Urgent help
If you’re feeling like you want to die, it’s important to tell someone
Is your life in danger? If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E. If you are deaf and need an ambulance, use the 999 British Sign Language service or 999 text to speech Relay UK service.
Tips for coping right now
Try not to think about the future – just focus on getting through today
- Stay away from drugs and alcohol
- get yourself to a safe place, like a friend’s house
- Be around other people
- Do something you usually enjoy, such as spending time with a pet
See more tips from Rethink
You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone, help is available
Talk to someone you trust
Let family or friends know what’s going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe. There’s no right or wrong way to talk about feelings – starting the conversation is what’s important.
Phone a helpline
These free helplines are there to help when you’re feeling down or desperate. Unless it says otherwise, they’re open 24 hours a day, every day. You can also call these helplines for advice if you’re worried about someone else.
- NHS 111 Option 2 – 111 will tell you the right place to get help. You may be able to speak to a trained mental health professional over the phone.
- If you are deaf, use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service or NHS 111 text to speech Relay UK service
- Samaritans – for everyone. Call 116 123. Email jo@samaritans.org
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day. Visit the webchat page
- Papyrus – for people under 35. Call 0800 068 41 41 – 9am to midnight every day. Text 07860 039967. Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
- Childline – for children and young people under 19. Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill
- SOS Silence of Suicide – for everyone. Call 0300 1020 505 – 4pm to midnight every day. Email support@sossilenceofsuicide.org
Message a text line
If you do not want to talk to someone over the phone, these text lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
- Shout Crisis Text Line – for everyone. Text “SHOUT” to 85258
- Young Minds Crisis Messenger – for people under 19. Text “YM” to 85258
Who else you can talk to?
- Call a GP – ask for an emergency appointment
- Call 111 out of hours – they will help you find the support and help you need. If you are deaf, use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service or NHS 111 text to speech Relay UK service instead
- Contact your mental health crisis team
- Visit a Neighbourhood Mental Health Café – these drop-in centres are for anyone to come and talk about their mental health in confidence – no appointment needed
Worried about someone else?
Try to get them to talk to you. Ask open-ended questions like: “How do you feel about…?” Do not worry about having the answers. Just listening to what someone has to say and taking it seriously can be more helpful.
- See Samaritans’ tips on how to support someone you’re worried about
- Read Rethink’s advice on how to support someone who is having suicidal thoughts
- Read Mind’s advice on how to support someone experiencing psychosis
Making a safety plan
If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or are supporting someone else, it may help to make a safety plan to use if you need it:
- The Staying Safe website provides information on how to make a safety plan, including video tutorials and online templates to guide you through the process
- You can also get information on planning for a mental health crisis from mental health charity Mind