Website information

Urgent Help

Where to find urgent mental health support across the UK

Support information checked 29 October 2026

GP or Duty GP

Ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment with your GP or the duty GP. If it is closed, follow its out-of-hours instructions. You can contact the mental health services below directly.

Urgent mental health support

England and Wales

Call 111Press 2 (mental health crisis service)

England: NHS guidance·Wales: NHS guidance

Scotland

Call 111Choose the mental health option

NHS 24: mental health support

Northern Ireland

Lifeline 0808 808 8000

Free, 24 hours a day

Lifeline information

Outside the UK: contact your local emergency or urgent healthcare service.

Immediate danger

Call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Someone to talk to

Samaritans

Call 116 123

Free listening support, 24 hours a day

Samaritans contact information

CALM

Call 0800 58 58 58

For adults aged 18+. Daily, 5 pm–midnight. Telephone and online support.

CALM contact options

Sift

Confidential listening support for people of all ages affected by self-harm, including supporters.

Call 0808 800 8088

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday · 6–9 pm

Text 07537 432 444

Monday–Friday · 6–9 pm

Sift contact information

Shout

Text SHOUT to 85258

Free, confidential text support, 24 hours a day

Shout contact information

Reasons to Stay

Read anonymous letters of encouragement. This is a reading resource rather than a live support service.

About Reasons to Stay