Help in a crisis

If you or someone you are concerned about is in an emotional or mental health crisis that requires an urgent response then:

• contact the person’s GP, or the GP out of hours service and explain the problem or
• Phone NHS 111, and select option 2 for mental health support. This line is open 24 hours a day, every day.
• If a person is currently under an AWP Crisis Team, they should call their care team if requiring support in a crisis.
• Where appropriate, callers may be routed from the 111 Mental Health Clinical Assessment Service directly into their known teams.
• People that use mental health services may have a Crisis Card or an Advance Directive in their bag or pocket. This gives written information about who to contact in a crisis.

Finally if you have serious concerns for someone’s immediate safety then they can go to Accident and Emergency or phone emergency services 999 for assistance. There is an on-call psychiatrist at the BRI who you can ask to see in an emergency.

Other sources of help:

Bristol Mindline telephone helpline – out of hours confidential listening service
Phone: 0117 203 4419
Wednesday to Sunday, 7pm – 11pm

Samaritans Bristol – 24 hours local and national helplines
Phone: 116 123 – free to call
Email: [email protected]

National Mind InfoLine
Phone: 0300 123 3393
Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm (except Bank Holidays).
Offers information on topics ranging from types of distress, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies, who’s who in mental health and where to find advocacy and other services.