Good to Talk · Getting proper help · Free. Always.
Right. I think I need proper help.
If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, if you need urgent mental-health help but it is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111 and select the mental-health option.
Your GP is a sensible general starting point.
What you need to know
Your GP is a sensible general starting point. In England, adults can also self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression without first seeing a GP. Depending on what is happening, support may include guided self-help, psychological therapy, medication, specialist services or a combination. You do not need to choose the treatment before asking for help.
Make it a conversation, not a test
You are allowed to ask questions, explain what matters to you and say when something is not helping. Mental-health care should be based on your needs, circumstances and appropriate clinical assessment.
Sources & further reading
- NHS — mental health treatments
- NHS — talking therapies
- NHS — antidepressants
- NICE — depression in adults
Educational information only. Treatment should be based on an individual assessment with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Preparing for a conversation
- What will the GP ask me?
- Your first therapy appointment
- How to get more from therapy
- What can family and partners actually do?
Finding and understanding talking support
- Can I refer myself for therapy?
- CBT without the jargon
- What actually happens in counselling?
- Therapy isn't one single thing
- Is therapy confidential?
- What do I do while I'm waiting?
- Going private for therapy
- How do I choose a therapist?
Medicine questions to discuss with a professional
- Antidepressants: the straightforward version
- I've been prescribed antidepressants — what now?
- Side effects: don't just suffer in silence
- Don't just stop antidepressants overnight
- What if my mental-health medication affects my weight?
- What if I'm getting help and I'm still not better?
- Tablets aren't cheating