If someone is physically unsafe right now or has taken action to end their life:
Call 111 now & ask for Police and if it’s safe to, stay with them (or get someone else to stay with them) until help arrives.
Click here for accessibility options for 111 emergencies
If you aren’t sure whether there’s risk right now, call 111 and explain what’s going on – they’ll help you work out what to do. You don’t have to make the decision on your own.
If the person is physically safe, but they are in a mental health crisis (e.g., intense distress, not able to function, starting to feel paranoid or hear voices/see things that aren’t there), choose from this list to fit your situation:
Go with the person to the Emergency Department at hospital
- Open your maps app and put in ‘Emergency Department’ or click here for a list of locations
Contact Emergency Mental Health Services
- These have different contact numbers depending on where you live. You can find these linked here
- Not sure if it’s a crisis? You can still call them and ask for their advice
Make an emergency GP appointment (and go with them if they’d like you to)
- Most General Practices have appointments available for emergencies. Call their GP and ask for an emergency appointment. You may have to explain the situation or speak to a nurse before you’re booked in. You may be able to choose whether the appointment is in-person or on the phone.
Or call Healthline for free on 0800 611 116 to speak to medical professional to help you work out what to do
If the person is safe, but could still use some extra support, there are several options:
- Call, text, or chat with the 1737 helpline (they have interpreters available in over 40 languages)
- Contact another helpline (click here for a list)
- Head to our guide on getting professional help (the top section in ‘Create a Plan’)
- Not sure where to start? Talking to their GP is a great first step. If you can, offer to go with them for support
You can also contact these services yourself for more information, advice, or if you’d like to debrief after helping someone in crisis.
People’s risk can change quickly. Save this page in case you need to access it again in the future.
Getting help
Emergency and mental health services are often very busy. Stay calm, be polite, and try something like:
- “My friend is having a mental health emergency. I am scared for their safety.”
- “I am not a mental health professional and I need help.”
- “If you can’t help me right now, can you tell me who to call/where to go?
What if they don’t want help?
If you are worried someone might hurt themselves or someone else, it’s important to seek help from a trained professional to keep everyone safe. This is true even if they are unsure or not keen at all, because you can’t carry this risk alone. Try saying something like: “I really care about you. I’m worried you’re not safe right now so I need to make sure you have help.” Continue to follow the steps above.