Need urgent help?

Suicidal thoughts and self-harm:

One in five of us will experience thoughts about ending our life at some point in our lives. It is important that you speak to someone you trust about how you are feeling, or to a professional.

Need urgent help?

Onebright is not a crisis service, but we have listed some guidelines below to support you if you are currently experiencing a mental health crisis. We have provided details for adults, children and young people, so please reach out to those services for support.

What is a mental health crisis?

This can mean different things to different people, but often this involves no longer feeling able to cope, or feeling of being in control, of your current situation.

You might be experiencing many things right now, such as increased emotional distress, feeling that you are no longer able to cope with day-to-day life, suicidal thoughts or self-harm, or even hallucinating or hearing voices.

These experiences can be frightening, and you may be feeling alone, and if this is a new experience for you, you may not know what is happening.

A crisis might also arise because of an underlying medical condition (for example an infection) use illicit drugs, or intoxication with alcohol.

 

You might be in crisis if:

  • You are thinking about hurting yourself, or suicide seems like the only option.
  • You are experiencing extreme distress that is overwhelming, which may relate to current or past trauma.
  • You are experiencing a psychotic episode (lost sense of reality, hallucinations, hearing voices) and/or other behaviours that seem out of control or irrational.

 

I am in crisis or someone I care about is in crisis:

There are several steps that you can now take to get support, which are outlined below.

  • If you need emergency help. If your life is at risk, you have taken an overdose or are seriously injured, and you feel you are not able to keep yourself safe from harm please call 999 or attend your nearest emergency department. A specialist mental health team will support you and refer you to services to meet your current needs.
  • If you need urgent help, but it is not an emergency. Please call NHS 111 and select option 2 (please note this service is not available if you reside in Northern Ireland).

 

If you have already been in contact with crisis services and are under their care do check out your safety plan and/or crisis management plan.

  • If you need less urgent help. Your GP can advise you further about helpful treatments and interventions to support your current needs.
  • If you need someone to talk to. You may want to speak to somebody about how you are feeling now or how to support someone you are aware about. To do this you can talk to one of the following helplines for immediate support.

 

These helplines have specially trained volunteers who will listen to you and help you through any immediate crisis.

  1. Samaritans. Telephone: 116 123 (free to call service open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for people who want to talk in confidence) or you can email: jo@samaritans.org.
  2. NHS choices. The NHS website has some useful information, advice and support.
  3. SANEline. Telephone: 0300 304 7000.
  4. Careline. Telephone: 0845 122 8622 (Monday – Friday, 10am-1pm and 7pm-10pm).
  5. MIND. Telephone: 0845 766 0163 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm).
  6. Every Mind Matters. NHS – Every Mind Matters.
  7. You can also “TEXT” SHOUT to 85258.

 

There may also be local crisis cafes in your area that could support you and can be a good place to find information – www.nhs.uk.

 

Additional support for children and young people:

If you are under 25 years old.

  1. The Mix. Telephone 0808 808 4994 or visit The Mix

 

If you are under 19 years old.

  1. Childline. Telephone: 0800 1111 (24 hours, 7 days a week, and the number won’t show on the phone bill) or visit Childline | Free counselling service for kids and young people | Childline.
  2. You can also text “YM” to 85258. Shout: The UK’s free, confidential, 24/7 mental health text service | Shout 85258.