Mental Health Crises: How to Access Immediate Free Support and Helplines

A mental health crisis is a medical emergency. If you feel unable to keep yourself safe, are experiencing severe self-harm urges, or feel you might act on thoughts of ending your life, you need immediate support.

If you are in immediate physical danger, you should call **999** for an ambulance or go directly to your nearest hospital **Accident & Emergency (A&E)** department. Many major hospitals feature specialized, on-site psychiatric liaison teams within A&E to support individuals arriving in psychological distress.

If you need urgent professional assistance but are not in immediate physical danger, the NHS runs localized 24/7 urgent mental health helplines across England.

You can access these teams instantly by calling **111** from any phone and selecting **Option 2** (the dedicated mental health pathway). You will be connected directly to a local mental health professional or navigator who can triage your situation, offer coping advice, and directly dispatch a community crisis resolution and home treatment team (CRHTT) if you require an urgent face-to-face assessment.

If you need someone to talk to right now, free and completely confidential charity helplines operate across the UK every single day of the year. They do not share information with the NHS or authorities unless they believe your life is at imminent risk.

• **Samaritans:** Call **116 123**. This is a free, 24-hour service for anyone struggling to cope, experiencing despair, or having suicidal thoughts.
• **National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK:** Call **0800 587 0800**. A compassionate, supportive lifeline running 24/7 for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.
• **PAPYRUS Hopeline247:** Call **0300 102 2470**. Dedicated suicide prevention support specifically for young people under the age of 35 and parents or friends worried about a young person.

If you cannot or do not want to speak out loud on the phone, you can access support silently via text message through **Shout**.

To use this service, text the word **'SHOUT'** to **85258**. It is completely free from all major UK mobile networks. You will be connected via SMS to a trained crisis volunteer who will text back and forth with you, helping you move from a state of intense overwhelming pressure to a calmer, safer headspace.