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Crisis services and planning for a crisis

This guide explains what mental health crisis services are available, how they can help and when to access them. It also explains how you can plan for a crisis. If you're feeling in crisis right now, see our emergency advice.

Useful contacts 

Mind's services

  • Helplines – our Infolines provide information and support by phone, email and text.
  • Local Minds – provide face-to-face services across England and Wales. These might be talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.
  • Elefriends – our supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

Other organisations

Befrienders Worldwide

befrienders.org
Worldwide directory of emotional support helplines.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

0800 58 58 58 (UK helpline)
0808 802 58 58 (London helpline)
thecalmzone.net
Provides listening services, information and support for men at risk of suicide, including a web chat.

Community Advice and Listening Line (C.A.L.L.) 

0800 132 737 (helpline)
81066 (text HELP plus your message)
callhelpline.org.uk
Provides information and support for people experiencing a mental health problem in Wales.

Helplines Partnership

helplines.org
Membership body for helplines in the UK. Includes a searchable directory of services.

Mind Recovery Net

mindrecoverynet.org.uk
Publishes information on recovery colleges, including a searchable list of providers.

The Mix

0808 808 4994
85258 (crisis messenger service, text THEMIX)
themix.org.uk
Support and advice for under 25s, including a helpline, crisis messenger service and webchat.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

nice.org.uk
Produces guidelines on best practice in healthcare.

NHS 111 (England)

111
111.nhs.uk
Non-emergency medical help and advice for people in England.

NHS 111 Wales

111 (Hywel Dda, Powys, Aneurin Bevan and Swansea Bay Health Boards (including Brigend))
0845 46 47 (all other areas of Wales)
111.wales.nhs.uk
Non-emergency medical help and advice for people living in Wales. The contact number for this service differs depending on which area of Wales you live in. 

NHS UK

nhs.uk
Information about health problems and treatments, including details of local NHS services in England.

Nightline Association

nightline.ac.uk
Lists contact information for helplines and listening services in universities and colleges across the UK.

Papyrus HOPELINEUK

0800 068 41 41
07786 209697 (text)
papyrus-uk.org
Confidential support for under-35s at risk of suicide and others who are concerned about them.

Relay UK

relayuk.bt.com
Provides a talk/type relay service for anyone who has difficulty hearing or being understood when speaking over the phone. The cost of making phone calls through this service depends on your telephone service provider.

Rethink Mental Illness

0300 5000 927
rethink.org
Provides support and information for anyone affected by mental health problems, including local support groups.

Samaritans

116 123 (freephone)
[email protected]
Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK
PO Box 90 90
Stirling FK8 2SA
samaritans.org

Open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some branches in person. They also have a Welsh Language Line on 0300 123 3011 (7pm–11pm every day).

Sane

sane.org.uk
Offers emotional support and information for anyone affected by mental health problems.

Stay Alive

prevent-suicide.org.uk
App with help and resources for people who feel suicidal or are supporting someone else.

Switchboard

0300 330 0630
switchboard.lgbt
Listening services, information and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

This information was published in October 2018. We will revise it in 2021.

References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.

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