Help NOW?
If you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe right now, please seek immediate help.
If your life is at immediate risk call 999, or ask someone else to contact 999 for you
If you need help right now
From 09:00 on the 5th April 2022 people of all ages in Norfolk and Suffolk can call 111, selecting the mental health option to access urgent mental health help and support, previously known as the First Response Service (FRS).
The urgent mental health helpline will still be available 24/7, 365 days a year. The team is still the same – there’s just a new number to call.
If you are in a mental health crisis
- You may be distressed and want to harm yourself, or someone else.
- You may be hearing unpleasant voices, feel that people are watching you or that you are in immediate danger.
It could help to tell someone you trust, such as a family member or a friend who can then help you decide what to do. They can also contact services on your behalf.
If you are supported by one of NSFT’s services:
Check your care plan, and:
During office hours contact your care coordinator or the duty number for the team that is supporting you. If you don’t have their details, visit NSFT’s service finder.
Or call the urgent mental health helpline.
Call 111 and select the mental health option.
If you need urgent help and you are not supported by NSFT’s services:
Call 111 and select the mental health option.
You will speak to the 24-hour urgent mental health helpline.
For more help;
- If you are experiencing mental health distress and also need medical attention, you can also attend any Emergency Department; in East Suffolk please go to Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich or for the West of Suffolk you can go to West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds. Both Hospital’s have a Mental Health Liaison Team (MHLT) (previously known as psychiatric lisiaon), based in the Emergency Department. Both Ipswich Hospital and West Suffolk Hospital MHLT are 24/7 services. The Emergency Department will assess you and can call the Mental Health Liaison Team, who will see you in the Emergency Department, to assess your mental health and well-being needs.
- Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call the Norfolk and Suffolk urgent mental health helpline and friends and family members can call on behalf of someone they’re worried about. Call 111 and select option 2 or find your local crisis line at nhs.uk/urgentmentalhealth
- Contact your GP for an emergency appointment or the out of hours service.
- If you are under 25 years of age, contact the Emotional Wellbeing Hub call 0345 600 2090, available Monday to Friday, 8am to 7:30pm or visit their website here.
- Alternatively contact the Samaritans on any phone 116 123 (24 hours a day). They are open 24 hours and are there to listen. The Samaritans provides confidential, non-judgmental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide. You can phone, email, write a letter or in most cases talk to someone face to face.
Are you feeling suicidal?
If you are having thoughts of ending your life; or perhaps feeling that you just cannot carry on any more, then please know that you are not alone. Many of us have had suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives.
Having these feelings and thoughts is very much part of being human when we experience more psychological or emotional pain than we can manage at the moment. These feelings can sometimes feel overwhelming. they can feel as if they will never end. But please know, from many of us who have lived through these dark times, that with time and support, we can begin to manage these difficult times and come to understand that suicidal feelings will pass. This is why it is really important that if thoughts and feelings to end your life become so strong that you speak to someone and get help as soon as possible.
You can get help in many different ways.
You can watch our support video called LISTEN and look at its accompanying support booklet called LISTEN for Suicide Prevention, if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or supporting someone with thoughts of ending of their life.
The support booklet can be read or downloaded using this link: https://www.suffolkuserforum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/LISTEN-for-suicide-prevention_Apr2022-v2.pdf
A great tool to support the early feelings and thoughts is the Stay Alive App for Suffolk. Download the ‘Stay Alive App’ onto your phone to help you plan a future, or ask for help now – Stay Alive App download by clicking here
Download more information about the Stay Alive app by clicking Stay Alive Content Pack
If you feel able to consider managing these feelings right now, there are some steps you can take to give yourself some distance between your thoughts and taking any immediate action.
Can you make a promise to yourself: “I will wait 24 hours and will not do anything to end my life during that time.” Thoughts and actions are two different things—your suicidal thoughts do not have to become a reality. There is no deadline, no one’s pushing you to act on these thoughts immediately. Encourage yourself to wait. This will help to put some distance between your suicidal thoughts and suicidal action.
We know that suicidal thoughts can become even stronger if you use drugs or alcohol as ‘self medication’. They can also make us act more impulsively and can lead us to try to end our lives. We know that it is really important to try not use nonprescription drugs or alcohol when you feel hopeless or are thinking about suicide.
Its a good idea, if you feel these feelings beginning to keep yourself safe by removing things you could use to hurt yourself, such as pills, knives, alcohol etc. If you are unable to do so, go to a place where you can feel safe. If you are thinking of taking an overdose, you could give your medicines to someone who can return them to you one day at a time as you need them, until you feel more able to keep yourself safe.
Many of us have found that the first step to coping with suicidal thoughts and feelings is to share them with someone we trust. This may be a family member, friend, member of the clergy, teacher or family doctor/GP. Find someone you trust and let them know how bad things are. Please do not let fear, shame, or embarrassment prevent you from seeking help. And if the first person you reach out to doesn’t seem to understand, try someone else. Just talking about how you got to this point in your life can release a lot of the pressure that’s building up and help you find a way to cope. There is a very good chance that you can work through these feelings, no matter how much self-loathing, hopelessness, or isolation you are currently experiencing. Just give yourself the time needed and don’t try to go it alone.
Even when you’ve decided who you can trust to talk to, admitting your suicidal thoughts to another person can be difficult.
It is important to tell the person exactly what you are telling yourself. If you have a suicide plan, explain it to them. Phrases such as, ‘I can’t take it anymore’ or ‘I’m done’ are vague and do not tell someone how serious things really are. Tell the person you trust that you are thinking about suicide.
If it is too difficult for you to talk about, try writing it down and handing a note to the person you trust. Or send them an email or text and sit with them while they read it.
This can help them to better understand how you are feeling.
We all know what it’s like when our spirits are good, when our energy is high and when our mind and body feel free. These feelings, however, can easily slip away when life gets a bit bumpy.
The good news is that there are loads of easy, free and meaningful things we can do to increase our well-being. The Five Ways to Well-being gives advice on what we can do to make ourselves feel good. The resources can be easily accessed by clicking here
There are other people and organisations you can talk to who offer different support and advice lines;
YANA: Help for those in farming who may be affected by stress and depression
YANA: Confidential support to those in the farming community. You can talk to someone at YANA Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
An answer service is available out of hours or, if you prefer, email johoey@yanahelp.org
Telephone 0300 323 0400
For more information visit their website Yana Farming Website
Farming Community Network (FCN)
You can call the FCN helpline and talk to a sympathetic person who understands farmers and rural life:
CALL 03000 111 999. Calls will be answered in person from 7am to 11pm every day of the year.
For more information visit their website Farming Community Network
Mind Infoline
Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am-5pm Monday to Friday)
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Website: www.mind.org.uk/help
Mind provides confidential mental health information services. The Infoline gives information on types of mental distress, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind also has a network of nearly 200 local Mind associations providing local services. In Suffolk you can contact Suffolk Mind by telephoning: 0300 111 6000, Monday – Friday 9am – 3:30pm
Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line
Telephone: 0300 5000 927 (9.30am-4pm Monday to Friday)
Email: info@rethink.org
Website: www.rethink.org
The Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service offers practical help on issues such as the Mental Health Act, community care, welfare benefits, debt, criminal justice and carers rights. They also offer general help on living with mental illness, medication, care and treatment. Rethink also runs Rethink services and groups across England and Northern Ireland.
Saneline – Mental Health Helpline
Telephone: 0300 304 7000 (4:30pm-10:30pm)
Website: www.sane.org.uk
SANE runs a national, out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers. We are open every day of the year from 4:30pm to 10:30pm.
Suffolk Family Carers
Address: Unit 6 – 8 Hill View Business Park, Old Ipswich Rd, Claydon, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 0AJ
Telephone: information line on 01473 835477
Website: www.suffolkfamilycarers.org
If you are a carer needing support you can contact all of the above as well as Suffolk Family Carers who are here to help by offering information and guidance to support you in your caring role. Getting in touch is easy. Call their information line on 01473 835477 where you can chat to one of their trained advisers.
Stop It Now – Are you concerned about your thoughts or behaviour towards children?
Some people struggle with sexual thoughts and behaviours towards children. Perhaps you know you are touching children inappropriately or have been looking at child pornography online. Are you someone who wants to stop these thoughts and behaviours but does not know how?
At Stop it Now! UK and Ireland we understand the struggle. We are ready to help you. We offer confidential help and support. We know people who get help can learn to control their thoughts and behaviours. So please, pick up the phone and call the Stop it Now! freephone confidential helpline on 0808 1000 900 for advice, support and information.
Or visit our Get Help website, a self-help tool with a huge range of online resources, advice and support that will help you stop looking at indecent images of children. You will not be asked for any details that may identify you, and the website is completely anonymous.
You can also use the links on the left to explore what you are thinking or feeling.
Website: Stop it Now website
Victim Support
Losing a loved one to suicide is an extremely traumatic experience. Victim Supports Bereaved by Suicide Service aims to ease the distress and improve the wellbeing of those in Suffolk (excluding Waveney) who have been bereaved by suicide. They provide emotional support, practical help and signposting to other organisations. The service is free and confidential. Email Victim Support on: BBS.support@victimsupport.org.uk or call their national support
line service, available 24/7 on: 0808 1689 111
If you are a child or young person who needs to talk to someone…
Call Childline on 0800 1111
ChildLine is the free 24 hour helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can call on to talk about any problem. Counsellors are always here to help you sort it out. Their website address is www.childline.org.uk
The Source for children and young people in Suffolk
4YP are a local charity who provide help and support to 12-25 year olds in Suffolk around their social, emotional and physical health and well-being. 4YP young people’s workers are trained in providing quality information and advice for young people – they are the experts, and you can ask them anything!
Ask the 4YP expert live 1-1 chat offers personalised information and advice for young people in Suffolk. Young people’s workers at 4YP (Suffolk Young People’s Health Project) are available online to offer support around emotional health and well-being issues. Ask the 4YP expert is available Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday from 5pm – 7pm (please check Christmas opening hours on The Source website).
The Source Website for Suffolk children & young people
Kooth
Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous online counselling and support for young people aged 11-18. You can chat to their friendly counselors, read articles written by young people or join their live moderated forums.
To visit the Kooth website please click here.
Shout
In a crisis? Anxious? Worried? Stressed? Get 24/7 help from our team of Crisis Volunteers. Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help.
Text Shout on 85258 or visit their website here.
Young Minds
Feeling different from usual or noticed a change in your behaviour? Find out about some common feelings and mental health symptoms, how to cope, and where to go to get help.
If you’re a young person looking for help and support you can text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger, for free 24/7 support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. For urgent help text YM to 85258.
Website: Young Minds Website
Worried about a child or young person?
The Young Minds Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to anyone worried about a child or young person under 25. You may have questions about a child’s behaviour, emotional well-being, or mental health condition. You may have a child who’s already been admitted to CAMHS and have questions about their treatment or want to know what to say to your GP when you visit them.
Call the Parents Helpline 0808 802 5544
Call free Mon-Fri from 9:30am to 4pm – available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Suffolk Wellbeing Service
Website: http://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Our-services/Pages/wellbeing-suffolk.aspx
Feeling Down? Stressed out? Overwhelmed? Anxious? This service can help you to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression and give you ideas on how to make changes to improve your well-being. If you are ready to make some changes the Well-being service can offer you a range of options and information to support you. You can self refer.
Counselling Directory
Website: www.counselling-directory.org.uk
Counselling Directory is a confidential service that encourages those in distress to seek help. The directory contains information on many different types of distress, as well as articles, news, and events. To ensure the professionalism of our website, all counsellors have provided us with qualifications and insurance cover or proof of membership with a professional body.
Counselling Directory only lists counsellors and psychotherapists who are members of a recognised professional body or those who have sent us copies of their qualifications and insurance cover.
For more information about suicide prevention in Suffolk please following the following link;
Suicide prevention in Suffolk – Suffolk Lives Matter
Suffolk User Forum is not able to provide emergency support for people in crisis.
But there are lots of people who can. Please take that very brave step and reach out for support and help, especially if you having thoughts of taking your own life and feeling very alone. You can also discuss how you feel with your local GP or out of hours GP service.