NHS: urgent help for mental health
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency, the NHS explains what to do and where to get support.
Get Help Now
Reassurance
This content is intended to provide comfort and validation. While we hope it helps, your feelings are valid regardless of what you read here.
We're sorry, but neurobetter is not a crisis service and cannot provide urgent or emergency mental health support. We've provided you options below for urgent support.
These services are not specifically for neurodivergent people — but they are for anyone who needs urgent or crisis support. We’re working towards more neuroaffirming support options in future. Today, please use the help below. You deserve support, and help is available.
We"re sending you hope and our best wishes — with ♥ from the neurobetter team.
These services are not specifically for neurodivergent people — but they are for anyone who needs urgent or crisis support. We’re working towards more neuroaffirming support options in future. Today, please use the help below. You deserve support, and help is available.
We"re sending you hope and our best wishes — with ♥ from the neurobetter team.
If you are in immediate danger, feel you may harm yourself, or have done:
If calling feels hard, consider asking someone near you to help, or go somewhere you’re not alone. If you’re in a public place, you can ask a member of staff for help. Calling 999 is free from all mobile networks and payphones.
Can't make voice calls? Find out how to text 999
You must register first or texting 999 won"t work. This service is called emergencySMS. It might take longer than making a phone call to 999. To register, follow these steps:
- Text: Open a new text message and type "REGISTER".
- Send: Send it to 999.
- Follow: Reply "Yes" to the message you receive to complete registration.
- Confirm: You’ll receive a confirmation message.
- Use: Once registered, you can text 999 for help.
To get help:send a text message to 999 and include these three pieces of information:
- Who: Police, Ambulance, Fire & Rescue, or Coastguard.
- What: A brief description (e.g., "Car accident," "Man collapsed").
- Where: Exact location (postcode, road name, house number, landmark).
Send the message and wait for a reply confirming help is on the way, as delivery isn't guaranteed until you get a response.
What do I say? Will people believe me?
- If you go to A&E, you do not need to explain everything at once. You can say, or show: “I don"t feel safe” or “I need urgent mental health help”. A&E departments can be busy places, but they"re trained to handle mental health crises.
- You can ask someone you trust to call on your behalf or stay with you while you get support.
- Don"t know what to say? Different words work for everyone, but you could say "I feel like I want to hurt myself", or "I need urgent mental health help", or "I need help now", or "I'm in mental health crisis"
You don’t have to communicate “perfectly” to deserve help.
Urgent support Available Now: 24/7
Samaritans: free, confidential listening service
Free, confidential listening support. You do not have to be suicidal to contact Samaritans.
Call 116 123 Visit Samaritans websiteShout: text support
If speaking is hard, you can text for free, confidential support from anywhere in the UK.
Text SHOUT to 85258 Shout websiteIf you can, take one small step
If it helps, keep it simple. You could message someone you trust with: “I’m not safe right now” or “I need help tonight.”
Further support options
If the options above don’t feel right for you, or you’re looking for support that’s more specific to your situation, the organisations below may be able to help.
You don’t need to be in immediate crisis to contact many of these services — and it’s okay to try more than one.
PAPYRUS (HOPELINE247)
Confidential support for children, teenagers, and young adults under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts, and for people supporting them.
CALM — Campaign Against Living Miserably
Support for anyone who is struggling, with a particular focus on men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Opening hours may vary — check the CALM website for the latest.
Women’s Suicide Prevention Hub
A UK resource hub bringing together information, support, and specialist organisations focused on women’s suicide prevention and women’s mental health.
Support for children and young people
If you’re under 18 — or you’re supporting a child or young person — the services below are specifically designed for young people.
If a child or young person is in immediate danger, please use the urgent support options at the top of this page or call 999.
YoungMinds
Support for young people and advice for parents and carers. If you need urgent text support and you’re under 19, you can text YM to 85258.
The Mix (under 25s)
Support for under-25s on mental health, relationships, housing, and other issues. You can call their helpline, or text THEMIX to 85258 for 24/7 text support.
Kooth
Free online mental health support for children and young people. Availability and age ranges can vary depending on where you live.
If you’re outside the UK
If you’re not in the UK, you can find free, confidential crisis helplines in your country at:
Find A Helpline
If you are in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency number.