What Is a Mental Health Crisis?
A mental health crisis is when your emotional or psychological state reaches a point where you can no longer cope or feel in control. It might feel overwhelming, frightening, or like you’re at breaking point.
It's important to recognise the signs and symptoms you might be experiencing. Understanding what’s happening can be the first step towards feeling safer and getting support.
Some Examples of a Mental Health Crisis Include:
- Feeling suicidal or having suicidal thoughts
- Engaging in self-harming behaviours
- Experiencing intense anxiety or panic attacks
- Having psychotic experiences, such as delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, or hearing voices
- Experiencing symptoms of hypomania or mania
- Acting in ways that feel out of control and may put yourself or others at risk
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Urgent NHS Mental Health Helpline
If you live in England, you can call an NHS urgent mental health helpline for free, 24/7. These helplines are there to support anyone going through a mental health crisis — whether you're calling for yourself or someone else.
They offer similar support to a crisis team, and can help you get the right care quickly. You can find your local NHS mental health helpline here on the NHS website.