Urgent Mental Health Support
HELP IN A CRISIS
This information is for those in crisis and in need of urgent support. It includes detail on services both internal and external to the university.
If you find that you are feeling very distressed and the pressures upon you seem overwhelming, you may start to experience a sense that things cannot get better. People do sometimes experience thoughts that life is not worth living and can think about –or start to consider- suicide. Here is some more information about suicidal thoughts. If you are feeling like this and feel you may not be able to keep yourself safe, then it is time to get immediate help as there will be a way that things can get better. You may also be in need of immediate help if you are having other thoughts that seem frightening or may put you or someone else at risk.
You can access support and urgent advice in a range of different ways, including:
Urgent Help (NHS):
Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments across the UK have dedicated Mental Health Liaison Teams ready to support people in Mental Health Crisis whose lives are at immediate risk. It can feel quite daunting going to A&E but the mental health staff there will give you time to talk through your difficulties and will aim to find a plan that will work for you. Do not hesitate to call emergency services (999) or attend A&E if you feel unable to keep yourself safe. In cases where need is not immediate but you wish to access rapid support please also consider accessing your General Practitioner: Find a GP - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Urgent Help (On Campus)
- For urgent help on campus you can contact University Security on 0161 306 9966
- Alternatively, use your ‘SAFEZONE’ app which will alert security to an emergency or the need for first aid support.
- The Mental Health Support Team (Monday – Friday 9-4.30). This service is not an urgent care or crisis service but we are here to help. If you are in crisis but feel able to keep yourself safe please call 0161 2752864 or contact our Duty Practitioners on counselling.service@manchester.ac.uk Duty staff will get back to you as soon as possible to provide support and advice on next steps.
- If you need help whilst staying in University Halls of Residence please contact your Residential Life team. Information includes out-of-hours support within halls under the heading Accommodation Advisors: Contact us | Residents | The University of Manchester
Helplines (if you want to talk)
If you are feeling overwhelmed and/or distressed and you need to speak to someone urgently you can contact the University's 24/7 helpline Spectrum life.
They offer single session counselling appointment and support on a wide range of issues.
- Spectrum.Life 24/7 Helpline: Freephone: 0800 031 8227, International: 00353 1 518 027 or WhatsApp: Text ‘Hi’ to 074 1836 0780. You can download the Spectrum.Life app (App Store) or Google Play. Organisation Code is UOMWELL.
If you are feeling distressed and/or are experiencing suicidal thoughts we urge you to seek support from any of following services:
- PAPYRUS Hopeline UK (9am until midnight) Freephone: 0800 068 4141 Website: https://papyrus-uk.org/
- Samaritans 24/7 Helpline Freephone: 116 123
- NHS 111 for mental health support
Face to Face Support
The Mental Health Support Team provide face to face appointments (Get Help (The University of Manchester) but if you need to speak to someone more urgently outside of working hours Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provide some alternative spaces to A&E. These spaces offer support and advice from qualified Mental Health Practitioners and support staff in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Please see details below:
The Recovery Lounge in Manchester
The Recovery Lounge is a free service in the city centre of Manchester located on Cross Keys Street (M4 FFY) that offers in-person and over the phone support to anyone living in Manchester or under a Manchester GP in need of practical and emotional support during mental health crisis, signposting, and/or distraction techniques. The Recovery Lounge is staffed by Recovery Workers and Peer Support Workers every day from 4pm-11pm and is open 7 days week.
- Contact: 0161 238 5249
Crisis Café at No.93
An out-of-hours friendly and supportive community space open to anyone from Manchester, Bolton, Salford and Trafford who is experiencing a mental health crisis. Our aim is to offer support and advice from qualified Mental Health Practitioners and support staff in a relaxed and comfortable environment, avoiding long waits in Emergency Departments. gmmh.nhs.uk
Contact details
No. 93 Harpurhey Wellbeing Centre
93 Church Lane
Manchester M9 5BG gmmh.nhs.uk
Opening times
Monday to Friday: 6.30 pm – 1 am (including Bank Holidays)
Saturday and Sunday: 2 pm – 1 am
Please phone ahead before dropping in. gmmh.nhs.uk
Contact
Email: GMMHCrisisCafe@gmmh.nhs.uk
Phone: 0161 271 0339 or 07778 012 838
BlueSci @Night in Trafford
Bluesci at Night offers a friendly and supportive community alternative to traditional crisis services. Bluesci at Night provides support when you are in emotional distress and in collaboration with you aim to find coping strategies that prevent crisis reoccurring and provide steps toward building the life you want.
Contact details
The service open to residents of Trafford and can be found at :
Bluesci at Night, Old Trafford Resource Centre, 54-56 Seymour Grove, Manchester, M16 0LN
To attend the crisis cafe call or text on 07933 882743
Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday, 5:30pm to 12:30am (last entry 12:00am)
For more information contact them on: 07933 882743
Online support (if you find it hard to talk)
- You can access Live Chat via the Spectrum Life App
- The Samaritans www.samaritans.org have an informative website including things that might help when times are tough. As well as being contactable by phone, they are also contactable via e-mail jo@samaritans.org This has a 24 hour response time so is not as fast as telephone contact.
- Qwell – provides free, safe and anonymous online mental health support whenever you need it. They have an online community available 24/7 - you can book to chat, have drop in chat's or messaging with a Mental Health Professional as well as community support, such as live forums and discussion boards. Qwell also has lots of self-help tools, activities, articles and information in supporting you with your mental health. For more information see here.