Who to speak to if you need support with your mental health.
If you’re feeling at ‘breaking point’ and need immediate help, please ring 111 and select the mental health option. If you feel that yours or someone else’s life is in danger please call 999 right away.
If you’re feeling desperate and low or are having suicidal thoughts, then please ring The Samaritans helpline on 116 123. They are open 24/7 and are there to talk when you’re feeling desperate.
If you feel like it isn’t an emergency but would like to talk to someone about your mental health, then you can make an appointment with your GP, who will be able to refer you to the right support. Everyone can register with a GP surgery, but if for whatever reason you can’t, please look at this part of our website, which details what you can do when you are refused registration at a GP.
Are you constantly feeling worried, distressed and afraid?
It could be that you are struggling with anxiety. Anxiety can manifest in the shape of distressing thoughts or uncomfortable physical sensations. This can include:
- a tight feeling in the chest or stomach
- a fast heartbeat
- numbness/tingling
- as well as a feeling of dread, particularly about something happening in the future.
Sometimes anxiety can manifest into a panic attack. This is a natural bodily response to stress, but it can feel very overwhelming and scary. The physical symptoms of a panic attack can include:
- breathlessness
- sweating
- chest pain
- a fear of dying
- feeling disconnected from your body (dissociation).
Do you often feel low or hopeless?
It could be that you are experiencing depression. Depression is a disorder which effects your mood. You could feel very down on yourself and have very low self-esteem. You might not feel motivated to do everyday tasks or to socialise with other people. Symptoms can include:
- feeling angry or frustrated
- feeling tired a lot of the time
- sleeping too much or too little
- difficulty concentrating
- loss of appetite
- lack of interest in things.
Are you having thoughts of ending your life?
These are called suicidal thoughts. Even if you haven’t made plans to end your life, you can still feel suicidal. If you’re feeling like this please call The Samaritans on 116 123 or if you are under 35, Papyrus’ hopeline on 0800 068 4141.
Mental health support contacts
Below is a list of other organisations that provide support to people suffering with their mental health.
If you are in the Sussex area, you can ring the crisis team on 0300 304 0081 or the Mental Health Rapid Response service (MHRRS) for urgent intervention on 0300 304 0078.
The Samaritans
A service for everyone, open 24/7 everyday. Phone: 116 123
Mind
A service for everyone. Phone: 0300 123 3393 | Text: 86463 | If you need help now, click here.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (For Men)
A service for men from 5pm to midnight every day. Phone: 0800 58 58 58
Childline
A service for children and young people under 19. Phone: 0800 1111 – the number won’t show up on your phone bill
Grassroots Suicide Prevention
Have developed The Stay Alive app, a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
Friends, Families and Travellers
We provide advocacy casework, advice and information to Gypsies and Travellers on our national helpline.
Phone: 01273 234 777. Our helpline is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4.30pm, with the exception of bank holidays.
This is for information only. FFT does not endorse any organisation shared on the FFT website.
Correct as of April 2024.
