If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis, support is available. This page explains where to get urgent help, what services are available in Derby and Derbyshire, and ways to keep yourself safe while waiting for support.
You may:
You may feel that it will never feel better and nothing will help – these can go along with feeling in crisis, but these feelings will pass, and you can feel better. Whatever the cause, if you feel unsafe or that you cannot cope, you need to seek help and assistance immediately. Call 111 and select option 2, or dial 999 in an emergency.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, there may be services that can support you without attending A&E. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to access:
If there is an immediate risk to life, call 999 or attend your nearest A&E department.
Safe Havens provide support for people aged 18 and over who are experiencing mental health distress or crisis.
Opening times: 4.30pm to 12.30am, 365 days a year.
Your GP or a health professional can also refer you by contacting the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline to discuss what your current needs may be. If the Safe Haven seems appropriate, a member of the Safe Haven team will contact you and accommodate you within the same day.
The safe havens provide a responsive, tailored support service for people over 18 who are experiencing immediate mental health needs or feel that they are experiencing a crisis. This is a compassionate and non-judgmental space offering therapeutic support around ongoing safety and wellbeing, next steps in recovery and help with building a sense of hope for the future.
Crisis Support Drop-in Services provide out-of-hours support for adults experiencing mental health distress or crisis.
Opening times:
These drop-in services, run by Derbyshire Mind in partnership with local community organisations, offer an out-of-hours friendly and welcoming community crisis support space. They are open to anyone over 18 experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. This is an opportunity to get support and help in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
The role of an out of hours 'careline' is to make people feel safe until the next working day. Daytime workers may become involved to follow up on a problem that has been dealt with at night or over a weekend.
For out-of-hours support:
Telephone: 01629 533190
| Service | Role of the service |
|---|---|
| Samaritans |
24/7 listening service that offers support if you feel you need to talk to someone urgently about how you are feeling Call: 116 123 (Freephone from landlines and mobiles) Email: jo@samaritans.org Website: www.samaritans.org |
| HOPEline UK |
Listening service for young people under the age of 35 who may be having thoughts of suicide. Run by the charity Papyrus. Call: 08000 684141 Text: 88247 Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org |
| SANEline |
A national, out-of-hours mental health support line offering specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers. Call: 0300 304 7000 (4pm – 10pm every day) Website: www.sane.org.uk |
| The Silver Line |
Free confidential support line providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call: 0800 4 70 80 90 |
| CALM |
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) support line is for men in the UK who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. Call: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm to midnight every day) Website: www.thecalmzone.net |
|
Mind
|
Mind: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/ or call 0300 123 3393 |
| Papyrus |
Papyrus: www.papyrus-uk.org/papyrus-HOPELINE247/ or call 08000 684141
|
Unsure of where to go? The following websites and organisations can help you to find out what services are available in your area:
If you are finding it difficult to focus or are unsure how to manage the next few hours, writing down what you’ll do next might help you feel more in control of the situation. Once you've gone through it, it might be helpful to save your plan to help you remember in case you're struggling again in the future.
If you are feeling anxious, scared or suicidal there are many things you can do to help yourself cope. Relaxing and calming exercises can help you to take control of your breathing and thoughts to help you cope in the present moment. Mindfulness and Relaxation techniques have been shown to be effective for individuals in distress. Find below a number of free mindfulness and calming exercises;
There are also a number of apps for mobile devices that can help relieve stress and anxiety.
Doing something practical might not sort things out long-term, but right now the most important thing is to feel better in the short term. Many people find that making or doing something practical can take their mind of the thoughts and feelings that are worrying them.
Becoming a character or writing about an alternative world can help to shift your focus and redirect your mind if your thoughts are currently too overwhelming.
Try writing exercises from ThinkWritten if you would like inspiration for something to write about.
Lots of people find crafting a good distraction if their thoughts and feelings became too overwhelming. Why not try these craft activities on the Crafts By Amanda website to help get you started?
Music has been shown to have a positive impact on mood and well-being. Why not listen to your favourite song or artist, or find some new music on the internet?
It can be often useful to take your mind off the present. Websites and apps are a great way to do this. Please see below for some ideas on the websites you can visit:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, out of control or suicidal, you might want to try different methods of calming yourself down. There are some specific strategies that a crisis team might try and use with you to manage and minimize any symptoms you might be experiencing.
Coping techniques are simple exercises that try to accept, address and reduce the things you are experiencing.
If you have previously been in contact with mental health services you may have developed a safety/crisis plan to help you manage at times of distress, you should refer to this now if you feel you are able to. Your safety plan should include things that you could do to help yourself, such as going for a walk or listening to music. If you feel you need support from others, you should contact the individuals who you have noted down on your safety plan or the staff member or team who helped you to create your safety plan.
You might be feeling confused and frightened by what you’re experiencing, particularly if this hasn’t happened to you before. Recognising your experiences from the NHS website may help you to further understand and make sense of what is happening.
Having suicidal thoughts can be overwhelming and frightening. It can be difficult to know what to do and how to cope. You may feel terribly alone at the moment, but it is important to know that other people have been in similar situations and had similar feelings to those you’re having now. Other people have also felt like ending their lives, and will have had similar thoughts to your own.
Describing how you’re feeling might help you to reflect on the current situation.
You can also use it to help you find information that is most useful to you right now.
Let family or friends know what’s going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe. There is no right or wrong way to start this conversation.
