Here for someone

Urgent help, right now

Choose the route for where you are in the UK. You can call because you are worried about someone else.

Immediate danger? Call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk, they have seriously injured themselves, or you cannot keep them or someone else safe.
Call 999Find A&EWorried about suicide?
Source: NHS urgent mental-health guidance
Where to get urgent help for mental health, NHS.

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
Source: NHS England
NHS 111 mental-health crisis support.

Wales

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
Source: NHS 111 Wales
Mental health and wellbeing, NHS 111 Wales.

Scotland

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
Source: NHS inform Scotland
Get urgent mental-health help, NHS inform.

Northern Ireland

Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 provides free crisis counselling at any time, including for someone worried about another person. 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 · any time
Source: Public Health Agency Northern Ireland
Public Health Agency information about Lifeline.

Someone to talk to

These services provide emotional support. They are not substitutes for 999 in an emergency.

  • Samaritans: 116 123. Free to call, day or night, across the UK and Ireland.
  • Shout: text SHOUT to 85258. Free, confidential, 24-hour text support in the UK. Responses may take longer when the service is busy.
  • PAPYRUS HopeLine 24/7: 0300 102 2470. For someone under 35 who is experiencing suicidal thoughts, or a person worried about them. Text and email replies can take up to 24 hours.
Service information: Samaritans, Shout and PAPYRUS
Samaritans, Shout and PAPYRUS HopeLine.

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