Urgent Help

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If you, or the person you are with are at immediate risk, go to your nearest A&E or call 999.


If you, or someone you care for, is experiencing a mental health crisis, it can be difficult to know what to do. A mental health crisis can mean that you no longer feel able to cope and might not feel in control of your situation. You might be feeling distressed or anxious. You might feel unable to cope with day-to-day life. You might be thinking about suicide or self harm.

If your situation is urgent but not an emergency, or if you don’t want to go to A&E, here are some available options:
Call a healthcare professional

If you’ve already got a crisis line number from a health professional, call it. Contact numbers for mental health services in Lancashire are available on the LSCFT website – www.lscft.nhs.uk/crisis


Consult your care plan

If you’re under the care of a mental health team and have a care plan it will tell you who to contact.


Call the Mental Health Urgent Response Line (for Lancashire and South Cumbria)

The recently launched Mental Health Urgent Response Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 0800 953 0110. It is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services.


Call the Samaritans

If you want to talk to someone, about anything that is upsetting you, call Samaritans on freephone 116 123. They’re always open and are there to listen.


Contact your GP

You can contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment. You should get one as soon as possible but you might need to wait for a doctor to call you back first.


Mental Health Access Line

In Lancashire there is a Mental Health Access Line to support people’s mental health needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you, or someone you support, are unwell, you can access the line by calling the NHS non-emergency services on 111.


Wellbeing Helpline and Texting Service

There is a listening service available in Lancashire for anyone concerned about their own, or someone else’s, mental health. Call the Freephone Wellbeing and Mental Health Helpline on 0800 915 4640 or text ‘Hello’ to 07860 022846. Open Mon-Fri 7pm-11pm and Sat-Sun 12pm-Midnight.


CALM Suicide Support

The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against suicide. You can call them from 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year on 0800 58 58 58. They also have a Live Chat and WhatsApp.


Contact Papyrus

Papyrus is the UK charity for prevention of young suicide. You can contact their HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 or Text: 88247. Lines are open 24 hours every day of the year (Weekends and Bank Holidays included).


Text SHOUT to Crisis

You can text SHOUT to 85258 from anywhere in the UK, at any time of day to connect with a trained Crisis Volunteer. Shout is a free, confidential and 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs support.


Crisis services in Lancashire

For more information about crisis services in Lancashire visit Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust’s website – https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/crisis.


Mind’s guide to Crisis services

For more general information about mental health crisis services go to Mind’s guide to crisis services. This includes guidance on how you can plan for a crisis.

Other information that may be helpful