If you're reading this because things feel unbearable right now, please know you don't have to go through this alone. Help is available, right now, and reaching out is not a failure, it's one of the bravest things you can do.

If you're in immediate danger, please call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.

People you can talk to right now

• Samaritans – call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You don't need to be suicidal to call, and you don't need to explain yourself. They're just there to listen.
• Shout – text SHOUT to 85258 for free, confidential support if talking on the phone feels like too much.
• NHS 111 – choose the mental health option for urgent support and to be connected with local crisis services.
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – 0800 58 58 58, 5pm to midnight daily, with a webchat option too.
• Papyrus HOPELINE247 – for anyone under 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anyone worried about a young person. Call 0800 068 4141 or text 07860 039967.

Beyond the crisis line

A crisis line can hold you in a difficult moment, but longer-term support matters too. Your GP is a good starting point and can refer you into local NHS mental health services, or your employer's EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) if you have access to one, offers confidential counseling at no cost to you.

If cost or waiting lists feel like a barrier, charities like Mind and Rethink Mental Illness have information lines and can point you towards free or low-cost local support, and some areas run crisis cafes or safe havens where you can walk in without an appointment.

rethink

Making a plan for when things feel hardest

Something I talk about often in my Mental Health First Aid training is the value of a safety plan, written down before you're in crisis, so it's there when your thinking feels foggiest. The Staying Safe website has templates and short videos that walk you through building one. It's a practical thing you can do on a calmer day that genuinely helps on a harder one.

If you're worried about someone else

You might be reading this because you're concerned about a friend, colleague or family member rather than yourself. Asking directly whether someone is thinking about suicide doesn't put the idea in their head, it opens the door for them to be honest with you. Samaritans has guidance on how to support someone you're worried about, and it's worth a read before that conversation. Contact me if you have any questions.