Good to Talk · Getting proper help · Free. Always.
What can family and partners actually do?
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.
Support might mean childcare, lifts, giving somebody space for appointments, listening or helping with practical tasks.
What you need to know
Support might mean childcare, lifts, giving somebody space for appointments, listening or helping with practical tasks. Respect treatment privacy and boundaries. A partner can be tremendous support without becoming the person's therapist. If you are concerned about immediate safety, use urgent professional routes.
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.
Keep going
Getting proper help · Talking to your GP · NHS Talking Therapies
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.