What you need to do
If you’ve seriously injured yourself or taken an overdose call 999 or get immediate medical treatment from A&E.
If you are in crisis and you feel that you need support urgently you could:
- Talk to an adult, friend or somebody that you trust as soon as you can. If possible, make sure you’re not on your own.
- Call 111 and select the mental health option (option 2).
111#2 is available 24/7 and you’ll speak to a mental health advisor who will listen and help you find the right support.
It’s for all ages. You can call for yourself, or for someone else.
- Download the ‘Stay Alive’ app to your mobile phone. Developed by Grassroots Suicide Prevention, this is a suicide prevention resource full of information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide
- If you are already being seen by CAMHS and it is during office hours (Mon-Fri 9am – 5 pm), call your CAMHS worker.
- If you are already open to CAMHS and have a crisis plan, please follow the plan. You should have a written copy of it. If not, contact your case manager and ask for a new copy of the plan.
- If you are open to CAMHS and do not have a crisis plan, please ring your local CAMHS team and ask to speak to your case manager. If they are not available, ask to speak to the duty worker.
If approaching services is difficult for you, or you are having to tell your story over again, it might be useful for you to have a mental health passport, a document where you can save information about your mental health and your needs, to share with the people who are helping you. It could include things like your symptoms, triggers, coping mechanisms, and what helps you feel supported. This is an example template from ChilliPep, which you can save online, or print out, but there are lots of different ways you could create a passport which best represents you and what you might need in these moments.
Sources of support
The following sources of support might also be helpful:
Childline is a free, confidential counselling service for children and young people under 19. It offers support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any issue, big or small. You can call 0800 1111, chat online or get support from their message boards.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a suicide prevention charity, – They run a free, anonymous, and confidential helpline and webchat service available from 5 p.m. to midnight every day or you can call: 0800 58 58 58
Samaritans is a charity that provides emotional support to people who are struggling to cope, feel suicidal, or are in crisis. It is available 24/7 through free phone calls, email, and in-person at its branches. Call 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website.
Papyrus is a young person’s Suicide Prevention Charity. You can chat to their advisors through the Hopeline, which is open 24/7, for anyone under the age of 35 who might be experiencing thoughts of suicide, or if you’re concerned for a friend who might be experiencing these thoughts. You can call them on 0800 068 4141, text them on 88247, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.