Helplines & Support Groups in Tuscany

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Helplines & Support Groups in Tuscany

Helpline	Telephone
Pan-European Emergency	Tel: 112
Alcoholics Helpline	Tel: 800 542 525
Drug Addict Helpline (Monday to Friday 10:00-16:00)	Tel: 800 588 54
Women's Helpline	Tel: 800 001 122
Child Helpline (children up to the age of 14)	Tel: 19696
Adult & Adolescent Helpline (children over the age of 14)	Tel: 199 151 515
Poison Control Centre	Tel: 055 427 7238
AIDS Helpline	Tel: 167 861 061

The Pan-European emergency number SOS 112 works in any EU country from any telephone, and it's also the number to call for any emergency services when using a cellular/mobile telephone.

Below is information on helplines and support groups in Tuscany for the following (note that most are Italian speaking only):

Alcoholics Anonymous

There are several English-language Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that are held in Tuscany. Note that not all of these are open.

• For a list of meetings in Tuscany from the AA Europe website: Click here

The Italian Alcoholics Anonymous Organisation (Alcolisti Anonimi Italiana) organises meetings throughout Italy. Please note that these are not in English.

• Area Toscana
  At: Piazza San Salvi 4, 50135 Florence (FI)
  Tel: 055 671 296
• For a list and timetable of AA meetings in Tuscany: Click here (select Contact Local, the Lombardy region on the map and download Elenco Sedi Regione Toscana)

Other groups for alcohol-related issues

ARCAT (Associazione Regionale dei Club degli Alcolisti in Trattamento della Toscana) is an Italian association for alcohol dependants with several meeting groups throughout Tuscany.

• ARCAT Toscana
  Pres Giuliana Giuliani
  At: c/o Via Sotto l'Organo N° 86, Capezzana 59100 Prato
  Tel: 057 481 0498
  Website (in Italian)
• For more groups and timetables for meetings in the Tuscany region: Click here (in Italian)

Al-Anon: assistance for family of alcoholics

In Al-Anon, members share their experiences and provide support for family, partners and those affected by a or in a relationship with an alcoholic (whether the alcoholic is still drinking or not). 

• English Al-Anon Meeting (all welcome)
  Tools @ St. James, Florence
  At: St. James Church, Via B. Rucellai 9, Florence
  On: Thursdays, 19:30-20:30
  e-mail
  Website

HIV / AIDS

Anlaids, a national association founded to support HIV-positive people and their families, has a regional branch in Tuscany:

• Sezione Toscana
  At: Via Valtriano di Fauglia 40, 56043 Fauglia (PI)
  Tel: 050 644 145
  Website (in Italian)

The Instituto Superiore di Sanita's Centro Nazionale AIDS (National AIDS Centre) operates a free AIDS helpline with support in English.

• Centro Nazionale AIDS
  Tel: 800 861 061
  Website

Smoking Addiction

Fumo.it is a website with resources and information for smokers who want to stop smoking.

• Information and Advice
  Tel: 800 571 661 (Numero Verde)
• To search for anti-smoking centres (Centri Antifumo) in Tuscany and Italy: Click here (in Italian)
• SOS smoking 
  Tel: 800 998 877

Drug Abuse

Narcotics Anonymous (Narcotici Anonimi) is a support group for people with drug problems. All that is required to join is a desire to stop taking drugs. There are meetings in Florence on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

• For a list of meetings: Click here

Cancer Support

• SOS tumours 
  Tel: 800 422 412

Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori (LILT) is an Italian association providing help and medical care to people affected by cancer.

• For a list of oncologists in the provinces of Tuscany: Click here (in Italian)
• For a list of hospitals with oncology sections: Click here (in Italian)

Europa Donna is a European organisation for women with breast cancer. It campaigns for better screening and provides support for women with the disease.

• Europa Donna Italy
  At: V.le A.Volta, 173, 50131 Florence (FI)
  Tel: 055 576 939
  Website (in Italian)

Europa Uomo is an organisation that raises awareness and campaigns for the rights of men with prostate cancer.

• Europa Uomo Italy
  Tel: 800 869 960 (Numero Verde)
  Website (in Italian)

Homelessness

Caritas is a support and charity group for homeless people and people in difficulty.

• Caritas website (in Italian)

There are several Caritas centres in Tuscany.

• Caritas Toscana
  At: Via de Pucci 2, 50122 Florence (FI)
  Tel: 055 267 70 / 055 238 2634
  Fax: 055 267 70249 / 055 230 2076
  e-mail
  Website
• For a full list of Caritas centres in Tuscany: Click here

Gay & Lesbian

Arcigay is an Italian gay rights organisation and is open to everybody, both homosexuals and heterosexuals. It promotes the welfare of homosexuals and also campaigns to raise awareness of AIDS and HIV.

• Arcigay website

Arcigay in Tuscany:

• Arcigay Florence
  At: Via Del Lavoro 19, 50041 Calenzano (FI)
  Tel: 055 882 6359
  Fax: 055 882 6359
  e-mail
  Website
• Arcigay Grosseto
  At: Via Parini 7/e, 58100 Grosseto (GR)
  Tel: 347 078 8972
  e-mail
  Website
• Arcigay Livorno
  At: Piazza della Libertà 14, 57023 Cecina (LI)
  Tel: 348 493 5240
  e-mail
  Website
• Arcigay Pisa
  At: Via S. Lorenzo 38, 56127 Pisa (PI)
  Tel: 050 555 618
  Fax: 050 831 0605
  e-mail
  Website

• For further information, see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Gay & Lesbian in Tuscany

Samaritans

The Samaritans Onlus have a toll-free, Crisis Intervention Hotline open 13:00-22:00 daily.

• Tel: 800 860 022
  Website (in Italian)

Disabled People

Support and information line dedicated to disabled people:

• Tel: 800 261 027
• For more information see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Notes for the Disabled in Tuscany

Family Planning & Sexual Health

There are numerous family planning clinics (Consultorio Familiare) in Tuscany. For information on the clinics, it is necessary to contact the local USL.

• For a full list of the USLs in Tuscany, see the Regione Toscana website (in Italian)

Public Clinics (Consultorio Familiare) in Tuscany

Mental Health

• The Institute for Research and Prevention of Depression and Anxiety (Istituto per la ricerca e la prevenzione della depressione e dell'ansia, IDEA)
  At: Via Statuto 4, 20121 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 654 126
• Pronto Alzheimer
  Tel: 02 809 767
  e-mail
  Website

Women's Support Groups

The Telefono Azzurro - Rosa offers moral support and advice for women who find themselves in difficult domestic situations. This service is free and available throughout Italy.

• Tel: 800 001 122

For women suffering from domestic violence, there are shelters (centri antiviolenza) in the Tuscany region.

Children's Support Groups

Telefono Azzuro has helplines for children and adolescents in distress.

• Child Helpline 
  Tel: 196 96
• Adolescent Helpline 
  Tel: 199 151 515

SOS Missing Children is a helpline providing support and information for parents of missing children. The helpline operates in ten countries in Europe and is available 24/7.

• Tel: 116 000
  Website

Newcomers' Groups

• For a list of newcomer groups in Tuscany, see The AngloFILE, Clubs & Associations

Further Information

Website InsiemeSenza.org provides timetables and addresses for meetings and welcome centres in Tuscany, with regard to the following (the meetings are held in Italian):

• Narcotics Anonymous
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• anti-drug centres
• drug-addicts' families centres
• alcoholics centres
• Al-anon groups for alcoholics' families
• eating-disorder centres
• Overeaters Anonymous
• gambling addiction support meetings
• To find a meeting: Click here