Urgent Mental Health Support

HELP IN A CRISIS

Urgent Mental Health Support

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 can access support and urgent advice in a range of different ways, including:

Urgent help

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.

Support 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.
  • If you need help whilst staying in University Halls of Residence please contact your Residential Life team.

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 (most of which are free of charge):

  • Health Assured 24/7 Helpline: Freephone: 0800 028 3766 or download my healthy advantage app for live chat
  • 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

Crisis Point is a mental health crisis support service provided by Turning Point for people who identify themselves as experiencing a mental health crisis, but do not require immediate medical assessment. It is run by experienced Recovery and Peer Support Workers and support is tailored to the emotional needs of the individual. Students / residents of Manchester can self-refer for drop in support for up to five sessions over ten days OR phone support for up to ten days.

  • Opening times - Referrals can be made between 12 noon and 11pm daily.
  • How to contact them - 0161 238 5149
  • Where to find them - ‘Crisis Point’, Cross Keys Street, Manchester M4 5FY

Crisis Café at No.93 is an out of hours friendly and supportive community space open to anyone from Manchester, Bolton, Salford and Trafford experiencing a mental health crisis. It is run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Their 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.

  • 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 5BG

Please phone ahead to these services before dropping in.

Online support (if you find it hard to talk)

  • 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.