Good to Talk · Things you can do yourself · Free. Always.
Write the manual before you need it
Self-help is not the right tool for an emergency. If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E. 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.
You know yourself better when you're relatively okay than when you're right in the middle of a rough patch.
My early warning signs
Write your own: withdrawing, snapping, sleeping badly, cancelling plans, drinking more, stopping exercise, doom-scrolling, working late, not eating properly.
Things that usually help me
People, places, routines, exercise, professional support, medication as prescribed, hobbies, boundaries — use your evidence, not somebody else's Instagram routine.
If things get worse
Record who you will tell, how to contact your GP, what urgent route you would use and anything important supporters should know. This is not a substitute for a clinician-created safety plan where one is needed.
Self-help doesn't mean alone
Good to Talk home · When to get help · When self-help isn't enough
Sources & further reading
- NHS Every Mind Matters — mental wellbeing tips
- NHS Every Mind Matters — mental health issues
- NHS — self-help
Self-help can support mental wellbeing, but it is not a substitute for professional assessment or treatment when those are needed.