Good to Talk · Helping a mate · Free. Always.
Make the plan before the crisis
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. If you need urgent mental-health help but it is not an emergency, in England call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option or use NHS 111 online where appropriate.
When somebody is overwhelmed, remembering phone numbers, names and sensible next steps becomes much harder.
Write down the routes
GP details, current mental-health team if there is one, NHS 111, trusted people and what to do in an emergency.
Know the person's warning signs
If a clinician has helped create a safety or crisis plan, keep it accessible and follow it. Include things the person knows make risk worse and people or places that help them stay safe.
Review after things settle
A crisis plan should reflect what actually helped, not remain untouched because it was written once.
Useful next pages
Trusted help & further reading
- NHS — where to get urgent help for mental health
- NHS Every Mind Matters — helping others
- Samaritans — if you're worried about someone else
This section is practical guidance, not emergency or clinical care. If somebody's safety is at immediate risk, use emergency services.