If you're in immediate danger

If you or someone else is in immediate physical danger, call 999 (UK) or your local emergency services immediately.

Crisis Support Guide

Guidance for navigating mental health crises—whether you're struggling yourself or supporting someone else

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis

A mental health crisis is when someone feels unable to cope, their normal ways of managing aren't working, and they may be at risk of harming themselves or others.

Warning Signs

!Expressing thoughts of suicide or self-harm
!Severe panic attacks or anxiety
!Hearing voices or experiencing paranoia
!Feeling completely unable to cope
!Extreme mood swings or agitation
!Giving away possessions or saying goodbye

Types of Crisis

-Suicidal crisis: Thoughts of ending one's life
-Panic crisis: Severe, uncontrollable anxiety
-Psychotic crisis: Loss of touch with reality
-Trauma crisis: Severe flashbacks or dissociation
-Emotional crisis: Overwhelming emotions

Immediate Steps If You're in Crisis

If you're experiencing a mental health crisis right now, here are steps that can help:

Ground Yourself

Pause and breathe: Take slow, deep breaths (in for 4, out for 8)
Find a safe space: Move somewhere you feel secure
Use grounding: Name 5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you feel, 2 you smell, 1 you taste
Reach out: Call someone you trust or a crisis helpline
Remove danger: If possible, remove access to means of self-harm

Crisis Helplines

Professional support is available 24/7. These services are free and confidential.

Samaritans

24/7 emotional support

116 123

Free from any phone

Email: jo@samaritans.org

Shout

24/7 text support

Text SHOUT to 85258

Free text service

For anyone in crisis

NHS 111

Mental health option

111, then option 2

Free, 24/7

Connects to local crisis team

CALM

For men in crisis

0800 58 58 58

5pm-midnight daily

Webchat also available

View All Crisis Resources

Helping Someone in Crisis

If someone you know is in crisis, your support can make a significant difference.

+Stay calm and listen without judgment
+Take them seriously—don't dismiss their feelings
+Stay with them if possible
+Help them contact a crisis service if needed
+Remove access to means of self-harm if safe to do so
+Call 999 if there's immediate danger

After a Crisis

Once the immediate crisis has passed, it's important to focus on recovery and prevention.

Recovery Steps

1.Rest and allow yourself to recover
2.Reach out to your support network
3.Follow up with professional support
4.Be gentle with yourself—recovery takes time

Create a Safety Plan

-Identify your warning signs
-List your coping strategies
-Note people you can contact
-List professional resources
-Make your environment safe

Get Ongoing Support

After a crisis, working with a mental health professional can help you understand what happened and build resilience for the future.

Find a Therapist

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis

A mental health crisis is when someone feels unable to cope, their normal ways of managing aren't working, and they may be at risk of harming themselves or others.

Warning Signs

!Expressing thoughts of suicide or self-harm
!Severe panic attacks or anxiety
!Hearing voices or experiencing paranoia
!Feeling completely unable to cope
!Extreme mood swings or agitation
!Giving away possessions or saying goodbye

Types of Crisis

-Suicidal crisis: Thoughts of ending one's life
-Panic crisis: Severe, uncontrollable anxiety
-Psychotic crisis: Loss of touch with reality
-Trauma crisis: Severe flashbacks or dissociation
-Emotional crisis: Overwhelming emotions

Immediate Steps If You're in Crisis

If you're experiencing a mental health crisis right now, here are steps that can help:

Ground Yourself

Pause and breathe: Take slow, deep breaths (in for 4, out for 8)
Find a safe space: Move somewhere you feel secure
Use grounding: Name 5 things you see, 4 you hear, 3 you feel, 2 you smell, 1 you taste
Reach out: Call someone you trust or a crisis helpline
Remove danger: If possible, remove access to means of self-harm

Crisis Helplines

Professional support is available 24/7. These services are free and confidential.

Samaritans

24/7 emotional support

116 123

Free from any phone

Email: jo@samaritans.org

Shout

24/7 text support

Text SHOUT to 85258

Free text service

For anyone in crisis

NHS 111

Mental health option

111, then option 2

Free, 24/7

Connects to local crisis team

CALM

For men in crisis

0800 58 58 58

5pm-midnight daily

Webchat also available

View All Crisis Resources

Helping Someone in Crisis

If someone you know is in crisis, your support can make a significant difference.

+Stay calm and listen without judgment
+Take them seriously—don't dismiss their feelings
+Stay with them if possible
+Help them contact a crisis service if needed
+Remove access to means of self-harm if safe to do so
+Call 999 if there's immediate danger

After a Crisis

Once the immediate crisis has passed, it's important to focus on recovery and prevention.

Recovery Steps

1.Rest and allow yourself to recover
2.Reach out to your support network
3.Follow up with professional support
4.Be gentle with yourself—recovery takes time

Create a Safety Plan

-Identify your warning signs
-List your coping strategies
-Note people you can contact
-List professional resources
-Make your environment safe

Get Ongoing Support

After a crisis, working with a mental health professional can help you understand what happened and build resilience for the future.

Find a Therapist

If you're in immediate danger

Crisis Support Guide

On this page:

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis

Warning Signs

Types of Crisis

Immediate Steps If You're in Crisis

Ground Yourself

Crisis Helplines

Samaritans

Shout

NHS 111

CALM

Helping Someone in Crisis

After a Crisis

Recovery Steps

Create a Safety Plan

Get Ongoing Support

If you're in immediate danger

Crisis Support Guide

On this page:

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis

Warning Signs

Types of Crisis

Immediate Steps If You're in Crisis

Ground Yourself

Crisis Helplines

Samaritans

Shout

NHS 111

CALM

Helping Someone in Crisis

After a Crisis

Recovery Steps

Create a Safety Plan

Get Ongoing Support

If you're in immediate danger

Crisis Support Guide

On this page:

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis

Warning Signs

Types of Crisis

Immediate Steps If You're in Crisis

Ground Yourself

If You're Having a Panic Attack

If You're Having Suicidal Thoughts

If You're Having a Flashback

Crisis Helplines

Samaritans

Shout

NHS 111

CALM

Helping Someone in Crisis

After a Crisis

Recovery Steps

Create a Safety Plan

Get Ongoing Support

If you're in immediate danger

Crisis Support Guide

On this page:

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis

Warning Signs

Types of Crisis

Immediate Steps If You're in Crisis

Ground Yourself

If You're Having a Panic Attack

If You're Having Suicidal Thoughts

If You're Having a Flashback

Crisis Helplines

Samaritans

Shout

NHS 111

CALM

Helping Someone in Crisis

After a Crisis

Recovery Steps

Create a Safety Plan

Get Ongoing Support