What to do in a Crisis Print E-mail

In an Emergency

  • If you or someone else is in immediate risk of serious harm or injury, you should call the emergency services by dialling 999.
  • If your situation is very serious and you need help immediately or in life threatening situations, the Accident & Emergency department at the Northern General Hospital is open 24 hours a day every day of the year. The Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment and Liaison Psychiatry teams can provide assessments here.
  • Other services that are available include the Samaritans if you need to talk and want a confidential service. They can be contacted on 0114 276 7277 or 08457 90 90 90.
  • The CALM service run by the Department of Health has a free, confidential helpline running from 5.00 p.m. to midnight Saturday to Tuesday. Call Freephone 0800 58 58 58. CALM is targeted at young men aged 15 - 35 suffering distress due to mental health difficulties and/or drug dependency but the helpline is open to anybody and calls will not show up on landline telephone bills.

 

Non-emergency situations within working hours (Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm)

Are you currently under the care of one of the Community Mental Health Teams?

Yes

Contact the mental health professional assigned to your care. If they are not available, ask to speak to the duty worker. Depending upon the service you are receiving help may be available at other times. If this is the case, the service will provide you with details.

No

Contact your GP practice. If you do not know the number for your GP’s practice, you can find this in the telephone directory, or by phoning NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

 

Non-emergency situations outside working hours (evenings and weekends)

The out of hours GP service can be contacted by phoning the number you would usually use to contact your GP. A GP or clinician will advise you over the telephone, or arrange an urgent appointment or home visit.

NHS Direct can offer advice and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can phone them on 0845 46 47.

NHS Direct will ask for some basic information, including details of any medication you may be taking. If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, you’ll need to provide this information on their behalf. They will assess the problem and advise on the best course of action which may be to see a health professional, such as your GP. If the problem is very serious, they can help access the ambulance service.