ReciteMe Logo

Need help now? What to do in a mental health crisis

If you need help with your mental health, here are some of the options available to you.

If you or someone you know is in crisis

Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.

This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You’ll speak to a mental health professional who will listen and help you find the right support.

NHS 111 is for everyone, including:

  • children and people
  • People with neurodevelopmental needs
  • Anyone calling on behalf of someone else

If you are Deaf or have communication difficulties, you can contact us in a crisis 24/7 by:

  • Texting 07860 064 775
  • Using SignVideo
  • Contacting 18001 111 using the Relay UK app

Please note, from 1 October 2025, the local crisis numbers you may be familiar with are being closed. You can now get the same support, from the same local teams, by contacting NHS 111. Read more about this change here.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

  • you, or someone else have harmed themselves or is at immediate risk
  • there is a medical emergency and someone is seriously ill or injured

What to do if you are already receiving treatment for your mental health

If you are already receiving treatment and support for your mental health from your GP or a community mental health team, you should try to contact them or your care coordinator or named worker. Professionals that know you well can often support you better.

If you have had similar symptoms before, it can help to think about what worked for you in the past.

Your care plan should include:

  • What you (and others) can do to help
  • Who to contact in an emergency.

What is a ‘mental health crisis’?

If a person’s mental or emotional state gets worse quickly, this can be referred to as a mental health crisis or a mental health emergency.

A mental health crisis can mean different things to different people. It often means that you no longer feel able to cope or in control of your situation.

You might be in crisis if:                               

  • you are thinking of hurting yourself, or suicide seems the only option
  • you are experiencing overwhelming distress, which may be related to current or past trauma
  • You are seeing or hearing things that others don’t (hallucinations), or your behaviour feels out of control or irrational.

In a crisis, it is important to get help quickly, to identify the best course of action and prevent things from getting worse.

What happens when I call NHS 111?

Your call will be answered by a mental health professional. In the North East and North Cumbria, they are employed by CNTW NHS Trust. They are supported and supervised by trained mental health clinicians.

They will:

  • Ask you some questions to understand your situation
  • Listen to you and make sure you are directed to the most appropriate professional or service
  • Transfer you to a local crisis team for triage and assessment if needed
  • Refer you to other services for ongoing support
  • Contact emergency services (999) if there is a risk to life

Watch the video below to find out more about calling NHS 111. You can also download an Easy Read leaflet about NHS 111.

Other help available

If you are feeling low, sad or worried but are not experiencing a mental health crisis, here are other ways to get support.

Someone to talk to

If you want to talk to someone about how you feel, you could contact one of these free helplines.

  • Samaritans: phone 116 123 or email [email protected]. Open 24 hours a day, every day.
  • SANEline: 0300 304 7000. Open 4pm – 10pm, every day.
  • Careline: 0845 122 8622. Open 10am-1pm and 7pm-10pm, Monday – Friday.
  • MIND: 0845 766 0163. Open 9am-5pm, Monday – Friday.
  • You can also text SHOUT to 85258. Open 24 hours a day, every day.

Self-help guides

We offer a wide range of self-help guides. Topics include:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Bereavement
  • Postnatal depression
  • And more

They can help you to understand what is happening, and work through feelings and emotions.

Browse our online self-help guides. (They are also available in audio, BSL or Easy Read formats.)

You can request up to three printed copies of our self-help guides free of charge from our Patient Information Centre. Call 0191 246 7288 or email [email protected].

Talking Therapies

Talking therapies are effective treatments delivered by trained and accredited NHS professionals. They can help if you’re struggling with things like feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

You can access talking therapies for free on the NHS. Help is available in person, by video, over the phone or as an online course.

Find your local NHS talking therapies service.

Information for referrers

If you’re a GP or another referrer, please see our Referrers section for contact details for referrals, as well as other useful resources.