Get help now
What to do in a mental-health crisis, then who to call. You do not need a diagnosis to ask for help.
Is anyone in immediate danger?
Call 999 if someone has taken an overdose, is seriously injured, threatens harm now, or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe. Move away from danger if you can. Tell the operator if children are present. Do not try to restrain someone or take a weapon from them.
Worried about a child or teenager? Urgent help for your child, by UK nation. Supporting a young carer is a different situation.
What is happening?
They are terrified, paranoid or hearing voices
What to say, getting urgent help, leaving home and safety for others.
I am worried about suicide
Ask directly, listen and get the right help.
They have hurt themselves
Injuries, getting help and talking afterwards.
Something has changed and I am not sure why
Describe what is happening and ask for an assessment.
Urgent, but no immediate danger?
Call their crisis team if they have one. Otherwise, choose the route for where the person needing help is in the UK. You can call because you are worried about someone else.
If they do not agree to get help, you can still call for urgent advice. Tell the service they are refusing and describe the risks. Do not try to force them into an assessment yourself; professionals decide what can lawfully happen next. Consent and refusing help.
Not with the person? How to call for help from a distance. Give their location and explain that you are elsewhere.
England
For urgent mental-health help that is not an immediate emergency, call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option.
Call NHS 111 select the mental-health option · 24 hoursWales
For urgent mental-health help that is not an immediate emergency, call NHS 111 Wales and select option 2. The service is available 24 hours a day for people of all ages, including family members who are concerned about someone.
Call NHS 111 Wales select option 2 · 24 hoursScotland
For urgent mental-health help that is not an immediate emergency, call NHS 24 on 111 and choose the mental-health option.
Call NHS 24 on 111 choose the mental-health option · 24 hoursNorthern Ireland
Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 provides crisis counselling, including for someone worried about another person. Free to call. 24 hours, every day. For urgent medical assessment, contact their GP or GP out-of-hours service. Call 999 if there is immediate danger.
Call Lifeline 0808 808 8000 · 24 hours, every day.Someone is missing: reporting advice and what to tell the police.
What to say when phoning for help · Going to A&E with them · Find A&E in England
If they will not accept help, or services are not acting
You can still pass on what you have observed, ask what happens next and seek further guidance if an assessment ends with no further action. Mental Health Act law differs across the UK. The sectioning guide below covers England and Wales and links to separate information for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Someone to talk to
More listening and practical advice contacts.
These services provide emotional support. They are not substitutes for 999 in an emergency.
- Samaritans: 116 123. UK and Ireland. Free to call. 24 hours, every day. Listening support, not medical treatment or an emergency service.
- Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258. UK. Free to text. 24 hours, every day. Replies may take longer when the service is busy. For immediate danger, call 999.
- In Scotland: Breathing Space, 0800 83 85 87. Free to call. Listening support for people over 16 experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Phone hours: Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 2am; Friday 6pm through to Monday 6am. About the service.
After the immediate crisis
For the days and weeks afterwards: supporting recovery after a suicide attempt or coming home after a crisis.
Print what to say tonightSources and how this page is checked
Official sources explain the urgent route in each UK nation. Samaritans and Shout offer listening support. Mind: helping someone experiencing psychosis supports the immediate-danger advice brought across from Quick help (sources checked 25 September 2026).
Source: NHS urgent mental-health guidance
Where to get urgent help for mental health, NHS.Availability: NHS 111 mental-health support is available 24 hours; Breathing Space confirms NHS 24 is available outside its own opening hours.
Source: NHS England
NHS 111 mental-health crisis support.Source: NHS 111 Wales
Mental health and wellbeing, NHS 111 Wales.Source: NHS 24 Scotland
Mental-health services, NHS 24.Source: Public Health Agency Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland government information about Lifeline.Service information: Samaritans and Shout
Samaritans, Shout.Emergency and four-nation contact routes rechecked against their official sources: 8 October 2026.
Samaritans and Shout contact details checked: 7 October 2026.
Independent information, not a medical or crisis service. This guidance has not been clinically reviewed. How we use sources.
Urgent routes and service details checked: 26 September 2026