If your child’s life is at risk or you're worried they are not safe
If you are worried that your child is at immediate risk, or they have already made a suicide attempt or been seriously injured:
- Call 999 for emergency services.
- Or take them straight to A&E if you can.
If your child needs urgent help but the situation is not immediately life threatening
- Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, or use 111 online. 111 can provide urgent advice and tell you where you can get help. This service is open 24/7.
- Get an urgent on-the-day appointment with a GP by phoning your GP surgery or going into the surgery. Remember these appointments are as much for mental health concerns as physical ones, and you won’t be wasting anyone’s time.
- If your child is already under the care of a mental health team, such as CAMHS, and a professional has given you a number to call in a crisis, call that number.
If your child needs to talk to someone
Your child can speak to someone anytime 24/7 by contacting any of these helplines:
-
Childline
If you’re under 19 you can confidentially call, chat online or email about any problem big or small.
Sign up for a free Childline locker (real name or email address not needed) to use their free 1-2-1 counsellor chat and email support service.
Can provide a BSL interpreter if you are deaf or hearing-impaired.
Hosts online message boards where you can share your experiences, have fun and get support from other young people in similar situations.
- Opening times:
- 24/7
-
Papyrus
Offers confidential advice and support for young people struggling with suicidal thoughts, as well as family and friends; and information about how to make a safety plan.
Its helpline service - HOPELINE247 - is available to anybody under the age of 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anybody concerned that a young person could be thinking of suicide.
- Opening times:
- 24/7 every day of the year
-
Shout
Text SHOUT to 85258.
Shout provides free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis.
All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.
Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
Texts can be anonymous, but if the volunteer believes you are at immediate risk of harm, they may share your details with people who can provide support.
- Opening times:
- 24/7
-
Samaritans
Whatever you're going through, you can contact the Samaritans for support. N.B. This is a listening service and does not offer advice or intervention.
- Opening times:
- 24/7
-
NHS 111
To get urgent mental health advice from the NHS, call 111 and select the mental health option. 111 will tell you where you can get help. They may also be able to put you through to a trained mental health professional over the phone.
111 can support anyone who is feeling unsafe, distressed or worried about their mental health. They can also give information and advice about what to do if you're worried about someone else.
If you would rather get help online, you can use 111 online.
- Opening times:
- 24/7
