Mental Health Crisis Support: When You Need Help Now

If you're in a mental health crisis right now, you're not alone. Free, confidential crisis support is available 24/7 across the UK.

There are moments when mental health difficulties become overwhelming. Anxiety can feel unbearable. Dark thoughts may linger, and coping can seem impossible. In these moments, knowing where to turn can feel daunting. But remember, mental health crisis support is available, and it's closer than you think.

This guide covers Brighton & Hove and UK-wide mental health crisis helplines, emergency services, and specialist support resources available when you need help immediately.

Quick Reference: UK Mental Health Crisis Helplines

Save these mental health crisis numbers in your phone now:

• Emergency (immediate danger): 999

• NHS Mental Health Crisis: 111 (select mental health option)

• Sussex Mental Healthline: 0800 0309 500 (24/7)

• Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7)

• Shout Crisis Text: Text SHOUT to 85258 (24/7)

• Childline (under 19): 0800 1111

• YoungMinds Crisis Text: Text YM to 85258

• CALM (men): 0800 58 58 58

• Switchboard (LGBTQ+): 0300 330 0630

• National Suicide Prevention: 0800 689 5652

  
  

Emergency Mental Health Services: When to Call 999

Immediate Mental Health Emergency Support

If you or someone else is at immediate risk of death or serious injury, call 999 and ask for police and/or ambulance immediately.

Call 999 for mental health emergencies including:

• Active suicidal thoughts or plans to harm yourself

• Risk of harm to others

• Severe physical symptoms alongside a mental health crisis

• Any situation requiring immediate medical attention

  
  

Mental health emergencies are as serious as physical emergencies. Emergency services are trained in mental health crisis response and are there to help you.

Mental Health Crisis A&E Services

If you can get there safely, you can go directly to your local A&E department for mental health crisis support. A&E staff are trained in psychiatric emergency care. They can assess your immediate needs, provide crisis intervention, and connect you with mental health services.

24/7 Mental Health Crisis Helplines UK

One of the most important things to know is that someone is available to listen 24 hours a day, every single day. You never have to wait until morning or until Monday.

NHS

Phone: Call 111 and select the mental health option

Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

The NHS mental health crisis line provides urgent mental health support across England. Services vary by region but typically include:

• Mental health crisis assessment

• Telephone counselling and support

• Signposting to local crisis services

• Advice for friends and family

  
  

Sussex Mental Healthline (NHS)

Phone: 0800 0309 500

Available: 24/7, 365 days a year

The Sussex Mental Healthline offers free mental health crisis support including:

• Listening support and crisis counselling

• Mental health advice and information

• Signposting to urgent mental health services

• Support for relatives, friends, and carers

  
  

Accessible mental health support: Text Relay calls and New Generation Text are available on 0300 5000 101 for hearing and speech-impaired callers.

For more information: Sussex Mental Healthline

Samaritans Mental Health Helpline

Phone: 116 123 (free from any phone)

jo@samaritans.org

Available: 24/7, 365 days a year

Samaritans is the UK's leading suicide prevention charity, offering confidential emotional support for anyone struggling to cope. You don't need to be suicidal to call. Whatever mental health difficulties you're experiencing, Samaritans provides judgment-free listening support.

Samaritans crisis support includes:

• Suicide prevention support

• Emotional distress helpline

• Mental health listening service

• Support for depression and anxiety

Visit: Samaritans

Shout Mental Health Crisis Text Line

Text 'SHOUT' to 85258

Available: 24/7

Shout is the UK's first free 24/7 text messaging mental health crisis service. If speaking on the phone feels too difficult, Shout offers confidential crisis support via text message for:

• Suicidal thoughts

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Depression

• Self-harm

• Any mental health crisis

Visit: Shout

National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK

Phone: 0800 689 5652

The National Suicide Prevention Helpline offers supportive listening to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings. This free suicide prevention service operates nationally and provides a safe space to talk about what you're experiencing.

Visit: National Suicide Prevention Helpline

Mental Health Crisis Prevention Services

Staying Well Spaces (Crisis Prevention)

Staying Well Spaces are NHS-funded mental health crisis prevention services offering psychosocial support before you reach crisis point. These services help when you're struggling to cope or feel you're heading towards a mental health crisis.

Crisis prevention support includes:

• Mental health crisis planning

• Building resilience and coping strategies

• Support when you're struggling to cope

• Early intervention before crisis escalates

  
  

Important: These are not drop-in mental health services—phone in advance before attending.

Brighton and Hove Staying Well Space

Phone: 0800 023 6475, option #3

Getting Help

Address: Preston Park Recovery Centre, 18 Preston Park Avenue, Brighton, BN1 6HL

Opening hours:

• Weekdays: 5:30pm–10:30pm

• Weekends: 3:30pm–10:30pm

  
  

Youth Mental Health Crisis Support UK

If you're a young person experiencing a mental health crisis, there are specialist youth mental health services with people who understand what you're going through.

Childline Mental Health Support

Phone: 0800 1111

Childline

For anyone up to their 19th birthday

Childline is the UK's leading children's mental health helpline, offering free confidential support for young people experiencing:

• Mental health problems

• Suicidal thoughts

• Anxiety and depression

• Self-harm

• Any issue affecting wellbeing

  
  

Youth mental health support hours:

• Weekdays: 7:30am–midnight

• Weekends: 9am–midnight

Visit: Childline

YoungMinds Mental Health Crisis Text Line

Text 'YM' to 85258

Available: 24/7

YoungMinds operates a free 24/7 text messaging crisis service specifically for young people experiencing mental health emergencies. This youth mental health crisis support is available from all major UK mobile networks.

Visit: YoungMinds

Papyrus Suicide Prevention for Young People

Phone: 0800 068 4141

Text: 07786 209 697

pat@papyrus-uk.org

Papyrus is the UK's leading suicide prevention charity for young people, operating a confidential support line for teenagers and young adults under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings.

Youth suicide prevention support hours:

• Weekdays: 9am–10pm

• Weekends/bank holidays: 2pm–10pm

Visit: Papyrus

LGBTQ+ Mental Health Crisis Support

If you identify as LGBTQ+, there are specialist mental health crisis services with people who understand your specific experiences and challenges.

Switchboard LGBT+ Mental Health Helpline

Phone: 0300 330 0630

Online chat available

Available daily: 10am–10pm

Switchboard is the UK's leading LGBTQ+ mental health support service, offering crisis support to the LGBTQ+ community. All volunteers identify as LGBTQ+ and provide understanding, non-judgmental support.

LGBTQ+ mental health support includes:

• Coming out support

• Identity and gender issues

• Mental health crisis support

• Relationship difficulties

Visit: Switchboard

LGBT Foundation Mental Health Helpline

Phone: 0345 3 30 30 30

The LGBT Foundation operates a national LGBTQ+ mental health helpline offering support and advice on mental health, coming out, relationships, and wellbeing.

LGBTQ+ helpline hours:

• Weekdays: 9am–9pm

• Weekends: 10am–6pm

Visit: LGBT Foundation

Specialist Mental Health Crisis Helplines

CALM Men's Mental Health Crisis Support

Phone: 0800 58 58 58

Online chat available

Available: 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is the UK's leading men's mental health charity, dedicated to preventing male suicide. The helpline and webchat provide confidential mental health crisis support specifically for men.

Men's mental health support includes:

• Suicide prevention for men

• Depression and anxiety support

• Relationship and work stress

• Emotional support for men

Visit: CALM

Cruse Bereavement Mental Health Support

Phone: 0808 808 1677

Online chat available

Cruse Bereavement Support offers mental health crisis support for those experiencing grief and bereavement-related mental health difficulties.

Bereavement support hours:

• Weekdays: 9:30am–5pm (until 8pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays)

• Online chat: Weekdays 9am–9pm

Visit: Cruse

The Silver Line (Older People's Mental Health)

Phone: 0800 4 70 80 90

Available: 24/7, 365 days a year

The Silver Line is the UK's only confidential, free mental health helpline for older people that's open around the clock. It provides support for loneliness, isolation, depression, and anxiety in later life.

Visit: The Silver Line

PANDAS Perinatal Mental Health Support

Phone: 0808 1961 776

Available daily: 11am–10pm

PANDAS Foundation offers peer-to-peer mental health support for anyone affected by perinatal mental illness, including postnatal depression, antenatal anxiety, birth trauma, and postpartum psychosis.

Perinatal mental health support for:

• Mothers experiencing perinatal mental illness

• Partners and family members

• Anyone concerned about perinatal mental health

Visit: PANDAS

What to Expect When You Contact a Mental Health Crisis Service

If you've never contacted a mental health crisis helpline before, you might feel nervous. That's completely normal. Here's what typically happens when you reach out for crisis support:

You'll be met with kindness and understanding. Mental health crisis workers are trained to listen without judgment.

You can talk about anything affecting your mental health. There's no "right" thing to say.

You stay in control of the conversation. You can share as much or as little as you want.

They'll help you feel safer. Whether that's through active listening, helping you create a mental health safety plan, or connecting you with further crisis support services.

You don't need to be in crisis to call. If you're struggling with your mental health, that's enough.

With mental health support, things can and do get better. Reaching out for crisis support is the bravest thing you can do.