'Help I'm in crisis'

How do I get help in a crisis?

If you are upset and having thoughts and urges about hurting yourself, or ending your life then stop, take a deep breath and read this page.

A crisis is any situation in which you feel you need urgent help. For example, you might feel in crisis if:

You are having suicidal thoughts and feelings
You are having thoughts about harming yourself
You have seriously hurt yourself
You have taken more than the recommended amount of tablets (an overdose)

The table below gives some general information on how you can get help in a crisis:

What's happening	Ways you can get help
You think you may act on suicidal feelings, or you have seriously harmed yourself	You can go to any hospital A&E department and ask for help (if you need to, you can call 999 and ask for an ambulance) Stay Alive App - Grassroots Suicide Prevention (prevent-suicide.org.uk)
You are feeling extremely distressed, or are experiencing suicidal feelings	You can call the Childline on 0800 1111 (freephone) - they're there to listen to you Whatever you're going through, you can call the Samaritans for support free at any time on 116 123 You can use the 'I need urgent help' tool on the YoungMinds website for more options If you are already in touch with a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) , you can contact them and ask how they can support you - they may have a crisis line you can call You might find it helpful to read YoungMinds' information pages on coping with: Suicidal feelings Self-harm North Bedfordshire CAMHS Telephone: 01234 893301 https://camhs.elft.nhs.uk/Conditions/Self-harm-and-suicidal-thoughts South Bedfordshire/Luton CAMHS Telephone: 01582 708140 https://camhs.elft.nhs.uk/Conditions/Self-harm-and-suicidal-thoughts
You need medical help or advice fast, but it's not an emergency	You can contact your GP and make an appointment for as soon as possible

Let someone know you do not feel safe or are struggling (a parent/carer or professional helpline).

Remember

There are people who will listen, help and support you through this; it’s ok to ask for help.
Just like stormy weather, strong feelings and urges will pass; it will not always feel this bad.
Thoughts are just thoughts, we do not have to follow them. There are many other ways of managing other than harming yourself.

Mental health crisis support is available 24/7 across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

We have fully trained professionals ready to support young people experiencing a mental health crisis. This is available 24 hours a day all year round by calling the following numbers. Anyone can use and access the service. All numbers are free to call, you won’t be charged:

If you live in Luton call NHS 111 & ask for ‘Option 2’ or visit https://camhs.elft.nhs.uk/Crisis-Support
If you live in Bedfordshire call NHS 111& ask for ‘Option 2’ https://camhs.elft.nhs.uk/Crisis-Support
If you live in Milton Keynes you can reach us by phoning 0800 0234 650 (Freephone) or emailing cnw-tr.spa @nhs.net; we also take calls from 111.

How does the service help?

The service helps by providing immediate access to advice and guidance to those requiring mental health support. We can advise and direct you to the most appropriate services.

When should people contact the service?

The service is available 24/7. If you feel as though you’re in a mental health crisis or believe a friend or family member is then make that call.

How does the service help people who don’t speak English?

Don’t worry if English is not your first language. As well as working within a diverse multilingual team we also have access to an interpreting service.

What should people contacting for mental health crisis support expect?

You should firstly expect a friendly voice on the end of the line, someone who will listen to your concerns and will be able to work with you to get the most appropriate outcome. The call will be a two-way process so do expect some questions. The Mental Health Professional (MHP) will carry out an assessment and together you will devise a plan.

A&E Departments
Additionally, we have CAMHS professional available in A&E hospital departments across BLMK every day from 9am – 9pm, seven days a week. Outside of these hours, you can speak to a trained mental health professional. Addresses are below.

Bedford Hospital A&E, South Wing, 1 Kempston Road, Bedford, MK42 9DJ

Luton & Dunstable Hospital A&E, Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ

Milton Keynes University Hospital A&E, Standing Way, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, MK6 5LD

'Help I'm in crisis'

How do I get help in a crisis?

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