Whole Thread Therapy is not a crisis or emergency service. I work by appointment and cannot offer urgent or out-of-hours support. If you need help before your next session — or if you are worried you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe — please use one of the services below. They are staffed by people trained to help, and they want to hear from you.
If you need help right now
For a mental health emergency, or if someone's safety is at immediate risk.
Emergency services
If someone's life is at risk, or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go straight to your nearest A&E. A mental health emergency deserves the same urgent care as a physical one.
NHS urgent mental health support
For people of all ages, including children. You'll be connected to a trained mental health professional who can offer assessment, advice, and help finding the right local support.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Mental Health Crisis Line
A local, freephone crisis line for anyone in Lancashire and South Cumbria who is in mental distress. Staffed around the clock by trained mental health professionals who can assess, advise, and refer.
If you just need someone to talk to
Free, confidential support from people trained to listen — whatever is on your mind.
Samaritans
Whatever you're going through, Samaritans are there to listen — day or night, without judgement. The call is free and won't appear on your phone bill.
SHOUT
A free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who is struggling to cope. If talking on the phone feels like too much, texting can be a gentler way in.
Stay Alive app — Grassroots Suicide Prevention
A free, award-winning pocket resource for anyone having thoughts of suicide, or worried about someone who is. The app holds safety-planning tools, grounding techniques, and quick routes to support — available on iOS, Android, and as a web app you can open on any device. Grassroots is not a crisis service, but Stay Alive can be a steadying companion in a difficult moment.
Find support near you
Hub of Hope is a UK-wide directory that lets you search for mental health services close to you — including local charities, drop-ins, and community support.
For children & young people
If you're a young person and things feel really hard, these are safe places made just for you.
Childline
Free, private support for anyone under 19 — about anything at all. The number won't show up on the phone bill.
Kooth
A free online wellbeing community for young people. You can drop in any time — no referral or appointment needed — to chat with a friendly counsellor or use the self-help tools.
YoungMinds Textline
Free, 24/7 text support if you're a young person going through a mental health crisis. There's also lots of guidance for parents and carers on the website.
If you're worried about a child
Support for parents and carers holding a lot.
R;pple BrowserShield
If you worry about what your child might search for online, R;pple offers a gentle layer of protection. BrowserShield is a free browser tool that quietly notices when someone searches for content related to self-harm or suicide, and gently interrupts with a calm screen — a breathing exercise, a message of hope, and links to support — before any harmful results appear. It works invisibly on home computers and laptops, collects no personal data, and doesn't track browsing. For many families it brings real peace of mind, catching a vulnerable moment you might never have seen.
YoungMinds Parents Helpline
Free, confidential advice for any parent or carer worried about a child or young person's mental health or behaviour. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30am–4pm.
NSPCC Helpline
If you're worried about a child's safety or wellbeing — even if you're not sure — you can talk it through with the NSPCC. You don't need to be certain to reach out.
Reaching out when things are hard is not weakness. It's one of the bravest, most human things you can do. ✦