Urgent Support and other Mental Health Support Services

Warning: Information on this page may be sensitive.

Life be unpredictable, overwhelming or distressing and you may find yourself in crisis.

Help is available, and you do not have to be alone.

If you are currently in distress or crisis, please consider contacting one of the support services below.

At the bottom of this page are a number of grounding techniques that may be useful if experiencing a panic attack or whilst you are waiting for support.

NHS Support

If you are in immediate danger.

Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E (find your nearest A&E here)

NHS Mental Health Support line.

Call 111 and select Option 2

For BSL support: https://signvideo.co.uk/nhs111/

24/7 CRISIS SUPPORT

Samaritans

Samaritans is a free service available for anyone needing support with their mental health.

Call 116 123

Website: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

Shout

Shout is a free, confidential text service offering immediate support.

Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258

Website: https://giveusashout.org

OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES

Please note that the below services are not all open 24/7 and do not necessarily offer immediate crisis support.

The majority are free, but if you use a Pay As You Go SIM, your provider may charge.

Anxiety UK

Anxiety UK’s self-care infoline offers guided relaxation exercises over the phone.

Opening times: 24/7

Call 03444 775 774

Website: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Papyrus UK Hopeline

HOPELINE247 advisers want to work with under 35s to understand why thoughts of suicide might be present. They also want to provide you with a safe space to talk through anything happening in your life.

Opening times: 24/7

Call 03444 775 774

Text 88247

Website: https://www.papyrus-uk.org

Childline

Children (under 19s) can contact Childline about anything. 

Opening times: 24/7

Call 0800 1111

Website: https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/

BSL support is available

Refuge

Refuge is a domestic violence service offering support for women and children across the UK.

Opening times: 24/7

Call 0808 2000 247

Website: https://refuge.org.uk

SANEline

SANEline is a national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers.

Opening times: 4pm-10pm

Call 0300 304 7000

Website: https://www.sane.org.uk/how-we-help/emotional-support/saneline-services

Mind

Mind's helplines provide a voice at the end of the phone when there's nowhere else to turn.

Opening times: 9am-6pm

Call 0300 102 1234

Website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

Their professional helpline team are here to chat if you're struggling with suicidal thoughts, have lost someone to suicide, or are worried about someone who may be suicidal

Opening times: 5pm-midnight

Call 0800 58 58 58

Website: https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support

National Suicide Prevention UK

The National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK is a compassionate and understanding lifeline for those grappling with their mental well-being or thoughts of suicide.

Opening times: 6pm-midnight

Call 0800 587 0800

Website: https://spuk.org.uk/national-suicide-prevention-helpline/

LGBT Switchboard

Switchboard is the national LGBTQIA+ support line. For anyone, anywhere in the country, at any point in their journey.

Opening times: 10am-10pm

Call 0800 011 9100

Webchat also available

Website: https://switchboard.lgbt

BEAT Eating Disorders

For support with eating disorders, the Helpline is available by phone, email and webchat.

Opening times: 3pm-9pm

Call 0808 801 0677 (England)

Call 0808 801 0432 (Scotland)

Call 0808 801 0433 (Wales)

Call 0808 801 0434 (Northern Ireland)

Website: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/i-need-support-now/helplines/

Box Breathing

  1. Sit or lie down if you can

  2. Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly

  3. Breathe in through your nose and feel your belly expand as the air moves down

  4. Breathe out slowly through your mouth and feel your belly go down again

  5. Repeat and focus on the movement of your belly, notice how your chest doesn’t move much

COPING STRATEGIES

You might find the below strategies useful if you are waiting for support in a moment of crisis or during a panic attack.

Box Breathing

  1. Take a breath and count to 4 whilst breathing out

  2. Hold your breath for 4 seconds

  3. Breathe in for 4 seconds

  4. Hold your breath for 4 seconds

  5. Repeat

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique

Identify…

5 things that you can see

4 things that you can touch

3 things that you can hear

2 things that you can smell

1 thing that you can taste