Coping with a crisis

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What you can do yourself

Talk it over with someone…

Tell someone you trust how you’re feeling: a friend; a family member or your doctor.

Be positive…

Thinking thoughts like you might be a failure, or nobody likes you can make it worse. Tell yourself the good things you’ve done today. If it’s difficult to say – write it down!

Avoid alcohol or drugs…

Using drugs and alcohol rarely helps, except in the ‘right now’. They can make you feel worse.

Avoid taking risks…

You may not be good at making decisions right now.

Getting help from others

See someone who knows about mental health…

An expert in mental health – a counsellor, nurse, psychiatrist, or other mental health worker may help.

Get on the phone…

Useful organisations and help lines are listed later on this page.

Use the internet…

There is lots of help available on the internet and it will help you find local organisations too.

Medicines from your doctor may help…

Take them only as directed, and be sure you know how long they will take to work.

Try talking to your local helpline (open 24 hours a day, seven days a week):

Doncaster 0800 519 3013
Rotherham (01709) 302670

Contact your local Crisis Team:

Doncaster phone (01302) 798400, fax (01302) 798106 (24 hours)
Rotherham (01709) 302670 (24 hours)
North Lincolnshire (01724) 382000 (9am to 5 pm) or (01724) 282282 (after 5pm). Please ask for the Crisis Team.

Each Crisis Team is staffed by nurses, doctors, support workers and others who try to work with users to prevent hospital admission for those who experience relapse. We also see new clients who may be depressed and have suicidal feelings and offer home treatment where we can.

Helplines can be supportive. Check out the links below for helpful information.

Helpful contact information

Helplines can be supportive. Check out the links below for helpful information.

Someone to talk to.
An audio clip explaining what happens
National and local numbers
You can write if you don’t want to phone or you can also e-mail, they try to get back within 24-hours
There is a good information sheet on self-harm and a lot of good useful information

The Rethink Advice and Information Service can be contacted on 0845 456 0455.

The Welcome Team are available to answer general queries including more information about Rethink and the wide range services it provides nationally. They can be contacted from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

The Advice Team are available to provide specialist advice on a wide range of mental health issues. They can be contacted from 10am – 2pm Monday to Friday.

Rethink’s specialist advisers are trained to deal with enquiries from people affected by severe mental illness including those experiencing mental illness themselves as well as their friends, families and carers. They have experience in a variety of issues concerning medication and treatment, legal rights, debts issues, welfare benefits, housing and community care.

A site dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.
UK resources and support for those dealing with suicide, depression or emotional distress; particularly teenagers and young adults.