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Get support and help for a mental health crisis
If you feel like you are unsafe and you’re at risk of harming yourself, call 999, your local crisis team, or go to A&E. If you’re in England, find your local urgent mental health team on the NHS website.
You can also contact the Samaritans by calling 116 123 for free. Or you can send an email to jo@samaritans.org.
This page lists services, helplines and resources where you can find support if you or someone you know are having a mental health crisis. Click the links in the page contents below to take you to the section you need:
Page contents
- Where to find mental health crisis support and advice right now
- Mental health support in Bristol – The Sanctuary
- Mental health support in Somerset – Crisis Safe Space
- Mental health support in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset – Safe Haven Crisis & Recovery Centre
- Men’s mental health support and resources- Stepladder
- Free mental health and wellbeing activities, courses and workshops in Bristol and North Somerset
- Online crisis resources you can use right now
Where to get mental health crisis support and advice right now
NHS 111
You can call NHS 111 for advice and to get help any time of day. If you live in England, you can also use NHS 111 online.
Samaritans
You can also contact the Samaritans by calling 116 123 for free. Or, you can send an email to jo@samaritans.org – you may find writing an email could be a calm and safe way to work through what's on your mind, especially if it feels too upsetting to talk about on the phone.
AWP 24/7 Mental Health Response Line
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) provides a Mental Health 24/7 phone service for people worried about their own or someone else's mental health. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for adults and children in crisis.
Telephone: 0800 953 1919
Mindline Somerset
People in Somerset can call Mindline free on freephone 0800 138 1692. This helpline is also open all day, every day. On Friday evenings 8pm-midnight, Mindline Trans+ is open to provide emotional and mental health support to people who identify as trans, a gender, gender fluid or non-binary. Call Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468.
Shout 85258
Shout 85258 is a free, anonymous text service. If you’re struggling to cope and need someone to talk to, you can text the word SHOUT to 85258.
The Sanctuary in Bristol
The Sanctuary Bristol is a safe space where you can come for mental health support if you’re having trouble coping or you feel lonely or isolated. It’s a place where you can pause, take a breather, and find some balance when things feel overwhelming. We can also help you access other support services.
You can book an appointment at The Sanctuary for a face-to-to-face or phone appointment by getting in touch during our opening hours - Thursdays to Mondays between 3pm and 6pm.
Crisis Safe Space in Somerset
Crisis Safe Space provides out-of-hours support for adults aged 18+ in the Sedgemoor and Mendip area of Somerset who need immediate and short-term crisis support but do not need emergency or inpatient treatment.
This service is available Monday to Sunday, 6-11pm across Somerset in Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Frome, Yeovil, and Taunton. It’s delivered by Second Step and Mind in Somerset as partners of the Open Mental Health alliance.
You can be introduced to Crisis Safe Space through Mindline or the Somerset Foundation Trust Home Treatment Team. You can also self-refer – visit our Crisis Safe Space webpage for more information.
Safe Haven Crisis & Recovery Centre in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
Safe Haven Crisis & Recovery Centre provides remote and face-to-face out-of-hours support for people experiencing acute emotional distress. Based in Weston-super-Mare town centre, the Centre is open seven days a week, 4pm to midnight.
To find more information visit our Safe Haven webpage. To self-refer to Safe Haven, please complete our self-referral form.
Men’s mental health support in Somerset
Stepladder creates safe spaces for men in Somerset to talk, take part in activities, and connect with others. We also have a range online mental health and wellbeing resources for men – visit our Stepladder webpage to find out more.
Free mental health and wellbeing activities, courses and workshops in Bristol and North Somerset
If you don’t need immediate advice or support but would like to learn more about managing and improving your mental health and wellbeing, our Bristol Wellbeing College and North Somerset Wellbeing offer in-person and online activities, courses and workshops to adults 18+ in Bristol and North Somerset. You can apply for all our sessions online and you don’t need a referral.
Online crisis resources
- Mind have online resources that you can use right now or at any time you feel in crisis – find Mind’s ways to help yourself cope in a crisis on their website. Mind also offer guidance about planning for a possible mental health crisis – some find it helpful or reassuring to look into their options for support in case they need to access them in the future.
- Shout have online resources on a wide range of issues that may be affecting your mental health, including the cost-of-living crisis, bullying, anxiety, stress, and self-harm. Find Shout’s online mental health resources on their website.
- Staying Safe offer guidance about how to make a Safety Plan that some find helpful if they experience or have experienced suicidal feelings or thoughts about self-harm. If you need help right now because you feel like you are unsafe or you’re at risk of harming yourself, call 999, visit A&E, or call your local crisis team.
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) offer online guides to find out more about issues you may be struggling with. They also have a tool where you can anonymously write down and offload your thoughts without them being saved or stored anywhere. Find out more about CALM’s online resources on their website.