Help in a crisis

Emergency support

If you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or others, call 999 or go to your nearest  Accident & Emergency department.

Urgent mental health support

If you are not in immediate danger but feel that you need urgent support, you can: 

• Contact your GP for an urgent appointment. If you haven't registered with a GP yet, use the NHS website to find one near you 

• Contact your local NHS Mental Health Crisis Line: 

  • Tower Hamlets:  0800 0730003  

  • Newham: 0800 073 0066  

  • City and Hackney: 0800 073 0006  

• To find a crisis line in other areas, use the NHS urgent mental health form.

Crisis listening helplines

We encourage you to talk to one of the following organisations if you want to talk to someone urgently about how you’re feeling: 

• Samaritans – talk to someone 24/7 – Phone: 116 123 or find a branch to visit.  

• SHOUT – text support service 24/7 – Text SHOUT to 85258.  

• Papyrus – helpline for young people open 9am – midnight every day – Phone: 0800 068 41 41.

Crisis organisations  you can visit in person

• Visit a local NHS Crisis Café to talk to someone in person. Check the websites below for details on location/opening hours: 
  • Tower Hamlets Mental Health Crisis Cafe 
  • City and Hackney Walk-in Crisis Cafe 
  • Newham Together Cafe 
• For cafes in other areas, search online for your borough + crisis café
• The Listening Place: a charity offering face-to-face support for those who feel life is no longer worth living. If you want support, complete the self-referral form online. 
• James’ Place: a suicide prevention charity supporting men in a suicidal crisis. If you are feeling acutely suicidal and want to speak to someone, complete a self-referral form online.

Crisis support for sexual assault

Visit the NHS website to search for your local rape and sexual assault referral centres.   


Visit Queen Mary’s Report and Support pages to find out what support is available to those who have experienced sexual violence. 

Crisis support for domestic abuse 

• Call Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 24/7 – Phone: 0808 2000 247 or visit the website to live chat from 3-10pm daily.
• Visit Women’s Aid website for advice and support information.