Urgent help

If you’ve injured yourself or taken an overdose, please dial 999.

To speak to someone urgently about any kind of mental health issue, please call our 24/7 telephone support service Dorset Connection on 0800 652 0190 (Freephone) or access via NHS 111 for free

Alternatively, you can seek support by calling Childline for free on 0800 11 11. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Don’t want to talk? Visit the Childline website for more information.

The following organisations can also provide support if you, or a young person you know, need help in a crisis:

Young Minds

Text the Young Minds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.

  • If you need urgent help text YM to 85258
  • All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors
  • Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus
  • www.youngminds.org.uk

Samaritans

  • If you're in distress and need support, you can ring Samaritans for free at any time of the day or night.
  • Freephone (UK and Republic of Ireland): 116 123 (24 hours)
  • www.samaritans.org

PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide)

  • Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact Papyrus
  • Call: 0800 068 4141
    Text: 07786 209697 or
    Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
    Opening hours: 10am – 10pm weekdays 2pm – 10pm weekends 2pm – 10pm bank holidays
  • papyrus-uk.org

Support from CAMHS

The organisations above can give urgent support and advice to you in a mental health crisis. If you are a CAMHS patient and things have become very difficult for you, and you need some extra help, you can telephone the CAMHS duty worker during the day Mon-Fri (08.30-17.00). They will be able to organise some extra support for you if it's helpful, but this may take a little time to arrange.

The number for your duty worker will be given to you following agreement of your initial treatment plan. Each CAMHS team also has a crisis worker who can give intensive support for a short period of time to young people in crisis. You can talk to your key worker who can help you to decide if this might be helpful this for you.

More information about the role of crisis workers at CAMHS can be found in our section on Who Works In CAMHS.