In a mental health emergency or crisis, where a person's mental or emotional state gets worse quickly, it is important to get help without delay. There are many ways to get help whether you or someone you know have had these sorts of feelings before or not.

How To Get Help

• In an emergency it is possible to visit your local Accident and Emergency department and ask to see the duty psychiatrist
• If you are currently being treated for a mental illness your care plan will have names and numbers to call in an emergency
• If you are concerned there is an immediate danger you can call 999
• NHS Direct tel: 0845 46 47 can also provide you with medical advice at any time of the day or night 
• It is worth checking to see if the local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) can provide a crisis support team contact. Most areas have a mental health crisis team. These teams are made up of psychiatric nurses, social workers and support workers and they:
  
  
  • are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • respond to a crisis within four hours (wherever possible)
  • carry out assessments under the Mental Health Act (1983)
  • provide support and short-term help until another team is available or the help is no longer needed
    
    
• Saneline
  
  National out-of-hours confidential telephone helpline offering practical information, crisis care and emotional support to anybody affected by mental health problems. The service is open every day and receives tens of thousands of calls every year from service users, family members, carers and health professionals. 
  Tel: 0845 767 8000 (charged at local rates) Lines open 6pm to 11pm every day
  Website: www.sane.org.uk
  
  
• Samaritans
  
  Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
  Address: Chris, PO Box 90 90, Stirling, FK8 2SA
  Tel: 08457 90 90 90
  Website: www.samaritans.org
  
  
• Mind, the leading UK mental health charity, factsheet on crisis services
  
• Direct Gov, Government portal advice on services available in a mental health crisis