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Urgent help for your mental health
If you or someone else needs urgent mental health help, the NHS has phone lines staffed by mental health professionals. If a life is at risk, call 999 or go to A&E.
Official links
Show links for:
| Official source | Applies to |
|---|---|
| NHS: where to get urgent help for mental health www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/ | England |
| NHS 111 Wales: mental health (press 2) 111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/m/article/mentalhealthandwellbeing | Wales |
| NHS inform: get urgent mental health help (Scotland) www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/mental-health-support/get-urgent-mental-health-help/ | Scotland |
| nidirect: mental health emergency www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/mental-health-emergency-if-youre-crisis-or-despair | Northern Ireland |
Step by step
- If someone has seriously hurt themselves, taken an overdose or cannot keep safe, call 999 or go to A&E.
- Otherwise call 111 and choose the mental health option in England (press 2 in Wales, NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland). In Northern Ireland, contact your GP or the out of hours GP service.
- You can also ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment.
- If you just need to talk, free listening services such as Samaritans (116 123) are available at any time.
Common mistakes
- Thinking you would be wasting the NHS's time. A mental health emergency is as serious as a physical one.
- Waiting for your GP to open when you can call 111 day and night.
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