Urgent Help
If you feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or you feel unable to stay safe, please seek urgent help now.
NHS urgent mental health help — explains where to get crisis support and how to access local NHS urgent mental health services.
Samaritans — call 116 123 for free, 24/7 emotional support.
Mind mental health helplines — a useful directory of helplines including Samaritans, CALM, Shout, SANEline, Papyrus and others.
Hub of Hope — a database for finding local, national, NHS, charity, peer and community mental health support.
Being Sectioned and Your Rights
NHS: Mental Health Act — clear explanation of the Mental Health Act, detention, treatment and rights.
Rethink: What is the Mental Health Act? — explains being detained, different sections, and why someone may be sectioned.
Rethink: Mental health laws and rights — good wider resource for sectioning, tribunals, aftercare and advocacy.
Mind: Legal rights information — useful for patients, families and carers.
Psychosis
Psychosis can be frightening, confusing, spiritual, meaningful, overwhelming, or all of those things at once. These resouces may help you make sense of experiences like voices, paranoia, delusions, unusual beliefs, or feeling disconnected from reality.
Hearing Voices Network — peer-led support and a non-judgemental approach to voice-hearing.
Rethink: Hearing voices — practical information about hearing voices and how people manage them.
Bipolar
Diagnosis can feel like a lot to take in. These resources may help with understanding mood episodes, medication, relapse prevention, and living well with bipolar.
Bipolar UK — the main UK charity focused specifically on bipolar, with support, information, research and community resources.
After Hospital
Mind: Local crisis teams / community mental health teams — availability depends on area.
Things to ask before leaving hospital
Who is my care coordinator?
What happens if I feel unsafe?
What medication am I taking and why?
Do I have a crisis plan?
Am I entitled to Section 117 aftercare?
When is my follow-up appointment?
For Family and Friends
If someone you love has been sectioned, you may be scared, confused, angry, relieved, exhausted — or all of the above. These resources are for you too.
Nearest Relative information under the Mental Health Act — especially useful because “Nearest Relative” is a specific legal role under the Mental Health Act. Rethink explains that role well.
Work, Benefits and Money
Access to Work — UK government support to help people get or stay in work if they have a physical or mental health condition or disability. It can include practical workplace support and mental health support at work.
ACAS: Mental health at work — guidance on mental health, workplace responsibilities and supportive environments.
Citizens Advice: Work problems — useful for workplace issues, rights and getting help.
Turn2us — benefits calculator and grants search.
Mental Health & Money Advice — helpful for benefits, debt, money worries and mental health.
Peer Support
Rethink local groups and services — Rethink provides services including housing, employment and peer support.