Here for someone

Bipolar · Professional support

Help them get professional support

Use the service that already knows them when possible. Otherwise choose between a routine appointment and urgent help.

The short answerIf they already have a mental-health team, start there. For a non-urgent concern use their GP. For an escalating or urgent situation, use the urgent route.
Immediate danger? Call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk or you cannot keep anyone safe. For urgent mental-health help that is not an emergency, use the urgent-help page.
Source: NHS
NHS urgent-help guidance.

Are they under 18? This page focuses on supporting an adult. See NHS support for children and young people. If you are under 18 and supporting someone else, see young-carer rights and support.

Choose the route

Their existing mental-health team

Use the care coordinator, community team or crisis contact in their care plan. Tell them what has changed and how quickly.

Their GP

A GP can assess what is happening, consider other causes and refer to mental-health services where appropriate.

Urgent mental-health help

In England, the NHS says to call 111 and select the mental-health option for urgent help. The routes differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so the site's urgent page asks where you are first.

Sources: NHS and Bipolar UK
NHS bipolar information, NHS urgent help and Bipolar UK support information.

Prepare the useful information

  1. Say what has changed. Include sleep, speech, activity, spending, mood, unusual beliefs and day-to-day functioning where relevant.
  2. Say when it started. Explain whether the change is steady, sudden or becoming more intense.
  3. Name immediate risks. Mention suicidal thoughts, self-harm, threats, unsafe driving, going missing or an inability to meet basic needs.
  4. Include what they have agreed. Bring their crisis plan, care-plan contacts and any preferences they have written down.

These notes describe observations. They do not require you to diagnose the episode yourself.

Sources: Mind, Bipolar UK and NHS
Mind and Bipolar UK recommend learning warning signs and planning support together. NHS sets out the urgent and emergency thresholds.

How you can help with an appointment

Ask what role they want you to have. Bipolar UK suggests practical help such as transport, collecting prescriptions or attending appointments if the person would like you there.

You could help make the appointment, prepare notes, wait outside or attend and describe agreed observations. Let the person speak for themselves where they can.

Source: Bipolar UK
Bipolar UK: practical ways to support someone.

Medication questions belong with a professional

Do not change, stop or restart someone's medication for them. For side effects, missed doses, interactions or questions about lithium, contact the prescriber, mental-health team, pharmacist, NHS 111 or emergency services as directed by the official medicine information.

NHS lithium informationNICE bipolar guideline
Sources: NHS and NICE
NHS medicine guidance and NICE guideline CG185.
Things are escalatingPlan ahead togetherSupport for you

Here for Someone is an independent information project. It is not a helpline or medical service. This page organises public guidance from the organisations linked beside the relevant information; it has not been clinically reviewed by Here for Someone.

Sources checked: 26 August 2026

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