1,000. Your Local Enterprise Office offers grants, mentoring and training.
Short-Term Enterprise AllowanceFree career guidance
Intreo’s Employment Personal Advisers help with job-matching and training, and JobsIreland.ie lists vacancies. Your local ETB’s adult guidance service is free too.
IntreoFree careers advice
The National Careers Service (England), Careers Wales and My World of Work (Scotland) offer free, impartial advice on changing direction and retraining.
National Careers ServiceHelp for people facing redundancy
Scotland’s PACE service and Wales’s ReAct+ programme support people facing redundancy with advice and help with training costs. In England, ask your Jobcentre about local support.
Citizens Advice: RedundancyTalk money through
MoneyHelper’s free guidance covers making redundancy money last, pensions, and whether to pay off debts.
MoneyHelperFree careers guidance
The Careers Service NI offers free, impartial careers advice for adults, including help with changing direction.
Careers Service NIMoney guidance
Advice NI and MoneyHelper can help you make a plan for your redundancy money, debts and benefits.
MoneyHelperFree training for laid-off workers
American Job Centers run federally funded programs for dislocated workers, including career coaching and help paying for training.
Find an American Job CenterStart your own business
The Small Business Administration and its local partners offer free counseling, training and help finding funding.
SBARetraining support in Ontario
Employment Ontario connects laid-off workers with free job-search help and funded training programs such as Better Jobs Ontario.
Employment OntarioJob Bank
The federal Job Bank lists vacancies, wages and outlooks by occupation, which helps if you are weighing a change of direction.
Job BankFee-Free TAFE
Fee-Free TAFE places cover courses in areas of skills shortage, and jobseekers are a priority group.
Your CareerHelp starting a business
Workforce Australia’s Self-Employment Assistance offers training, mentoring and support to plan and start a business.
Workforce AustraliaHelp back into work
Work and Income can help with job search, training costs and, in some cases, support to become self-employed.
Work and IncomeExplore careers
Tahatū Career Navigator has free tools to explore careers, training options and job prospects.
Careers NZ