Help and support is available 24 hours a day
If you’re feeling suicidal or like you want to die, it’s important to tell someone. You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.
Help and support is available right now by phone, text, email and web chat if you need it
Organisations that offer support
Here’s a list of helplines you can call for free. They’re there to help you when you’re feeling down or desperate. Unless otherwise stated, they’re open 24 hours a day, every day.
If your life is at imminent risk, call 999 for immediate help.
NHS call 999 or see information on the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/
Samaritans – for everyone
Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org – www.samaritans.org
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day or visit the CALM webchat page
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – 9am to midnight every day
Text 07860 039967
Email pat@papyrus-uk.org
Shout for support in a crisis. Shout provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text. It’s the first free 24/7 texting service in the UK for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Shout is available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Struggling to cope? Text SHOUT to 85258 or Text HOME to 741741 to reach a Crisis Counselor
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger – The YoungMinds Crisis Messenger text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need support, you can text YM to 85258.
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger know that finding the right support is important, especially if you need someone to talk to right now. They aim to connect every texter to a trained volunteer promptly to provide crisis help. They will listen to you and help you think more clearly, enabling you to know that you can take the next step to feeling better.
Childline – for children and young people under 19
Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill
Get support from a mental health charity. Here’s the NHS website’s A to Z listing of mental health charities.
Alternatively you can talk to your GP, the police or ambulance service via 999. Go to A&E
If you’re worried about someone else try to get them to talk to you. Just having someone to talk to can be very helpful and start the process of getting help.
You can look at the Samaritans website for tips on how to start a difficult conversation.
The Rethink website also has advice on how to support someone who is having suicidal thoughts.
