Crisis support at a national and local level

This section provides general advice on how to support someone who is distressed, or suicidal: this may be you or someone close to you - please contact us if you see any information that is out of date or not working.   [last revision 06/12/23]

Who to contact if you need urgent support

If you feel like harming or hurting yourself or other people:

Call 999
Go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department (A&E). You can find your local department here.

Crisis Support

If you have a mental health problem and are experiencing a mental health crisis you can contact your local NHS Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service.  If you are under the care of a mental health team and have a specific care plan that states who to contact when you need urgent care, you should follow this plan.

Telephone numbers for crisis teams across the North East can be found here:

Tees, Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV) NHS Trust area:
Crisis Resolution and Intensive Home Treatment team (CRHT) - Urgent Mental Health Care

0800 0516 171 (24hrs, 7 days a week)
For more information about this community-based service: https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/crisis-and-intensive-home-treatment-team/

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) Trust area:
Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment (CRHT) team

The Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team is a team of experienced  mental health staff, which includes nurses, social workers, psychiatrists and pharmacy staff. They offer assessment and home treatment for people over 16 experiencing a mental health crisis, as an alternative to hospital admission.

The team operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  However, the crisis team does not provide an ’emergency’ service such as a 999 response.

Newcastle and Gateshead
The telephone number for the team is 0191 814 8899 or freephone 0800 652 2863
There is a text number for people who are Deaf and/or have communication difficulties: 07919 228 548

Sunderland and South Tyneside
The telephone number for the team is 0303 123 1145 or freephone 0800 652 2867
There is a text number for people who are Deaf and/or have communication difficulties: 07889 036 280

Northumberland and North Tyneside
Telephone for GPs/Professionals making referrals 24/7: 0303 123 1146 or freephone 0800 652 2861
Telephone for Service Users/Carers making referrals 24/7: 0303 123 1146 or freephone 0800 652 2861
There is a text number for people who are Deaf and/or have communication difficulties: 07887 625 277

For non-urgent situations:

Visit your GP

You can find the address and telephone number of your GP by visiting the NHS Choices - Find GP website

Call NHS 111

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Trained nurses can tell you about your local crisis support services or your nearest A&E and provide other health advice. 
Tel: 111
Web: https://111.nhs.uk/

Samaritans

Samaritans provide confidential, non-judgemental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair

Call the Samaritans FREEPHONE (LAND LINES AND MOBILES) Tel: 116 123

Email the Samaritans at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

website: www.samaritans.org

Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suicide

PAPYRUS is the national UK charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. If you are a young person at risk of suicide or are worried about a young person at risk of suicide you can:

Call Papyrus HOPELINEUK: 0800 068 414    9am–12am (midnight) every day of the year
Text Papyrus on: 07786 209697

Email Papyrus on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Papyrus website is: www.papyrus-uk.org

Shout

Free, 24/7 confidential mental health text support in the UK.
Text 'SHOUT' to 85258
https://giveusashout.org/

CALM

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is the male suicide prevention charity.

Call 0800 585858 (national) - free, confidential helpline open every day 5pm–midnight.
www.thecalmzone.net/get-help
web-chat service offering support, information and signposting to men who are depressed or in crisis (also 5pm-midnight).

Rethink Mental Illness (National Advice and Information Service)

Contact their Advice team about mental health & related issues.
Tel: 0808 801 0525
Monday - Friday 9:30am to 4pm not including bank holidays

Rethink - Crook Business Centre, New Road, Crook, Durham, DL15 8QX
Tel: 01388 766310
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorders) UK

https://www.ocduk.org/
Advice line open weekdays between 9.30am–3.30pm.
Tel: 01332 588112
or you can email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SANE

National, out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and Carers.

Due to current COVID restictions, SANEline number cannot operate at the moment, you can leave a message on 07984 967 708 giving your first name and a contact number, and a professional or senior volunteers will call you back as soon as practicable.

You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and they will respond as soon as possible.
SANE also offer an online Support Forum and Textcare service.
http://www.sane.org.uk/

Streetwise North - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Free and Confidential Advice, Counselling, Sexual Health and Support Services for Young People aged 11-25.

https://www.streetwisenorth.org.uk/
Tel: 0191 2305400

Supportline

Confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue. Primarily a preventative service and aims to support people before they reach the point of crisis. SupportLine is open to children, young adults and adults.

https://www.supportline.org.uk
Helpline: 01708 765200
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Anxiety UK
https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
Helpline on weekdays between 9.30am–5.30pm 03444 775 774
Text support: 07537 416 905
Mon-Fri: 9:30am - 5.30pm
Email support service: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Beat (Beating Eating disorders)
Beat run a helpline for people experiencing an eating disorder.
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

The Beat Adult Helpline is open to anyone over 18. Parents, teachers or any concerned adults should call the adult helpline.
Helpline: 0808 801 0677
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Beat Youthline is open to anyone under 18.
Youthline: 0808 801 0711
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland
Tel: 0191 222 0272 (10am-4pm).
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Drugs and Alcohol

Newcastle City Council help page with list of useful contacts:
https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/public-health-wellbeing-and-leisure/public-health-services/drugs-and-alcohol