Urgent Help: Mental Health Crisis
A mental health emergency or crisis is when your mental or emotional state worsens quickly and you need urgent help. You are not alone, and support is available 24/7.
1. Check Your Care Plan
If you are currently receiving mental health treatment, please refer to your Care Plan first. It contains the specific emergency contact names and numbers for your dedicated clinical team.
2. If You Do Not Have a Care Plan
If you are in crisis and do not have a pre-arranged plan, please take one of the following steps:
- During Surgery Hours: Contact the practice to request an emergency GP appointment.
- Evenings, Weekends, or Holidays: Contact the GP Out of Hours service (Dalriada Urgent Care).
- Immediate Danger: Go to your nearest Hospital Emergency Department (A&E).
3. Support Helplines (24/7 & Free)
If you need to talk to someone right now, these services are free, confidential, and available every day of the year:
- Lifeline: Call 0808 808 8000 (Northern Ireland’s 24/7 crisis response helpline).
- Samaritans: Call 116 123 for a safe place to talk.
4. If You Are Worried About Someone Else
If you are concerned about someone’s immediate safety and cannot get them to an Emergency Department or keep them safe, call 999 immediately.
Additional Resources
- Drugs and Alcohol: If you are struggling with substance use, there are dedicated Mental Health Services for Drug and Alcohol problems across Northern Ireland.
- Find Local Support: You can search for statutory and community organizations near you via the Minding Your Head directory.