Places to contact in crisis

Whilst the department offers individual therapy and support for psychological difficulty surrounding your health condition, it may be that you are experiencing significant immediate distress that poses a risk to your safety (including thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life). If you have these concerns then there are several places you can contact. The information below is NOT a substitute for proper diagnosis, treatment or the provision of advice by an appropriate health professional.

GP

You can contact your GP if you are concerned about your mental health, and feel at risk of harming yourself. Your GP will be able to get you in contact with additional support services if necessary. Your GP may also discuss potential medications to help with your mood or review existing medications.

Samaritans

Samaritans offer a completely confidential, non-advice support service to help people talk through their concerns, worries and troubles. Samaritans is available to anyone 24/7, however distressed. You do not have to be suicidal to contact the Samaritans.(tel: 116 123, e-mail: jo@samaritans.org)

Local Single Point of Access (SPA)

This is a community service that receives self-referrals and those from other professionals involved in your care (from hospital or community). The Single Point of Access offers an initial assessment of a person’s mental health needs, sign-posting them to the appropriate service. This is a useful number to ring if you feel as though you are experiencing a crisis in mental health or frequent and severe suicidal thoughts. This is also a useful number to ring if you have had previous involvement with your local community mental health team and you are feeling unsafe. Each locality in West Yorkshire has a different contact phone number:

Leeds: 0800 183 1485

Kirklees and Calderdale: 01924 316830

Wakefield: 01924 316900

Bradford (first response) (Covers Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven): 0800 952 1181

York, Harrogate, Scarborough and North Yorkshire: 0800 051 6171

Hull: 0800 138 0990

999 + Local Accident & Emergency departments:

If you are feeling severely distressed and have plans to end your life or have already taken action to do so, your local A&E is often the most appropriate place to contact.  

If you are receiving input from a Clinical Psychologist or Counsellor within the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and experience suicidal thoughts then they will assist you in determining the appropriate level of support, either alongside or as an alternative to therapy.