Urgent Help

Who to contact will depend upon the history of the person in question and whether this is a first or recurrent experience. The key thing is to get help quickly to deal with the immediate situation as safely and calmly as possible.

• Call your GP and tell them how you are feeling. They may be able to offer support or notify an agency who can.
• You could contact your Community Psychiatric Nurse and tell them how you are feeling.
• Samaritans have a free 24/7 helpline, ring 116 123 You can also email [email protected] but it may take several days to get a response by email www.samaritans.org
• ChildLine are available 24/7. Ring 0800 1111 to speak to them anytime, their counsellors are available to listen and support you with anything you would like to talk about. 
• Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for a free 24/7 text support service.
• Sunderland Crisis Team  are available 24/7. Ring 0303 123 1145 or text 07889 036 280. They do not provide an ‘emergency’ service such as a 999 response.
• For NHS 111’s mental health support, ring 111 and press 2
• Sunderland Talking Therapies offer a number of therapies, classes and groups to help with a range of common mental health difficulties. They can help you to learn more about common symptoms and how they affect you, learn effective coping strategies to help to improve your wellbeing and cope better with future difficulties. To self refer contact them on 0191 566 5454 – You can access this service Monday to Friday between the hours of 9-5.
• WWIN have a 24/7 helpline for those suffering from domestic abuse. Ring 0800 066 5555

If you are in need of advice on how to support a loved one, practical help on issues such as the Mental Health Act, community care and welfare benefits, living with mental illness, medication or care you can contact –

• Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line – 0808 801 0525 9:30am – 4pm Monday – Friday.
• Mind Infoline – 0300 123 3393 9am – 6pm Monday – Friday
• NHS Direct – 111 has psychiatric nurses on the switchboard who can offer advice.  
• Sunderland City Council – Adult Services on 0191 520 5552.  This is the number of the Call Handling Team who will take basic contact details before referring to the Advice & Assessment Team or one of the Complex Teams for social care needs.