If life is in danger right nowCall 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
You are not alone

Urgent help

If you or someone you care about is struggling right now, the services on this page are here for you — many of them 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Reaching out is never a waste of anyone's time.

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.

24 hours · 7 days

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.

24 hours · 7 days

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.

24 hours · 7 days

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.

24 hours · 7 days

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.

24 hours · 7 days

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.

PAPYRUS HOPELINE (under 35s)

Confidential support and advice for anyone under 35 who is struggling with thoughts of suicide, and for those worried about a young person.

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.

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. ✦