Mental health: Getting crisis support

Children, young people and families that routinely experience crises but struggle to access the help offered at other levels or for whom this help hasn’t made a difference.

Children young people and families who are currently unable to benefit from evidence-based support but remain a significant concern or risk.

Local resources

Swindon and District Samaritans have been offering emotional support for over 50 years. You can telephone, email or call in to see us at our premises at 6 Curtis Street near Swindon town centre. You don’t need an appointment to talk to one of our trained volunteers but it is worth ‘phoning us first to see if we are open when you plan to visit.

We are active in the community and regularly visit the Jobcentre, Erlestoke Prison and local events. Our volunteers are also available to deliver presentations about our work and emotional health to schools, workplaces, clubs and organisations.

Talk to us any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. You don't have to be suicidal to call us. 

Email: jo@samaritans.org
Tel: 116 123
Website: Swindon and District Samaritans
Swindon Samaritans Twitter 

CAMHS

National resources

Call 999 in a medical emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If it's not a life-threatening emergency and you or the person you're with doesn't need immediate medical attention, please consider other options (such as those below) before dialling 999.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. Help is available online or on the phone.

Depending on the situation you’ll:

• find out what local service can help you
• be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
• get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
• be told how to get any medicine you need
• get self-care advice

 If you’re deaf and want to use the phone service, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service available in your country:

• England – NHS 111 (BSL) interpreter service
• Scotland – NHS 24 111
• Wales – NHS 111 Wales
• Northern Ireland – NHS 111 Northern Ireland

You can also call 18001 111 on a textphone.

Papyrus

Papyrus provide a confidential support and advice service for young people under the age of 35 across the UK who may be having thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person may be having thoughts of suicide.

Papyrus is open from 9.00am to midnight everyday of the year (including weekends and bank holidays). All call and e-mails to Papyrus are free and you will be charged at your usual rate for text messages.

Call: 0800 068 4141
Text: 07860039967
E-mail: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Nightline

Nightline is a listening, emotional support, information and supplies service, run by students for students. Nightlines are open at night, run by trained, caring, fellow student volunteers. Nightline can be contacted by phone, face to face, by email or by online chat.

There are Nightline services at many universities around the UK and elsewhere. Additional services such as information and supplies are also often available.

SHOUT

SHOUT is a free text service available 24/7, anytime of day or night for anyone struggling to cope and needing to talk. Messages are confidential and anonymous. Text SHOUT to 85258.

The Mix

The Mix Crisis Messenger text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you’re aged 25 or under, and are experiencing any painful emotion or are in crisis, you can text THEMIX to 85258.

We know that finding the right support is important, especially if you need someone to talk to right now. We aim to connect every texter to a trained volunteer in less than five minutes to provide crisis help. They will listen to you and help you think more clearly, enabling you to know that you can take the next step to feeling better. This service is delivered in partnership with Crisis Text Line and Shout.

Crisis Messenger text line could help with urgent issues such as:

• suicidal thoughts
• abuse or assault
• self-harm
• bullying
• relationship breakdown

Anna Freud Centre (AFC) crisis messenger

The AFC Crisis Messenger text service provides free, 24/7 crisis support for young people across the UK.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need support, you can text AFC to 85258.

We know that finding the right support is important, especially if you need someone to talk to right now. We aim to connect every texter to a trained volunteer promptly to provide crisis help. They will listen to you and help you think more clearly, enabling you to know that you can take the next step to feeling better.

Crisis messenger can help with urgent issues such as:

• suicidal thoughts
• abuse or assault
• self-harm
• bullying
• relationship issues