Urgent Help
If You Need Urgent Mental Health Help
If you feel unable to cope, are worried about your safety, or need urgent mental health support, please do not wait for a reply from The Choice to Change.
The Choice to Change is not an emergency or crisis service. Choose the option below that best matches what is happening now.
999
Call if someone’s life is at risk or you cannot keep yourself or another person safe.
NHS 111
Call 111 and select the mental health option. You can call for yourself or because you are concerned about someone else.
Samaritans 116 123
Free listening support, day or night. You do not need to be suicidal to call.
Text SHOUT to 85258
Confidential text-based support if talking by phone feels difficult.
Immediate Danger
Call 999 or go to A&E
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or you do not feel you can keep yourself or another person safe, call 999 or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency department (A&E). Do not wait for a therapy appointment, email response or consultation.
Urgent Mental Health Support
Call NHS 111
If you need urgent mental health help but it is not an immediate emergency, call 111 and select the mental health option. NHS 111 can connect you with appropriate urgent mental health support. You can call for yourself or because you are concerned about someone else.
Someone to Talk to Now
Samaritans: 116 123
If you are struggling and would like someone to listen, you can call Samaritans free, day or night. You do not need to be suicidal to contact Samaritans. You can call if you are having a difficult time and need someone to talk to.
If You Would Rather Text
Shout: text SHOUT to 85258
If speaking on the phone feels difficult, text support is also available. Shout provides confidential text-based support for people who are struggling to cope. If there is an immediate risk to life, call 999 instead.
Contact Your GP
Your GP can also help
If you are struggling with your mental health but the situation is not an immediate emergency, contact your GP surgery. Your GP can:
- Talk with you about what is happening
- Consider what support you may need
- Discuss treatment options
- Refer you to appropriate NHS mental health services where needed
If your GP surgery is closed and you need urgent help, use NHS 111.
If You Already Have a Mental Health Team
Contact the service that currently supports you
If you already receive care from an NHS mental health team, crisis team or another mental health service, use the contact details they have given you. If you cannot reach them and need urgent support, call 111 and select the mental health option. If there is immediate danger, call 999.
If You Are Worried About Someone Else
You can ask for help for another person
You do not need to wait until you are certain that someone is in crisis. If someone appears to need urgent mental health help:
- Immediate danger: call 999.
- Urgent mental health help: call 111 and select the mental health option.
- Someone needs to talk: Samaritans, 116 123.
If you are physically with the person and it is safe for you to remain with them, you may choose to stay nearby while appropriate help is arranged. Do not put yourself in danger.
If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm
You do not need to manage these thoughts alone. If you believe you may act on them, have seriously harmed yourself, or cannot keep yourself safe, call 999 or go to A&E now.
If you need urgent mental health support and there is not an immediate threat to life, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. You can also speak with Samaritans on 116 123, or text SHOUT to 85258.
The Choice to Change
What this practice can and cannot provide
The Choice to Change provides scheduled therapy and consultation services. It does not provide:
- Emergency mental health care
- Crisis intervention
- 24-hour monitoring
- An emergency phone line
- Immediate responses to emails or contact forms
Please do not use the website contact form if you need urgent help. Use the services listed above instead.