Safety
If you need help now.
If you need help now
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 in the UK, or 911 in the US.
United Kingdom
Samaritans — 116 123
Free from any phone, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
You do not have to be suicidal to call.
Shout — text SHOUT to 85258
Free, 24/7, if you would rather not speak.
CALM — 0800 58 58 58
5pm to midnight, every day.
NHS 111 — 111
For urgent medical help that isn't an emergency.
United States
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988
Free, 24 hours, every day.
Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741
Free, 24/7, if you would rather not speak.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Outside the UK or US: findahelpline.com lists services by country.
Back to Self is not emergency care and cannot respond to a crisis. The people above can.
If you need to steady yourself
- Look around and name five things you can see.
- Feel your feet on the floor. Press them down a little.
- One slow breath out, longer than the breath in.
- Notice the temperature of the air on your hands.
- You are here, and this moment is now.
If distress does not settle, contact someone you trust or a qualified professional. That is the practice today.
Educational, not medical
Practices here are drawn from evidence-informed, emerging-research and traditional sources. Each one is labelled honestly. Nothing on this site diagnoses, treats or replaces professional care.
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