LW mental health
111 mental health
Call NHS 24 on 111 and choose the mental health option if you’re feeling distressed, in a state of despair, suicidal, or in need of emotional support. Once you’ve called, you’ll be connected to a team of psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs).
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, you should get immediate expert advice and assessment. Where to get urgent help for mental health
Where to get urgent help for mental health
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, you should get immediate expert advice and assessment.
It's important to know that support services are available for you to access, whatever you’re going through.
Urgent advice: Get advice from 111
- You need urgent help for your mental health
Get help from 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option.
Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
- someone's life is at risk – for example, they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose
- you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe
A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone's time.
Call: 999
Other ways to get help with your mental health
Free listening services
These services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that's troubling you, no matter how difficult:
- Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
- Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19
If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
These services will only share your information if they are very worried about you or think you are in immediate danger.
Coping during a crisis
The mental health charity Mind has information on ways to help yourself cope during a crisis.
This includes calming exercises and a tool to get you through the next few hours.
How you can access routine NHS mental health services
Mental health services are free on the NHS. Your mental health is important and you should get help if you need it. Find NHS mental health services.
Talk to your GP or Mental health practitoner.
Talk to your GP or mental health practitioner to use some mental health services. This is known as a GP referral. Your GP/Mental health practitioner can also talk to you about your mental health and help introduce you to the right mental health service for your needs.
Get help without talking to your GP
There are also some mental health services that you can use without talking to your GP first. This is known as self-referral. For example, you may be able to refer yourself for help with drug problems and alcohol problems. You can also use self-referral to access talking therapies. NHS talking therapies services
Get help through your work
If your mental health problem is because of stress at work, your employer might be able to refer you to occupational health services. Find out more about how to be mentally healthy at work and where you can get support (Mind website).
Get help from your school or college
If you're a child or young person, your school or college might be able to refer you directly to a specialist mental health service. Find out how to get mental health support if you are a child or young person.
For more information How to access mental health services - NHS.
