Get urgent help
Going through a crisis or need help now? There are lots of organisations out there to support you.
If someone’s life is in immediate danger, please call 999.
On this page we provide details for organisations who provide free, 24/7 support to people in the UK. There's information for support if you're:
- under 18 years old and in need of support
- a parent, carer or adult who is worried about a child
- over 18 years old and in need of support
- a member of school staff.
Get support now
Shout (in partnership with Place2Be)
- Free
- Available 24 hours a day
- For anyone in the UK.
Childline
- Free, available 24 hours a day
- For children and young people in the UK, aged 18 and under
- Chat online (set up an account first)
- Send an email (set up an account first).
Samaritans
- Free
- Available 24 hours a day
- For anyone in the UK
- Send an email (response within 24 hours).
If you’re worrying about something, talk to an adult you trust as soon as possible. This could be:
- someone in your family, like your mum, dad or carer
- someone at school, like a teacher or Place2Be (if you have it in your school)
- your doctor
- an organisation like Shout, Childline or the Samaritans.
Kooth is an online wellbeing community where you can get free, safe and anonymous support. Please note that Kooth is not available in all areas of the UK.
If their life is in immediate danger, call 999.
If there’s no immediate danger, we recommend you talk to someone who can help you understand what your child might be going through. They can then refer you to support and help available in your area.
You could:
- talk to their school
- make an appointment with their GP
- take them to A&E if they need more immediate help
- talk to the Place2Be staff member at their school OR a similar support service if the school doesn’t have Place2Be
- talk to the Young Minds' Parents Helpline, which you can call for free on 0808 802 5544 (9.30am-4pm, Monday-Friday, UK)
- contact an organisation like Shout or the Samaritans.
Young Minds' Parents Helpline
- Free
- For parents and carers concerned about their child
- Monday - Friday, 9:30am - 4:00pm
Mind
Find information about:
- how to support a young person
- looking after yourself.
Call 999, or go to A&E, if you're in need of urgent support.
If there’s no immediate danger, we recommend you :
- speak to your GP
- contact Shout
- contact Samaritans.
The NHS has information about where you can get urgent help, including:
- NHS helplines
- free listening services
- what to do in a crisis.
- Free
- Available 24 hours a day
- For teachers, school staff and educators