A mental health crisis can occur when someone feels unable to cope or is at immediate risk of harm. In these situations, urgent support may be needed.
The NHS provides several services designed to help people experiencing a mental health crisis, including crisis helplines, urgent assessment services, and hospital care if necessary.
This guide explains what a mental health crisis may look like, where to seek urgent help in the UK, and how NHS crisis services work.
Urgent help
If you or someone you know needs immediate mental health support, these services are available now.
- Immediate danger
Call 999 or go to A&E
If someone is at immediate risk of harm to themselves or others.
- Urgent but not life-threatening
Call NHS 111 (option 2)
Trained advisers can assess the situation and connect you to urgent mental health services.
- 24/7 emotional support
Call Samaritans on 116 123
Free, confidential emotional support available 24 hours a day.
- Local crisis helpline
Find your local NHS urgent mental health helpline
Search the NHS helpline finder to reach your local crisis team.
If someone is in immediate danger
Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department immediately. Do not delay seeking emergency help if there is any risk to life.
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis is a situation where someone may feel overwhelmed or unable to cope and may require urgent support.
According to NHS guidance, signs of a mental health crisis may include:
- feeling at risk of harming yourself or others
- severe emotional distress
- sudden changes in behaviour or mood
- experiencing thoughts of suicide
- feeling unable to keep yourself safe
In these situations, urgent support should be sought.
Source: NHS – Urgent mental health help
NHS urgent mental health helplines
The NHS provides urgent mental health helplines in England that are available 24 hours a day.
These helplines allow people to speak directly with trained professionals who can provide support and guidance during a crisis.
Helpline staff may help by:
- listening and providing emotional support
- helping people access urgent care
- arranging mental health assessments
- directing callers to appropriate services
Key tip
Samaritans
You can also contact Samaritans on 116 123, available 24 hours a day, for free confidential emotional support.
Website: samaritans.org
Contacting NHS 111
If you need urgent mental health advice but the situation is not life-threatening, you can contact NHS 111.
Trained advisers can help assess the situation and direct people to appropriate services, including urgent mental health teams if necessary.
Source: NHS 111
When to go to A&E
In some situations, emergency medical care may be needed.
According to NHS guidance, people should consider going to Accident and Emergency (A&E) or calling 999 if someone:
- has seriously harmed themselves
- is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others
- requires urgent medical attention
Source: NHS – Get urgent help for mental health
Crisis resolution teams
Many areas of England have crisis resolution and home treatment teams.
These teams are designed to support people experiencing severe mental health difficulties without needing hospital admission where possible.
Crisis teams may:
- provide urgent assessments
- offer short-term intensive support
- help manage mental health crises at home
Source: NHS – Mental health crisis services
What happens during a crisis assessment?
If someone contacts crisis services, healthcare professionals may conduct an urgent mental health assessment.
This assessment helps determine:
- the person's immediate safety
- what support is required
- whether hospital care is necessary
- what follow-up services may help
Learn more:
Mental Health Assessment: What HappensSupporting someone in a mental health crisis
If someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, NHS guidance suggests:
- staying calm and listening
- encouraging them to seek professional help
- contacting urgent services if safety is a concern
If someone is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted.
Source: NHS – Supporting someone with mental health problems
Finding longer-term mental health support
Crisis services are designed to provide urgent help, but many people may need longer-term mental health support afterward.
Find Care Compare helps patients understand mental health pathways and explore available providers.
Learn more:
How to Get Mental Health Support in the UKCompare mental health providers
Explore mental health care options and understand your pathways to accessing support.
Compare providersSources
Information in this guide is based on NHS guidance about urgent mental health support.
NHS sources referenced include:
Related guides
How to Get Mental Health Support in the UK
A practical guide to accessing NHS mental health support, including talking therapies, specialist services, and crisis support.
Mental Health Assessment: What Happens
What to expect during a mental health assessment, who conducts them, and how to prepare.
NHS Talking Therapies Explained
Free NHS psychological therapy for anxiety, depression, and common mental health conditions — self-referral available in most areas.
How to Get Therapy in the UK
Understand the three main ways to access therapy in the UK — NHS, charity, and private — and how to choose the right route.