Urgent or emergency situations
If you think that someone is in urgent danger or at immediate risk call 999.
Calls to 999 are designed to get you the right source of help and support – this may be the police or ambulance service.
Consider the following:
- Is there an imminent threat to life or serious injury?
- Are the actions of the person a danger to others?
- Are there concerns to access to means – illegal or unlawful possessions of a weapon which they are threatening to use?
- Have they prevented access/barricaded entry/stated intent?
- Are they vulnerable, unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves?
Are there concerns to their welfare?
- Are they experiencing a breakdown in their mental health?
- Are they causing harm to themselves or have injuries/acted on suicide?
- Is their level or distress unresponsive to offers of support and refusing interventions/support?
- Are they acting in a manner that may increase risk of harm?
- Is their mental state putting others at risk and increasing their vulnerability?
- Are they unresponsive, or unable to communicate?
Calls to NHS 111 can provide medical help and advice when you have an urgent need.
Consider the following:
- Is the situation concerning and you need advice/guidance?
- Are you unclear whether you need 999?
- Is their GP unavailable?
- Do you feel that you are unable to leave the person and are unsure what else to do to support them?
Calls to the GP practice for urgent mental health review
Consider the following:
- Is their mental health deteriorating but they have not seen their own GP?
- Request an urgent double mental health appointment – explain the concerns to suicide
- Can you go with them to the GP practice?
If your family member or person you are concerned about won’t let you attend the appointment, ask to speak with the doctor separately, or after they have been seen alone.
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