Experiencing mental health problems can be frightening and sometimes lonely. If you haven't felt like this before you may not know what is happening. It is important not to feel alone. There are lots of great places where you can get information and support to help you.

If your mental or emotional state gets worse quickly, this can be referred to as a mental health crisis or a mental health emergency.

A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. You may feel many things (although this may be different for individuals) including emotional distress or anxiety, that you can’t cope with day-to-day life or work, you might think about suicide or self–harm, or you might experience hallucinations and hear voices. You are not alone and there are a range of different options to help provide the right support for you.

If you're experiencing difficult thoughts about wanting to hurt yourself it is important to get help quickly.

If you, or someone you know, have injured themselves or taken an overdose please telephone: 999 or go to A&E.

Self-harm

Self-harm can affect us in lots of different ways. You might have self-harmed before, be thinking about self-harm, or wanting to support someone else who is self-harming. You might have also heard people talking about self-harm but aren’t sure what it means.

Find information about self-harm and how to cope with self-harm.

I want to talk to someone

You can talk to any of the following about a mental health crisis:

• talk to an adult you can trust - are there any adults in your life you feel you can talk to? This doesn’t need to be a parent, it could be a relative or a teacher or someone else you feel you can talk to
• The Tees, Esk and Wear Vally NHS Foundation Trust offer support to people in York who are experiencing mental health crisis. Their free phone crisis number will help in a mental health emergency.  Telephone: 0800 0516171. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days  week, callers, including those with learning disabilities and autism, will be offered a series of options which will divert them to their local crisis service
• SHOUT - You can also text the SHOUT National Crisis line on telephone: 85258. Shout telephone: 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope
• The Young Minds Crisis Messenger offers free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors. Text YM to telephone: 85258
• Papyrus UK suicide prevention - are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life?  Papyrus can help you. For confidential suicide prevention advice contact their HOPELINEUK on telephone: 0800 068 4141 or email: [email protected]. They are open from 9.00am to 12.00am (midnight) every day of the year
• Samaritans - if you would like to talk to someone  York Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, every day. You can phone them free from any phone on telephone: 116 123 or 01904 655888 (local rate). You can also email: [email protected] and they will respond to you within 24 hours