Disclaimer
If you are in crisis right now
Stop reading and reach out. These are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day:
Not medical, psychological or clinical advice
5 and 20 is a peer-support and self-development tool drawn from Steve Gaskell’s books. Nothing in this app is medical, psychological, or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a replacement for a doctor, therapist, psychiatrist, or any qualified professional.
Not a substitute for professional care
The self-checks, buddy checks and workbook exercises are prompts for reflection and conversation, not clinical assessments. They do not measure risk, diagnose a condition, or tell you what to do. If you are worried about your mental health, or someone else’s, speak to your GP, a qualified clinician, or one of the organisations listed in Resources.
If you are in crisis
If you are in immediate danger, or thinking about ending your life, contact emergency services or a crisis line straight away. Call 999, or go to your nearest A&E. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, or text Shout on 85258. Do not wait. Do not carry it alone.
What this app is
5 and 20 exists to help serving personnel, veterans, emergency services and their families check themselves and check their mates, the 5-metre self-check and the 20-metre buddy check. It is built on the belief that resilience is a learned discipline, and that looking after yourself and your mates is strength, not weakness.
Your data
Your self-checks, buddy checks and workbook entries are private to you. They are stored against your account and are not shared with other users. Resources are maintained by the app’s administrators.
© 2026 5 and 20 · Steve Gaskell · Vision, Support & Challenge Publishing.