About Mental Health Crisis

What we know is that the experience of one person and their perception of a mental health crisis are as unique and individual as the person and what for one person may feel manageable, may for another person feel completely devastating or overpowering.

A mental health crisis may take a number of forms including, but not limited to, anxiety or panic attacks, psychotic experiences such as hallucinations, feelings of paranoia, and relapse of other serious mental illness or thoughts of suicide or acts of self harm.

These are some of the feelings and thoughts you may identify with:

  • Terror
  • No escape
  • Despair
  • Feel out of control
  • Guilty
  • Don’t feel real
  • Overwhelmed
  • Undeserving of help
  • Trapped
  • Lonely and isolated
  • No escape – only one way out
  • Sad
  • Need to make this stop
  • Will I burden others?
  • Hopelessness
  • Feel disconnected from anything

Try and pick up the phone and speak to someone who can help you, this could be a friend or family member or one of the services listed below. This person will try and help you by being compassionate, taking your situation seriously and not judging you. It’s important to link into services where you’ll find the right support for you, these services below are widely recognised for the support that they offer.

Have a look at our NHS Apps

NHS Digital have developed a range of apps to provide you with straightforward information about anything from  first aid, dealing with stress, to learning how to improve the way you get off to sleep. Some apps provide information and tips, others are in the form of a short course with actions and activities you need to do every day.

The content of all these apps have NHS approval so you can be sure that the information is valid, accurate and follows NHS guidelines. Take a look. You might find a solution to an issue you have been trying to address in your personal life.

Click here to see what is available (https://apps.beta.nhs.uk/).

Crisis Safe Space

With Open Mental Health, we are able to offer out-of-hours support for anyone who feels like they are really struggling with their mental health. Instead of going to A&E, making an urgent doctor’s appointment or suffering in silence, you can visit one of our offices across Somerset in Bridgwater, Yeovil, Shepton Mallet, Taunton, Wells and Glastonbury. There you will find a supportive member of staff who will be willing to listen and be able to help you with your problems, whatever they may be.   Bookings can be made by HTT or the CMHS or other agencies and services, by phoning Mindline 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692.

Here is our list of services and times:

  • Taunton: Monday–Sunday: 18:00–23:00  (face to face and virtual sessions available).
  • Yeovil: Monday-Sunday: 18:00–23:00  (face to face and virtual sessions available).
  • Bridgwater: Monday–Sunday: 18:00–23:00  (face to face sessions only).
  • Frome: Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 18:00–23:00  (virtual sessions only).
  • Wells:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Sunday: 18:00–23:00.

Please phone 01823 276 892 or freephone 0800 138 1692 to book a session or via the website.

Please note that we cannot take anyone under the age of 18 or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Due to health and safety procedures, we cannot guarantee there is an accessible toilet facility on site.

For more information on dealing with a mental health emergency, please visit the NHS website. For services available in the county specifically, please visit the Somerset Foundation Trust page.

If you are feeling suicidal or if you have self-harmed and are concerned about it, please dial 999 or visit your nearest A&E department.

Do you need urgent help now?

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services across the county to support people who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

First Response Service – This service is available to assess your situation quickly and decide where the best place for you to receive support from is and they can be contacted on 0300 124 5016.

What to expect when you call the service

If you are a friend or family member or concerned about someone presenting in a mental health crisis please call to discuss the situation with the team, who will offer advice and options.

If the situation is life threatening please call 999, as we cannot respond to situations immediately.

If you are ringing for yourself, staff will ask you where you are, and if you are with anyone. They will be making a plan to maintain your safety whilst you are talking and after ending the call.

If you haven’t spoken to us before we will be gaining information about your situation and supporting you with compassion, validation of your difficulties and helping you to look at short term solutions to your situation. We will develop a safety plan for you if that is what’s needed.

If you have spoken with us before, we will focus on your safety plan, what works for you in a crisis and focus on these interventions with you.

Some of your symptoms may feel very intense and uncomfortable, however these will pass. Staff will direct you to an intervention that will try and reduce these symptoms.

If you have been drinking alcohol or are under the influence of substances, we can offer basic advice and safety planning, but may ask you to call us back when you are able to think more clearly. If your situation is life threatening we would be directing you to emergency services.

By the end of the call we would hope to make you aware of other services and organisations that will hopefully further support you in your recovery.

If staff are immediately concerned about your welfare they will discuss the next steps with you, and with your family, carers and support networks, with your agreement.

If you are ringing for a family member or friend we are happy to receive your concerns and observations and will provide support and advice to you about how to manage the situation. Please be aware that our services and contacts with people are confidential, and we may not be able to give you specific personal information about a family or friend, unless they are happy for us to do so. We will take any concerns you have seriously and advise on the appropriate course of action.

We can often speak with you promptly at the time you ring, but there are times when our staff are on another call. Please leave us a message with your name and number and we will phone you back as soon as possible. Your call really matters to us so please do leave us a message. If we cannot immediately speak with you, please ring the Samaritans on 116 123 (24 hours a day) or Mindline 01823 276892 or 0800 138 1692 (24 hours a day).