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Getting Help

• Treatment
• The NHS
• Crisis services
• Charities & counselling
• Going private
• Support groups
• Helplines (across the world)
• Bookstore

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Last updated: 15 October 2008

Sirius Project Bookstore

Crisis Services

If you're in the UK and you need help urgently because of a mental health problem, you can do one of the following:

• Ring your GP surgery and ask for an urgent appointment. If the surgery is closed, there will be an answerphone message with details of the on-call doctor or out-of-hours service.

• Ring a helpline for support and/or advice. Some helplines offer more than just a listening ear - Saneline can put you in touch with local services, or may ring you back regularly until the crisis has passed, while NHS Direct can offer an assessment of your symptoms.

• Visit your nearest Samaritans branch in person.

• Go to your nearest Accident & Emergency department and ask to see the duty psychiatrist. You don't need to have actually injured yourself.

• Contact any mental health crisis service that you know of in your area. Mindinfoline or NHS Direct can give you contact details of these.

Unfortunately, Mind no longer publish a list of crisis services open to self-referrals. Their Crisis Services Factsheet gives some general information on crisis services and an idea of what may be available, but no specific contacts.

If you've already self-harmed and need medical treatment, go straight to your nearest A&E department. See our First Aid & Emergencies page for further information.