Help in a crisis
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need to access urgent specialist support, there are a range of support options available to you.
Emergency support
If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, call 999 or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency department.
Urgent mental health support
If you are not in immediate danger but feel that you need urgent support, you can:
- Contact your GP for an urgent appointment. If you haven't registered with a GP yet, use the NHS website to find one near you
- Contact NHS 111 for support and advice from mental health professionals 24 hours a day. Phone '111' from a landline or mobile phone. Follow any instructions about your location and choose option '2' for the mental health crisis service.
- You can also use the online NHS form to check your mental health symptoms and get advice on what to do next.
Crisis listening helplines
We encourage you to talk to one of the following organisations if you want to talk to someone urgently about how you’re feeling:
- Samaritans – talk to someone 24/7 – Phone: 116 123 or find a branch to visit.
- SHOUT – text support service 24/7 – Text SHOUT to 85258.
- Papyrus – helpline for young people open 9am – midnight every day – Phone: 0800 068 41 41.
- Find a Helpline - use this database to search for helplines internationally.
Crisis organisations you can visit in person
- Visit a NHS Crisis Café in the borough you live in to talk to someone in person. Check the websites below for details on location/opening hours:
- For cafes in other areas, search online for your borough + crisis café
- The Listening Place: a charity offering face-to-face support for those who feel life is no longer worth living. If you want support, complete the self-referral form online.
- James’ Place: a suicide prevention charity supporting men in a suicidal crisis. If you are feeling acutely suicidal and want to speak to someone, complete a self-referral form online.
Crisis support for sexual assault
Visit the NHS website to search for your local rape and sexual assault referral centres.
Visit Queen Mary’s Report and Support pages to find out what support is available to those who have experienced sexual violence.
Crisis support for domestic abuse
- Call Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 24/7 – Phone: 0808 2000 247 or visit the website to live chat from 3-10pm daily.
- Visit Women’s Aid website for advice and support information.
