Urgent help

You are not alone

If you are having thoughts of suicide, it can feel as though things will never change. Those feelings are very hard, but they can pass. Samaritans explains that most people who feel suicidal do not really want to die. They want the pain they are in, or their situation, to stop.

Many people who have felt this way go on to feel better, with the right support. Reaching out is a strong and important step. If you are not sure who to contact, start with any of the options on this page. They are all used to hearing from people who are struggling.

Emergencies: 999 and A&E

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

• your life, or someone else’s life, is at risk
• someone has seriously harmed themselves
• you do not feel you can keep yourself safe

The NHS says that at A&E, staff should treat you with respect and look after your immediate physical and mental health needs. You may then be seen by a liaison psychiatry team, a mental health team based in the hospital, or referred to a crisis resolution and home treatment team.

If you cannot get to A&E, call 999.

NHS 111 mental health help

NHS 111 is free and available 24 hours a day. Use it when you need urgent help but it is not a life-threatening emergency.

England

Call 111 and choose the mental health option. You can also go to 111.nhs.uk. NHS mental health trusts explain that your call is answered by a mental health adviser, supported by trained mental health clinicians. Depending on what you need, they can:

• talk with you about how you are feeling
• give advice on keeping safe and coping
• arrange an assessment with your local crisis team, if needed
• point you to other local support
• contact emergency services if your life is at risk

It is available for people of all ages.

Wales

Call 111 and press 2. The Welsh Government says this connects you to a mental health professional in your area. It is free, available 24 hours a day in all areas of Wales, for people of all ages, and works even if you have no phone credit.

Scotland

Call NHS 24 on 111 for urgent mental health help, day or night.

Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone line for people in Scotland aged 16 and over who are feeling low, anxious or depressed. Call 0800 83 85 87. It is open Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 2am, and from 6pm on Friday through to 6am on Monday.

Northern Ireland

Call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. It is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Textphone users can call 18001 0808 808 8000.

If you have a care team

If you are already in contact with a mental health team, use the crisis number in your care plan. Your GP can also offer an urgent appointment during opening hours.

Talk to someone now

You do not have to be suicidal to contact these services. They are there whenever you are struggling.

Samaritans volunteers listen without judging. Shout is a free, confidential text service for anyone struggling with their mental health. The NHS says listening services like these only share your information if they are very worried about you or think you are in immediate danger.

Making a safety plan

A safety plan is a short, personal plan for getting through moments when you feel overwhelmed or unsafe. It is best made when you are feeling a little calmer, ideally with someone you trust or a health professional. The NHS, Mind and Samaritans all suggest safety planning.

A safety plan might include:

1. Warning signs – thoughts, feelings or situations that tell you things are getting worse
2. Things that help me cope – activities that distract or calm you, like going for a walk, music or a shower
3. Places and people that help – somewhere you feel safer, and people you can be with
4. People I can ask for help – names and numbers of friends or family
5. Professional contacts – your GP, NHS 111, crisis team, Samaritans 116 123
6. Making things safer – ways to reduce access to anything you could use to harm yourself, perhaps with help from someone you trust
7. Reasons for living – people, pets, hopes or plans that matter to you

Keep it somewhere easy to find, like on your phone. Share it with someone you trust so they know how to help.

Things that can help right now

The NHS suggests some immediate steps if you are feeling suicidal:

• try to get to a place where you feel safe, or be with someone
• avoid alcohol and drugs, which can make feelings more intense
• do something you usually enjoy, or that calms you, even for a few minutes
• tell someone how you are feeling, or call a helpline

Worried about someone else?

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise, stay with them if you can, listen, and help them contact NHS 111 or Samaritans. Samaritans says that asking someone directly about suicide can protect them. Supporting someone with depression explains how to ask and what to do next.

Not a crisis service

This is an information website. It cannot respond to emergencies or give individual advice.

Happy Clinic does not provide emergency or crisis care. Its online appointments are for planned psychiatric assessment and medication reviews, not urgent situations. If you need help now, please use the numbers at the top of this page.

When you are feeling safer, you might want to read about treatment for depression or getting diagnosed, and talk to your GP about ongoing support. If you later want a planned specialist opinion, seeing a psychiatrist explains the NHS and private options.