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. For information please click here.
  • Counselling & Mental Health Service (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 very low, distressed and/or are experiencing suicidal thoughts and you need to talk to someone out of hours, you can ring any of the following services:

  • Health Assured 24/7 Helpline: Freephone: 0800 028 3766 or download my healthy advantage app for live chat. Access Code for UoM students: MHA147866
  • PAPYRUS Hopeline UK (9am until midnight) Freephone: 0800 068 4141 Website: https://papyrus-uk.org/
  • Samaritans 24/7 Helpline Freephone: 116 123
  • Greater Manchester Mental Health 24/7 Helpline: Freephone: 0800 953 0285

Face to Face Support

The Counselling and Mental Health Service 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:

  • Phone referrals taken from midday onwards until 1a.m. daily
  • Contact: 0161 238 5249
  • Open 7 nights a week
    Mon to Fri: 7p.m. – 1 a.m.
    Sat & Sun: 3p.m.-1a.m.

Crisis Café at No.93

  • Opening times: 8pm to 1am Monday to Friday (including Bank Holidays) and 3pm to 1am at weekends.
  • How to contact them - GMMHCrisisCafe@gmmh.nhs.uk
  • Call - 07778 012838 or 0161 271 0339
  • Where to find them: No.93 Harpurhey Wellbeing Centre, 93 Church Lane, Manchester M9 5B (Phone ahead before dropping in)

BlueSci @Night in Trafford

  • Opening times: 7p.m. – 2a.m. Monday to Friday and 5p.m. – 2a.m. Saturday and Sunday (last entry 12.30p.m.)
  • Ring or text ahead to arrange meet & greet: crisiscafe@bluesci.org.uk Tel: 07933882743
  • Where to find them: Old Trafford Wellbeing Centre, 54-56 Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0LN

Online support (if you find it hard to talk)

  • You can access LiveChat via the Health Assured app: Health Assured (The University of Manchester)
  • 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.
  • Greater Manchester Nightline – a confidential listening and information service ran by a team of specially trained volunteers. As well as offering phone support, this service can also offer instant messaging (available 8pm to 8am at weekends during term time) or e-mail contact (‘nightmail’ - all year round) if this is your preferred method of contact. They aim to respond to emails within 48 hours. The email address is: nightmail@manchester.nightline.ac.uk
  • 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.