BBCPeople experiencing a mental health crisis will be able to access services through NHS 111 in England, giving them a new way to access emergency help.
This gives the UK an edge over other international health services, allowing them to provide support for mental health as well as physical problems.
This number connects you with a team of local mental health-trained call handlers, with nurses and clinicians available 24 hours a day.
The team can organise mental health assessments, dispatch crisis response teams and inform people of the help available locally. Talk therapy services are also available and people can contact the service online. England.
“Call 111 and press 2.”
There are similar services Wales and Scotland.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased demand for help with symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
The latest NHS figures show that mental health services are treating one million more people a year than six years ago.
And the charity Mind estimates that just under two million people are on waiting lists for NHS mental health services.
The new integrated service will give patients of all ages, including children, the chance to speak to trained staff who can guide them to the right place, said Claire Murdoch, NHS director of mental health.
“So if you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, please call 111 and select the mental health option.”
Gemma Morris, who runs the single-point access team at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, says the team has worked hard to secure experienced staff.
“I think [the service] For people who have tried and struggled to get help, it makes a lot of sense.
“We often hear stories of people going to this person or their GP and struggling because they don’t know what to ask for.
“It will be very easy, just call 111 and press 2.”
Her team currently fields around 300 to 350 calls a day.
Some people are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Most callers (around 90%) are adults, but the helpline also includes specialists from local child and adolescent mental health services.
Some callers are parents looking for advice and guidance.
“You’re in a lot of emotional turmoil.”
Chris, one of the youth counsellors, admits that many of the conversations he has with children and young people who call are very intense.
“It’s a very unstable emotional state. People are having the worst days of their lives,” she explains.
But although the work is tiring, Chris says it’s also very rewarding.
“I don’t think you can end a call if you’re not satisfied, if you’re not doing something that you think is beneficial.”
Mark Winstanley, chief executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said: “A mental health crisis can be traumatic and disruptive so it’s vital that people get help as soon as possible. When you or a loved one is in crisis, the most frustrating thing is not knowing where to turn.”
“The NHS has made it easier to access emergency help through 111, building on the provision already made available through its crisis line, and we welcome this important step.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness, BBC Action Line To find information about organizations that can help.
