Information resources
You can access all our information resources here. Please use the "audience" box on the left to filter resources most relevant for you or use the search box to find what you are looking for. Let us know if you think anything is missing or if you have any comments about our resource Viewing resources tagged: OCD, Schools, AdvocacyHighlighted Resources 5 resources
A short film explaining OCD and the treatment available.
A resource put together by the National and Specialist OCD, BDD and Related Disorders Clinic, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
A new NHS complaints leaflet
Overview of CBT - one of the recommended treatments for OCD
Simple overview of OCD
Our Factsheets 22 resources
Getting a diagnosis of OCD.
The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI) of Australia's resources for overcoming Body Dysmorphia
Understanding BDD and treatment options
What good CBT should look like
Looking as the Habit Disorder Compulsive Skin Picking (CSP)
If you live in the UK, you can be assessed and, once you’ve been diagnosed, treated for your OCD through the NHS. Some people choose instead to have treatment privately. This factsheet explains how to find a private therapist and what to look out for when choosing who you work with.
Looking at Habit disorders, skin picking and hair pulling
Information about hair pulling know as Trichotillomania (TTM)
A leaflet provided by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, clearly explaining their recommended Hoarding Disorder treatment programme
The British Psychological Society's guide to Hoarding Disorder
OCD is a treatable illness, and with the right treatment a majority of people who engage with therapy get a good quality of life back. This factsheet can take you through some steps to help you engage with the right treatment and achieve this for yourself.
Looking at medication for OCD
An information leaflet on Perinatal OCD, taken from the Royal College of Psychiatrists website
Information on supporting a person with OCD
Tips on how to tell a loved one about your OCD, written by Youth Advisory Panel volunteer, Nicole.
It can be difficult to talk to a person about getting help for their OCD. This article has some helpful suggestions about how you can broach the subject.
There are a number of therapies and mental health treatments out there that can help with a variety of things, and that are sometimes suggested or sought out for treatment of OCD.Apart from medication, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the only therap
The term 'Pure O' is often used to describe a certain manifestation of OCD, but what does it actually mean? Find out more in this factsheet.
Helping a loved one to take the first steps to treatment.
Self Advocacy information and worksheets 19 resources
A simple guide to help you identify which routes you can take to access treatment for your OCD or BDD
Information and top tips to help you to develop a plan of action so you can self advocate.
A useful worksheet to help you summarise important appointments.
A worksheet aimed to help you keep track of your CBT sessions.
Communicating effectively is essential when it comes to self advocating. This guide provides information and useful tips to help you communicate clearly to ensure you are being heard.
CMHTs are secondary care services provided by the NHS. They are made up of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals working with adults, often between 18 and 65.
It can be difficult to describe the symptoms of your OCD/BDD, but the information you provide the healthcare professional with is vital in ensuring you receive the right diagnosis/treatment.
IAPT services provide a range of talking therapies for various mental health conditions (including OCD). They are free to access as they are part of the NHS.
Information and tips on how to effectively communicate through letter writing.
Information and tips on how to effectively make a formal complaint, including a useful worksheet.
The first step to self advocating is making a plan, this worksheet will help you set out what it is that you want to achieve.
Information and tips on how to effectively communicate during telephone calls.
A worksheet which will help you keep track of the medication you are prescribed.
A useful resource which will help you prepare for any upcoming meetings and/or appointments.
A useful worksheet to help you plan for meetings and appointments.
Information and worksheets to help you to navigate the treatment system and to communicate more effectively.
A useful way to keep track of telephone conversations.
A brief overview of the recommended treatments for OCD/BDD.
The Equality Act 2010 can provide you with protection from discrimination and give you the right to request reasonable adjustments when accessing services or at work/in housing/in education.
Advocacy and Your Rights 15 resources
A report on our last 300 advocacy cases
Information about our advocacy service
Information about Community Mental Health Teams, referrals to them, and the assessment process.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a hidden condition that affects between 1-2% of the population and is frequently misunderstood. This leaflet will help you as an employer to understand OCD and how people with the condition can contribute to your workforce and deliver their best to you.
This guide will give you the information that you need to know about securing a referral outside your area to a national & specialist OCD service. It has some tips and ideas on how you can best present your case to your Psychiatrist who will need to make the referral and who might need to make a request to your local funder to pay for your treatment. This guide can be used alongside the referral request template letter produced by OCD Action’s Advocacy Service and available on the OCD Action website or via the OCD Action office. It can also be used for related conditions such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) or health anxiety.
This guide will give you the information that you need to know about securing a referral for your child to a national & specialist OCD service. It has some tips and ideas on how you can best present your child’s case to their Psychiatrist, who will need to make the referral and who might need to make a request to your local funder to pay for their treatment. This guide can be used for related conditions such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
An NHS Improvement document on Choice when it comes to treatment for mental ill health
Having a clear understanding of your rights and the help that is available to you means that you can be more in control of your treatment.
This is a template letter that you could use to request your Consultant Psychiatrist to refer you to a national & specialist OCD service.
Revised April 2014
If you are diagnosed with OCD and you use more water at home than is considered normal usage, then you MAY be entitled to a capped rate discount with your water company.
Whether you are a tenant or a home owner, there could be times when your OCD is making your life very difficult.
OCD affects 1-2-% of the general population and most people living with the condition manage it well and never enter hospital. There may be times however, when you become unwell and need to enter hospital for a period of treatment.
Managing your OCD at work can be difficult. Some people hide their condition whilst others declare it. Whatever you choose to do, knowing your rights and exploring your options is essential.
Covering your rights if you are detained under the Mental Health Act because of your OCD.
Please note that this is a newly revised resource.
Videos and Presentations 49 resources
This short film features young people and parents of young people who have been treated for OCD. The goal of the film is to raise awareness of the condition and demonstrate how treatment can have a life-changing impact on those affected and their family. The film, “OCD is not me” was mad
An inspirational speech given by David and Laurenne Goldstone at our 2018 National Conference.
Read 
2018 National Conference: Developing a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and images, Professor David Veale
2018 National Conference: Developing a different relationship with intrusive thoughts and images, Professor David Veale
A talk given by Professor David Veale at our 2018 National Conference.
A workshop delivered by the OCD Action Advocacy team on how to get what you want using self-advocacy skills.
An inspirational speech about overcoming intrusive thoughts, given by Rose Bretécher at our 2018 National Conference.
A question and answer session about effective treatment for OCD, with Professor David Veale, Dr Lynne Drummond, Dr Rob Willson, Dr Amita Jassi and Ashley Curry.
A Q&A session with crew and contributors from the film 'UNSTUCK: An OCD Kids Movie', which took place at our 2018 National Conference.
A truly inspirational speech given by Chair of the OCD Youth Panel, Richard Taylor, at our 2018 National Conference.
A presentation given by Dr Lynne Drummond at our 2018 National Conference.
Read
2019 National Conference: Current and Future Psychological Help for OCD, Professor Paul Salkovskis
2019 National Conference: Current and Future Psychological Help for OCD, Professor Paul Salkovskis
Professor Paul Salkovskis provided an update on current treatments for OCD and explored future psychological help during his talk at our 2019 National Conference.
The closing inspirational speech given by Dan Furlong at our 2019 National Conference
A Q&A panel with Dr Amita Jassi, Dr Bruce Clarke, Professor David Veale, Dr Ilenia Pampaloni and Professor Paul Salkovskis - chaired by Maria Bavetta (Maternal OCD).
A presentation delivered by professor David Leave at our 2019 National Conference, in which he asked audience members to speak to and challenge their OCD on stage.
Answering your questions on recovering from Maternal OCD - Dr Fiona Challacombe, Catherine Benfield, Kim French and Diana Wilson (Maternal OCD)
A presentation given by leading OCD expert Professor Paul Salkovskis at our 2019 National Conference.
Author Rose Cartwright and TV presenter Sean Fletcher speak about how OCD is represented in media.
Read
2019 National Conference: Overcoming Intrusive Sexual and Violent Thoughts and Images, Professor David Veale & Rose Cartwright
2019 National Conference: Overcoming Intrusive Sexual and Violent Thoughts and Images, Professor David Veale & Rose Cartwright
Professor David Veale and author Rose Cartwright discuss intrusive sexual and violent thoughts and answer questions from the audience, at our 2019 National Conference.
An inspirational speech given by Sophie and David Goldstone, at our 2019 National Conference.
A panel discussion with OCD Action's Advocacy team at our 2019 National Conference.
A video message about OCD from Johnny Mercer MP who is also the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health
For a final year university project, Amber Griffith produced a short, yet harrowing video about the realities of living with OCD. Accompanied with a poetic voice over, Amber shares how her OCD affects her daily life, from the compulsive thoughts, to the crippling compulsions which accompany the
An overview of BDD by Rob Willson given at National Conference 2014
Coping with Depression
A look at depression and OCD
A truly inspirational speech given by Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) member, Ellen, about her experiences of living with OCD
Helping a loved one through treatment
A presentation given by Karina Lovell at our 2015 National Conference, on how to get the most out of your Cognitive Behvioural Therapy.
Looking at how you can help yourself
A look at Habit Disorders and treatment options
A look at coping with health anxiety
A presentation by Katie d'Ath on how to help yourself day to day, given at National Conference 2014
A presentation on 'How we see OCD', given by journalist and author, David Adam, at our 2015 National Conference.
An inspirational speech by Jo, given at National Conference, 2014
A presentation given by David Veale at our 2015 National Conference, on how to recognize symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety, and useful tips to help manage your mood.
Looking at coping day to day
A presentation given by David Veale at our 2015 National Conference, on whether Mindfulness meditation is relevant to OCD and BDD.
Getting the most out of your CBt - Paul Salkovskis
Getting the most out of your CBT
A presentation by David Veale on OCD and depression, given at National Conference 2014
Help for family members and carers
A look at how to cope with panic attacks
A look at phobias and treatment options
Looking at reassurance in OCD
A presentation by Lynne Drummond on revisiting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), given at National Conference, 2014
Satwant Singh looks at the role that support groups can play in supporting a person with OCD
A presentation given by Lynne Drummond at our 2015 National Conference, looking at how best to support a person with OCD.
A presentation given by Lynne Drummond at our 2015 National Conference, looking at new updates with OCD.
Campaigning 4 resources
OCD Action's manifesto for improving access to quality treatment for people with OCD
Template letter to MPs
Facebook and Twitter banners for OCD Week of Action
A downloadable poster for OCD Week of Action
Schools 4 resources
To assess students’ attitudes toward Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. By the end of the lesson students will be aware of their own attitude towards Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
A short film by OCD Action, highlighting the effects that OCD can have on students and what signs educators can look out for.
This guide is to inform you about obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and the impact OCD can have on the lives of your students. It also gives you advice on how to help the young person and work with their parents to support them as much as possible.
This guide is for parents who have a child who is suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It is about how OCD may impact on their lives at school or college and how you can help.
From the Online Community 20 resources
Forum members share their tips on dealing with OCD day to day
A video created by Emily, following the success of the Twitter community reclaiming the #OCDproblems hashtag.
A video created by Twitter user @secretillness, following the success of the Twitter community reclaiming the #OCDproblems hashtag.
A booklet put together by service users from The Wirral and Liverpool areas, which combines artwork, poetry and personal stories from people battling mental health issues, and aims to inspire, provide hope and useful tips to help on the journey to recovery.
Information and resources for HR professionals on how spot signs of OCD and support employers at work.
Inspirational Quotes submitted by Forum users
It's normal to have worries about how we look. But what happens when these concerns get so out of hand they stop you from going out? Body Dysmorphic Disorder is an obsessive preoccupation with perceived defects in ones appearance. The condition manifests through distressing compulsions such as o
Resources from the Miscarriage Association detailing support available during and after pregnancy loss.
MAN_AGE aims to publish meaningful stories of perseverance amidst mental health struggles in an effort to challenge unnecessary societal pressures, create a community of voices and combat isolation.Visit the MAN_AGE websiteTwitter: @ManAgeOfficialInstagram: @ManAgeOfficialFacebook: @M
Journalism student - Sonal Gupta's radio documentary - 'OCD is not just hand washing'
Ashley Curry and Kirsty Inman's appearance on HCR104fm, where they speak about OCD and their experiences with it.
An article looking at Trichotillomania, the facts, treatment and personal stories
A guest post written by Ariel V.T, a writer and mental health advocate, writing for trichstop.com.
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - twitter chat on support groups" on Storify]
[View the story "Week of Action - Twitter chat on changing stigma" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Advocacy" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on OCD, BDD and Treatment" on Storify]
[View the story "OCD Week of Action - Twitter chat on Child and Adolescent Mental Health" on Storify]
An article written by Daisy Yuhas for Spectrum News: www.spectrumnews.org
Books and further reading 12 resources
Recommended reading for CBT
Other recommended reading relating to OCD
General OCD book list, including personal accounts of OCD, as well as books written by OCD specialists.
Books focusing on OCD related Disorders
Books especially for young people and for families
Self-assessment competency tool for Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, taken from IAPT website.
Outlines how OCD should be treated
Full NICE Guidelines
Overview of the approved treatment for OCD
Article about the assessment of risk in OCD
What are the Psychological Factors that Influence Hoarding Disorder? Summary of Research carried out.
Policies & Website Guides 5 resources
More information about how the charity handles confidentiality
More detail about our Helpline and Email service.
Revised 01/14
Review date: 01/15
About the Support Group Charter, an OCD Action initiative working with support group facilitators to identify best practice
Our Reports 17 resources
Our advocacy service for adults with a diagnosis of OCD has now been running for 5 years and remains the only OCD-specific service in the UK. Our evaluation looks back over the difference we have made to the lives of those we have worked with, what we have learned along the way and how we see the future of the service.
Our report and accounts for 2006-7
Our report and accounts for 2007-08
Our report and accounts for 2008-09
Our report and accounts for 2009-10
OCD Action's Report and Accounts for 2010-11
Our report and accounts for 2011-12
Our signed Trustees Report and Accounts for the year ending March 2013
OCD Action's official report and accounts for 2013-14
OCD Action's Official Report and Accounts for 2014-15
OCD Action's Official Report and Accounts for 2015-16
The Charity's strategic plan for 2009-12
Our current strategic plan that sets out our objectives.
Newsletters 8 resources
These issues of the OCD Action newsletter; "Action" are currently only available to members. If you would like to know more about the Charity's membership scheme please see our membership pages under the "I want to get involved" section of this website
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 40
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 41
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 42
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 43
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 44
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 45
The OCD Action Magazine, Issue 46
External Links 8 resources
Links to OCD related charities in Europe
A website focusing on hoarding with a range of resources and further links
Maternal OCD is a charity that focuses on support for mothers with OCD
Links to OCD related charities and groups in Australia and New Zealand
Links to OCD related charities and groups in the USA and Canada
"Everything works for somebody, but nothing works for everybody."-quoted from this article 'Ten things you need to know to over come OCD'
An article by Fred Penzel who has been involved in over 850 different OCD cases. Here is his take on what 'Ten thing you need to know to over come OCD'. Talking about the different methods, and treatments available, as well as how to get the best uses out of them.
Information about the International OCD Foundation, a non-profit organsation providing support, education and resources to those affected by OCD and related disorders, as well as professionals.
Website focusing on trichotillomania