What to do in an emergency

A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. This is when someone is in immediate risk of harm or unable to keep themselves safe. They might be extremely distressed, disorientated or not making sense.

If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, it’s best to seek immediate advice and assessment. There are different ways you can do this.

• Call 999 now if someone’s life is at risk or if you think they might harm themselves or others. Try to get a contact number for the person if you aren’t calling about yourself. Ask for an ambulance or the police.
• Go to A&E if you or someone else has seriously injured themselves, taken an overdose or if you don’t feel you can keep yourself or them safe. Tell staff it’s a mental health emergency and they will connect you with the on-duty mental health crisis team.
• If it’s an urgent situation but not life-threatening, you can get advice by calling NHS 111 by dialling 111 and choosing the ‘mental health’ option. You may be able to speak to a trained mental health professional over the phone. You can also use their online service, NHS 111 online.
• If you, or the person you’re concerned about, is not in immediate danger, but you or they need help, call the police on 101.
• Call your GP and ask for an urgent appointment. They can help you access NHS mental health services.
• Contact your local mental health crisis team. Search online for ‘mental health crisis team’ and include your postcode to find contact details.
• If you, or someone you’re concerned about, is feeling suicidal, you or they can call the Samaritans on 116 123. You can also access Samaritans’ information or email jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours. You don’t need to be in crisis to contact the Samaritans and can talk through any issues you’re having with them.
• You can call The National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 0800 6895652 or find information on the National Suicide Prevention Helpline website.
• Young people up to 35 who are having suicidal thoughts can contact the PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 0684141 or by texting 07860 039967.
• For free, confidential text support from trained volunteers, you can contact Shout by texting SHOUT to 85258.

When you’re dealing with a mental health emergency in the UK, it can also be useful to contact your local authority’s adult or children’s social care services. They can be an important source of support if there are safeguarding concerns or longer-term support needs.

Call your council’s main switchboard and ask for ‘adult social services’ or ‘children’s services’. You can find your local council by typing your postcode into the UK government website.