Helplines and crisis contacts Where to get urgent help for mental health If you need help for a mental health crisis, emergency or breakdown, you should get immediate expert advice and assessment. It's important to know that support is available. If you just need to talk, any time of day or night Free listening services These services offer confidential advice from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that's troubling you, no matter how difficult: Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: [email protected] for a reply within 24 hours Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19 If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill. NHS urgent mental health helplines NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages. You can call for: 24-hour advice and support - for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for help to speak to a mental health professional an assessment to help decide on the best course of care Find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline If you've already been given a crisis line number to use in an emergency, it's best to call it. Get advice from 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if: you are not able to speak to your local NHS urgent mental health helpline you need help urgently for your mental health, but it's not an emergency you're not sure what to do 111 will tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone. Use the NHS 111 online service, or call 111. You may be able to speak to a nurse, or mental health nurse, over the phone. A GP can advise you about helpful treatments and also help you access mental health services. You may be able to refer yourself to some services. Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if: someone's life is at risk – for example, they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone's time. Call: 999
If you need help for a mental health crisis, emergency or breakdown, you should get immediate expert advice and assessment. It's important to know that support is available. If you just need to talk, any time of day or night Free listening services These services offer confidential advice from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that's troubling you, no matter how difficult: Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: [email protected] for a reply within 24 hours Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19 If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill. NHS urgent mental health helplines NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages. You can call for: 24-hour advice and support - for you, your child, your parent or someone you care for help to speak to a mental health professional an assessment to help decide on the best course of care Find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline