If you need help urgently in a mental health crisis, these are the places you can turn.

Your GP and Out of Hours Service

During working hours, you can contact your GP surgery for an urgent appointment. At evenings and weekends, you can get contact details for the out of hours service by phoning your normal GP surgery number.

Accident and Emergency

You can go to any A&E department and ask to be assessed by the duty psychiatrist or the mental health crisis team. You don’t need to have hurt yourself in any way to do this.

NHS Mental Health Services

All NHS mental health trusts should have a crisis team but the criteria for accessing them varies. In some areas, you can contact them yourself while in others you need to go through your GP or A&E. It’s worth finding out in advance how you can access your local crisis team. If you’re in crisis right now and you don’t know, go with one of the other suggestions on this page.

If you have a CPN you may be able to contact them if you have a crisis during office hours.

Helplines

NHS Direct (England and Wales) 0845 46 47 or NHS 24 (Scotland) 08454 24 24 24
Will assess your symptoms and put you in touch with appropriate services. Not a listening service. You can also make contact via their website.

Samaritans 08457 90 90 90
For anyone in any type of emotional distress. They won’t judge or tell you what to do, but will encourage you to talk about your feelings and explore all the options you have. You can also visit many of their branches in person.

SANE Helpline 0845 767 8000 – open daily from 6pm to 11pm
Emotional support for anyone affected by mental illness of any kind. They can also provide practical information on services available in your local area.

Other Crisis Services

Maytree (London)
Offers a short stay in a safe residential setting where you can talk, reflect and rest. There is no charge for this.