Emergency action required: Phone 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department (ED) if:
- you or someone you know is about to harm themselves or someone else
Mental health crisis
A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation.
In a crisis, it is important that you get help as soon as possible.
You may:
- feel severe emotional distress or anxiety
- think about suicide
- think about self-harm
- have thoughts about harming other people
- hear voices (hallucinations)
- have unusual beliefs, such as thinking people are out to get you (delusions)
- feel unable to cope with demands of daily life or work
A mental health crisis can also be the result of another health condition.
For example, confusion or delusions can be caused by:
- an infection
- taking drugs
- effects of medicine
- dementia
Symptoms of dementia - understandtogether.ie
Where to get help
If you're having a mental health crisis, help is available.
GP and out-of-hours GP services
A GP can offer support for anyone in crisis. If possible, ask someone to come along with you.
HSE mental health services
If you are being supported by a mental health team, or have been in the past, contact the service for support in a crisis.
If you just need to talk, any time of day or night
These free helplines are there to help 24 hours a day, every day.
You can also call these helplines for advice if you're worried about someone else.
Samaritans
The Samaritans telephone service is available 24 hours a day for confidential, non-judgmental support.
Freephone: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.ie
Website: samaritans.ie
Childline
Freephone 1800 66 66 66
Website: childline.ie - chat online anytime
Text About It
Text About It is a free service you can contact 24 hours a day. It offers everything from a calming chat to immediate support for your mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Free-text: HELLO to 50808 for an anonymous chat with a trained volunteer, any time.
Helping someone else
You may have a friend or family member who is going through a difficult time and needs urgent help. Sometimes they may be unwilling to get help.
You may want to know what to do if:
- you are worried about someone else's mental health
- someone is admitted to hospital against their will
- someone is suicidal
- someone is attempting suicide
- someone may be self-harming
Read more about ways you can help others
More support
About mental health supports and services