Crisis support

A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. You may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, cannot cope with day-to-day life or work, think about suicide or self-harm, or experience hallucinations and hearing voices.

Visit A&E or call 999

Call 999 if you or someone you know experiences an acute life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. You can go to A&E (Accident & Emergency department) directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety. Find your nearest A&E.

Once at A&E, the team will tend to your immediate physical and mental health needs. The team in charge of your care will assess you and decide on the best course of care, and whether you can go home or need to be admitted to hospital.

Crisis lines

If you have already been given a Crisis Line number from a health profession, call it. If you are under the care of a mental health teamand have a specific care plan that states who to contact when you need urgent care, follow this plan.

Find local crisis support services near you.

The charity Mind provide information about how to plan for a crisis.

Samaritans has a free to call service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call them on 116 123 to talk to someone in confidence.

SHOUT offers a free crisis test line service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Text Shout to 85258. All data is anonymised.

Contact NHS 111

You can call NHS 111 if you or someone you know needs urgent care, but it's not life threatening. For example:

  • if you have an existing mental health problem and your symptoms get worse
  • if you experience a mental health problem for the first time
  • if someone has self-harmed but it does not appear to be life threatening, or they're talking about wanting to self harm
  • if a person is experiencing domestic violence or physical, sexual or emotional abuse

Book an emergency GP appointment

You can also contact your GP (General Practitioner - doctor) surgery and ask for an emergency appointment. In a crisis, you should be offered an appointment with the first available doctor. Find out about GP appointments and bookings, or find your local GP.

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Professional Services