Mental Health & Suicide Crisis Resources

If you would like a printable version of this document, please send us an email requesting this.

Please note, part of this resource was produced by AI. This document is for guidance only and is not intended to replace medical or psychiatric care, advice and intervention. Please use the following with discretion and edit it as you see fit. Also protect your confidentiality when using this resource, printed documents with personal data should be carefully stored and shared with care.
If you are in immediate danger, feel you might harm yourself, or cannot keep yourself safe seek help right away. You are not alone.

For some people it can be helpful to create a personalised emergency plan which you have printed and readily available, you may want to appoint a person to advocate for you if necessary, this means someone you trust who can speak on your behalf in the event of an emergency. If you do this make sure that the person you nominate is willing to do this for you and write to your GP about this decision, giving your signed agreement. You may want to check the legality of this in your home country / state.

What You Can Do In A Crisis

If you feel unsafe, don’t delay, choose what feels like the most appropriate of the following, but make sure you get help:
• Call emergency services or a helpline listed below.
• Go to a safe place or emergency room.
• Reach out to someone you trust, tell them how you are feeling and ask if they can support you. Ideally have a list of several people you feel safe to talk with.
• Whilst you wait for help and support, use grounding and soothing techniques (breathing, 5 senses etc).
On the next page is a fillable document you may wish to complete and edit as you see fit.

Emergency Action Plan, Information and Resources

Statement When Accessing Emergency Services:
My name is____________I suffer with Body Dysmorphia and (list other issues here: _____________________Today
“I’m in crisis. I have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), which means I experience extremely distressing and intrusive thoughts about how I look. Right now I feel overwhelmed, hopeless, and unsafe. I am feeling extremely at risk and I believe that I urgently need to be cared for whilst in this crisis.
It’s very hard for me to reach out for help, I need you to know that even though my concerns may seem about my appearance, the distress I’m feeling is real, intense, and unbearable.
Please help me stay safe and find someone who understands BDD or can help me calm down and feel supported right now. Thank you for being patient with me. Please also note that I may be extremely distressed if my situations is misunderstood and for example someone expects that I will be okay with people seeing me or my body. Please be sensitive to my needs.”

For Staff:

People with BDD often suffer in silence for years before seeking help. Many experience overwhelming feelings of shame, fear of being judged and they worry that others won’t take their distress seriously, this can make it very hard to speak up.
Many people with BDD are compelled to conceal parts of their face or body and being exposed to strangers, including hospital staff can be extremely challenging.
Even in crisis, they may minimise their feelings or avoid explaining the real cause of their distress. BDD can lead to severe anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm.
Please approach them with compassion, validate their distress even if you don’t fully understand their concerns, and ensure they are kept safe while accessing appropriate mental health support.

My personal action plan for a crisis
My Name:
Address
Contact number:
My emergency contacts / supporters are:
Name / Relationship
Their mobile number:
Their email address:
I give permission / do not give permission for them to speak on my behalf and make decisions in my best interests.
Signed
Date
My ideal plan in an emergency is (list the support and resources available to you and how you can contact them):
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If supporting someone else:

• Ideally stay with them in person, if not, on a call with them.
• Listen without judgment.
• Reassure them that this crisis will pass.
• Help them contact the right resources, or do so on their behalf.
• Preplan and get back-up support for yourself.
• Whenever possible, accompany them to emergency appointments.
• You may want to have a detailed plan for yourself and support from another person for your needs, as well as an emergency list or bag packed.

UK Emergency & Suicide Crisis Resources

🔹 Immediate Help
• 999 / A&E – For any life-threatening crisis.
• NHS 111 (option 2) – Urgent mental health assistance reddit.com+1reddit.com+1self-uk.com+2wearedisrupt.co.uk+2serioussuicideaware.co.uk+2.
🔹 Helplines (24/7)
• Samaritans – 116 123; emotional support for anyone in distress bbc.co.uk+10ucag.net+10self-uk.com+10.
• SHOUT (Text support) – Text SHOUT to 85258; crisis text helpline .
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – 0800 58 58 58 (5 pm–midnight); support for men under 35 the-listeningtree.co.uk+14ucag.net+14reddit.com+14.
🔹 Age-Specific / Community Support
• Papyrus HOPELINEUK – 0800 068 4141 or text 07860 209 967 (under 35s) .
• Childline – 0800 1111; for anyone under 19 the-listeningtree.co.uk+2consciousclarity.co.uk+2reddit.com+2.
• YoungMinds Parents Helpline – 0808 802 5544; parents of youth in crisis reddit.com+5ucag.net+5thetees.org.uk+5.
🔹 Charitable Services & Respite Care
• Maytree Suicide Respite Centre – Short-term (4–5 days) non-clinical stay for those experiencing suicidal crisis; referral needed en.wikipedia.org+2talkofftherecord.org+2integralworkplacewellness.com+2.
• James’ Place – Specialist face-to-face centres for men in crisis (London, Liverpool, Newcastle); immediate, no-wait therapy thetimes.co.uk+4thetimes.co.uk+4thetimes.co.uk+4.
🔹 Additional Mental Health Charities
• Mind – 0300 123 3393; information, signposting, local services self-uk.com+5ucag.net+5reddit.com+5.
• SANE – 0300 304 7000; emotional support and Textcare (4 pm–10 pm) reddit.com+3ucag.net+3self-uk.com+3.
• Rethink Mental Illness – 0300 500 0925; guides for severe mental health issues consciousclarity.co.uk+4ucag.net+4thetees.org.uk+4.
_____________
United States
✅ Emergency Services: Dial 911 or go to the nearest ER.
✅ 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7): Call or text 988, 988lifeline.org
✅ Crisis Text Line (24/7): Text HOME to 741741, crisistextline.org
✅ The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+, 24/7): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678, thetrevorproject.org
_____________
Canada
✅ Emergency Services: Dial 911 or go to the nearest ER.
✅ Talk Suicide Canada (24/7): Call 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645 (4pm–12am ET), talksuicide.ca
✅ Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 686868
✅ Hope for Wellness (Indigenous Peoples, 24/7): Call 1-855-242-3310 or chat at hopeforwellness.ca
______________

Australia
✅ Emergency Services: Dial 000 or go to the nearest emergency department.
✅ Lifeline Australia (24/7): Call 13 11 14, lifeline.org.au
✅ Suicide Callback Service (24/7): Call 1300 659 467, suicidecallbackservice.org.au
✅ Beyond Blue (mental health support): Call 1300 22 4636, beyondblue.org.au
______________
New Zealand
✅ Emergency Services: Dial 111 or go to the nearest emergency department.
✅ Lifeline New Zealand (24/7): Call 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357, lifeline.org.nz
✅ Suicide Crisis Helpline (24/7): Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
✅ Youthline (young people): Call 0800 376 633 or text 234, youthline.co.nz