If you feel you are no longer able to cope or in control of your situation you may be experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you experience mental health problems, it can be frightening and you may feel alone. If this is a new experience, you may not know what is happening.

If a person’s mental or emotional state gets worse quickly, this can be referred to as a mental health crisis or a mental health emergency. A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation.

In a mental health crisis you may feel many things (although this may be different for individuals) including emotional distress or anxiety, that you can’t cope with day-to-day life or work, you might think about suicide or self-harm, or you might experience hallucinations and hear voices.

It is important to get help quickly. Whether you experience a sudden deterioration of an existing mental health problem, or are experiencing problems for the first time, you’ll need immediate expert assessment to identify the best course of action and stop you getting worse.

In an emergency:

• Call 999 and request an ambulance, or the police
• Go to your local A&E department

If you or someone else is in crisis and need to speak to someone:

• Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option (for when you need help but are not in immediate danger), or get help from NHS 111 online
• Contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment

There are other available 24/7 helplines if you find yourself in need of mental health support:

National crisis support

Samaritans

Whatever you’re going through, you can call or email Samaritans any time for free.

• Call: 116 123 (free from any phone within the UK and Ireland)
• Email: jo@samaritans.org
• Web: https://www.samaritans.org/ 

Mind (national)

Mind offers advice, support and information to people experiencing a mental health difficulty and their family and friends. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm (except bank holidays). 

• Infoline: 0300 123 3393
• Text: 86463
• Email: info@mind.org.uk
• Web: https://www.mind.org.uk/ 

Rethink Mental Illness

Rethink Mental Illness works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life. It provides effective services and support and campaigns for change through greater awareness and understanding.

• Call: 0300 5000 927 (9:30am – 4.00pm, Mon – Fri) 
• Email: advice@rethink.org 
• Web: www.rethink.org 

PAPYRUS UK

This helpline is available to anybody under the age of 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anybody concerned that a young person could be thinking of suicide.

• Call: 0800 068 4141
• Text: 07860039967
• Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org 
• Web: www.papyrus-uk.org 

Shout 

Shout is the UK’s first free 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis and in need of immediate help with suicidal thoughts, abuse, self-harm or bullying.

• Text: SHOUT to 85258