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.

If someone is struggling, or if there are concerns about a young person, support is available through:

    • Samaritans – call 116 123 (free, 24/7)

    • Shout – text SHOUT to 85258 (free, 24/7)

    • NHS 111 – for urgent mental health support

    • 999 or A&E – in an emergency

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.