If you need help during a mental health crisis or emergency, there is help available for you 24/7 at these

In the UK

In an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E 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. If you can’t do this by yourself, ask someone to help you.

You can find out more about how you would be treated in any of these eventualities on the NHS website.

If you need help urgently but it’s not an emergency, or you’re not sure what to do, you can call the NHS helpline on 111.

A GP can advise you about helpful treatments and also help you access mental health services, and you may be able to speak to a nurse, or mental health nurse, over the phone. You may be able to refer yourself to some services. You can also use the NHS 111 online service.

Other emergency/ urgent options:

• Samaritans are available 24/7. You can call them any time of the day or night on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
• Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the the Shout Crisis Text Line
• If you’re under 19, you can text “YM” to the Shout Crisis Text Line, or call Childline on 0800 1111.

If you’re concerned that you feel emergencies often and you want to implement a Self-Safety plan, you can find help for this on the Mind website. The Staying Safe website also offers help if you feel you may be a danger to yourself.