Urgent Help
If you need urgent help, please refer to the advice and contacts below to find the people who can best support you.
If you or someone else is at risk of death or serious injury, call 999 and ask for the police and/or ambulance immediately.
24/7 crisis helplines
Samaritans
Samaritans is open 24/7 for support with any issues, including mental and emotional health problems. The helpline number is free to call from any phone.
Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Shout
Shout is a confidential 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. The helpline is free to use from most mobile networks.
Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258
Livewell Southwest
Livewell Southwest provides mental health advice, support and signposting to anyone over the age of 18 living in Plymouth. They also operate a 24/7 helpline.
Call 0800 923 9323
NSP Helpline
The National Suicide Prevention Helpline offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. It operates nationally.
Call 0800 689 5652
YoungMinds
YoungMinds operates a 24/7 text messaging service providing support for young people experiencing a mental health crisis. Free from major networks.
Text ‘YM’ to 85258
Other out-of-hours support
Head Space
Head Space offers an out-of-hours service for people who consider that they are approaching a mental health crisis. Open 7 days a week, 6pm—midnight.
Call 07890 257 614 or email headspace@colebrooksw.org
The Moorings
The Moorings @ Devon offers out-of-hours mental health support to anyone aged 16+ in Devon. Open 6pm—midnight daily (Thu—Sun only in Barnstaple).
Call 07850 927 064 (Barnstaple)
Call 07990 790 920 (Exeter)
Call 07483 991 848 (Torquay)
SANE
SANE is a specialist mental health and emotional support helpline. Currently operating on a messaging and callback system due to COVID-19.
Request a callback on 07984 967 708 or email support@sane.org.uk
For children and young people
Childline
Childline is open to children and young people up until their 19th birthday. Calls are free and won’t show up on the phone bill. Open weekdays 7:30am—midnight, weekends 9am—midnight.
Call 0800 1111 or use webchat
Papyrus
Papyrus operates a support line for teenagers and young adults under 35 feeling suicidal. Open weekdays 9am–10pm, weekends/bank holidays 2pm—10pm.
Call 0800 068 4141, text 07786 209 697 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
YoungMinds
YoungMinds runs a 24/7 text line for young people, plus a helpline for adults who may be worried about a young person, available weekdays 9:30am—4pm.
Text YM to 85258 (text support); call 0808 802 5544 (parents’ helpline)
For LGBTQIA+ people
Mindline Trans+
Mindline Trans+ is an emotional and mental health support helpline for anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA+, plus friends and family. The helpline is open Mondays and Fridays 8pm—midnight.
Call 0300 330 5468
Switchboard
Switchboard offers support to the LGBTQIA+ community. Get help with whatever you want to talk about. All volunteers identify as LGBTQIA+. The helpline is open daily 10am—10pm.
Call 0300 330 0630 or use webchat
LGBT Foundation
The LGBT Foundation operates a long-running helpline which aims to offer support and advice on a range of topics. The helpline is currently operating weekdays 9am—9pm, weekends 10am—6pm.
Call 0345 3 30 30 30
Other specialist helplines
Campaign Against Living Miserably
CALM is an organisation dedicated to supporting men who feel suicidal. The helpline and webchat are available 5pm—midnight 365 days a year.
Call 0800 58 58 58 or use webchat
Cruse Bereavement
Cruse offers support to those in a crisis following a bereavement. Their helpline is open weekdays 9:30am—5pm (until 8pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) and their webchat runs weekdays 9am—9pm.
Call 0808 808 1677 or use webchat
Bullying UK
Bullying UK has a free, confidential helpline for young people and adults affected by bullying. Open weekdays 9am—9pm, weekends 10am–3pm.
Call 0808 800 2222, use webchat (weekdays from 1:30pm—5:30pm) or email askus@familylives.org.uk
The Silver Line
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.
Call 0800 4 70 80 90
PaNDAS
PANDAS is a community offering peer-to-peer support for anyone affected by perinatal mental illness, as a mother, partner or friend/family of a mother/partner. Their helpline is available daily 11am—10pm.
Call 0808 1961 776