Getting help for a mental illness

Mental health support services are widely available, often 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services aim to provide treatment, information, tools and advice for dealing with a range of mental health issues.

If you are in danger or you have seriously harmed yourself, call your local emergency number (for example 911 in the US and Canada, 112 across the EU and many countries, 999 in the UK, or 000 in Australia) for emergency services.

Talking things through can help#

Talking things through with someone who understands your situation can help. A range of mental health helplines and online services can support you with issues such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, psychosis, obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorders, bullying and more.

If you need immediate help, crisis support and counselling are available around the clock. Helplines are a valuable resource when you are struggling — sometimes, simply calling and talking things through can make a situation easier to manage. These services typically include:

• Crisis support and suicide prevention lines for anyone having suicidal thoughts, and for family or friends affected by suicide.
• Free, anonymous counselling and support, available day and night.
• Counselling for children and young people.
• Telephone support for men with family and relationship issues.
• Support for issues relating to anxiety and depression.
• Mental health information, wellbeing support and referral advice for people with a mental health issue, as well as for carers and family members.

If you have overdosed, been poisoned or made a mistake with your medications, contact a poisons information service or emergency services.

If you are having suicidal thoughts#

If you are having suicidal thoughts, it is important to talk to someone straight away. You can contact a crisis support or suicide prevention helpline for free, anonymous support and advice on where to find further help. If you or someone you know has attempted suicide, call your local emergency number (for example 911 in the US and Canada, 112 across the EU and many countries, 999 in the UK, or 000 in Australia) for emergency services.

Self-harm#

Self-harm is when a person deliberately injures themselves to cope with strong feelings such as anger, despair or self-hatred. Someone who self-harms may injure themselves in a variety of ways, such as cutting, burning or biting.

If you or someone you know has self-harmed and needs non-urgent medical attention, seek treatment from your doctor or go to your local hospital’s emergency department. Speaking to your doctor is a good first step towards getting help and working out your treatment options. If you feel uncomfortable talking to your doctor, you can call one of the mental health helplines instead.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm, call your local emergency number (for example 911 in the US and Canada, 112 across the EU and many countries, 999 in the UK, or 000 in Australia) for emergency services.

Help for children and teenagers#

If you are a child or teenager going through a difficult time, it is a good idea to talk to your family and friends about what you are experiencing. If you feel embarrassed or shy, you may prefer to speak to someone you do not know. In that case, try talking to your school counsellor or local doctor. Your conversations with them are private, and they can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist if needed.

Youth-focused services offer free mental health support, information and advice to young people, including telephone counselling and online resources for those dealing with depression or anxiety. If you are living with or caring for a family member with a mental illness, young carer support services can also help.

Help in rural and remote areas#

If you live in a rural or remote area, you might face different challenges from people in cities, such as fewer local health and support services, isolation and greater levels of youth unemployment. As a general rule, the more remote your location, the harder it can be to access services, so you may need to be proactive about your mental health and, in some cases, travel to reach specialist help.

There are still plenty of ways to get support. Your local doctor is often the best place to start: they can advise you on community support and refer you to a counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or mental health nurse. If you would prefer to speak to someone you do not know, mental health helplines and support websites are a great option, where trained counsellors offer professional advice and support both over the phone and online.

Mental health and ageing#

Old age can bring many challenges, and many people experience mental health issues as they get older. Dealing with grief and loss, or living with a serious illness, can be very difficult, so it is important to know where to find support and advice. Services are available that provide information on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as general mental health support for older people.

Support for people from diverse backgrounds#

A good mental health system provides resources and support for people from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. When using a public health service, including a mental health service, you have a right to be communicated with in a way you can understand and that is culturally appropriate.

Many refugees have experienced or witnessed traumatic events, which can lead to mental health issues including sleep disorders, recurring memories, family breakdown, anger, fear, guilt and depression. Specialist organisations provide mental health services to refugees who have experienced torture or other traumatic events.

Ask for an interpreter if you feel you need one. A professional interpreter, which a health service will usually provide at no cost to you, is generally more effective than a family member or friend, especially when sensitive issues are being discussed.

Key points#

• Mental health support services are widely available, often around the clock.
• If you are in danger or have seriously harmed yourself, call your local emergency number.
• Talking things through with a helpline, counsellor or your doctor can make a situation easier to manage.
• Support is available for young people, for people in rural areas, for older people and for people from diverse cultural backgrounds.