Please call NHS 111 and select the mental health option to talk to a mental health professional. They will be able to support you to get the help/advice you need. The service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You should still call 999 or go to A&E if you have an immediate, life-threatening emergency requiring mental or physical health assistance.
There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to mental health support and a number of self-referral options are available locally. Click the tabs below to find what is available in your local area.
Talking Therapies services are for adults and older people, with mild, moderate-to severe symptoms of anxiety or depression. Find out more on our dedicated Talking Therapies website.
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Top tips when contacting shout:
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Shout is a crisis service that you can text. When you make contact, you will be asked a series of questions, and one asks what you are calling about. Answer this honestly and say if you feel suicidal or are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, depressed etc. This message will determine your priority. |
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You will then be placed in a queue. While you are waiting to be connected plan out a message about what has happened, and how you are currently feeling, or the situation you are in. You could do this in a note app on your phone, so that when your call is connected, you can copy and paste the message directly into the chat to save time. |
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Alternatively, you could start typing the start of your message. When you are connected to shout send this part and carry on typing the rest of the message. This way Shout will know you are connected. |
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If you need to type out a very long message, tell Shout that you need to do this and that it could take some time, and send that message before typing the full message. |
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Shout cannot see that you are typing, so if there is a long gap between messages your connection could end, but you will receive a message before this happens. Please reply quickly to this message and tell them you are still typing. |
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You can also send them your message in chunks of information, so shout knows the call is still active. Tell them at the start of the message that you are going to do this so staff don’t interrupt your flow. |
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If you have difficulty understanding or expressing your emotions tell shout this. |
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If you have any communication needs, please tell shout in your message, as they won’t be aware. Tell them what you would find helpful. |
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If shout don’t think you are still on the chat, they will send 2 messages 5 minutes apart. They will close the chat if they don’t hear back within 5 minutes of the second message, so keep your phone near you. |
SamaritansSamaritans are a national charity that aim to support you, no matter what you're going through. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116 123 for free. |
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CALMCALM is a charity that exists to raise awareness of the issues around suicide and to reduce suicide in the UK. Their helpline is open from 5pm until midnight every day and you can call it by dialling 0800 58 58 58. Watch their video below to find out more. |
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UKNational Suicide Prevention Helpline UK offers supportive listening and information to anyone having thoughts of suicide, including family, friends and carers of those having thoughts. Call 0800 689 5652 to access the helpline. |
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Your community mental health team can help during the day between 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. If you have a Care Plan, it will have a list of names and numbers to contact in an emergency. Ask for the person on duty or your care co-ordinator, as indicated in your care plan. If you are unable to speak with anyone immediately, please call 111.