OCD Action : OCD Action: The Largest and Longest Serving UK National Charity for People Affected by OCD Spectrum Disorders(Print)

OCD Action, the leading National charity for people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, was formed over seventeen years ago by people who wanted to make a difference.  People affected by OCD decided that something more needed to be done. 

For many years an informal group of people met in an attempt to support each other through the debilitating experience of living with OCD.  Since those early days circa 1991 we have become the leading driver of change in the UK for the up to 1.8 million people affected. 

We have provided information and support, promoting recovery from OCD and the related disorders of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Compulsive Skin Picking (CSP), Trichotillomania  (TTM) and Children and Young People with OCD. 

OCD is the fourth most common mental health disorder, with an estimated 1-3% of the UK population affected (approx. 1.8 million people), and is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top 10 disabling conditions (including physical ailments) in the world. In spite of this, it still takes on average eight years from the onset of symptoms to be diagnosed, and even longer to receive treatment.

Aside from providing free up to 10,000 information packs a year, answering help and information line support to anyone who calls and responding to email queries, we participated in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). 

NICE, The National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) and OCD Action then worked together to create a GP Information Card that has been used to raise awareness among professionals throughout Britain.

Our Medical Trustees represent some of the top OCD specialists in the UK.  All national television broadcasts about OCD, such as the BAFTA/Mental Health Media nominated ‘Help Me Help My Child’, have featured our Trustees and Patrons.  It would not be an exaggeration to say that over ten million people have watched these programmes.

We believe that our members’ letter writing campaign to Parliament was a significant factor in recent plans by the government to improve access to treatment.

We have done so much over the years and have grown significantly in the last three, expanding services from two and a half days to five, increasing volunteers and upgrading our website. 

The people who volunteer are often people with OCD, BDD, CSP or Trich--but can also be family members and training professionals.  Our aim is to provide the highest level of support, while also supporting the development of our volunteers.  Recently a volunteer joined our staff!

OCD Action is not here to tell people what to do.  We do not limit choices about treatment or research.  We simply and ethically provide clinically proven treatment information and personal support.

By coming to this site you have said, as we do, that you will ‘Take Action!’ 

If you need help and support, please call our help and information line on 0845 390 6232.  

For Media Enquiries, please click here.

New classfields!

OCD Film Submissions

New support group in Devon!

A message from Chair Piers Watson

Award winning short film on hoarding

OCD Conference 22nd November, Imperial College London

Interested in starting/joining an OCD support group in Chelmsford?

Interested in starting/joining an OCD Support group in Richmond/Twickenham area?

In order to promote better understanding, OCD Action supports ethically approved research projects across the UK.  Click here to find out about current research opportunities.