Looking after your mental health

Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time. At times when we find ourselves most busy, it's so easy to neglect your own personal wellbeing, leaving you feeling stressed, worried or isolated. 

Need urgent help right now?

If you, or someone you know, are in a mental health crisis and need urgent support, you can now call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.

NHS 111 is available 24/7.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss please use NHS 111 – SignVideo or use the 18001 111 Relay UK app.

How to get urgent help - Easy read NHS 111 select mental health option

Blank placeholder image

Mental health crisis text service

People who find themselves in a mental health crisis can now get urgent support by TEXT.

Text 'CALMER' to 85258, for free, confidential, 24/7 text support if you are struggling to cope.

This service is for anyone in the North East and North Cumbria region experiencing anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health challenges.

The service is funded by the ICB, and delivered by the innovative digital service called Shout, which is powered by the charity Mental Health Innovations.

Local crisis lines

If you live in Teesside, County Durham, Darlington and experiencing a mental health crisis, phone NHS 111. Previous 0800 local crisis line numbers for people in these areas are no longer answered and people will hear a message on the line advising them to call NHS 111 and select the mental health option for crisis support.

If you live in Cumbria, Northumberland or Tyne and Wear from 1 October 2025 the local 0800 crisis numbers which you may be familiar with will be closed. Instead, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and select the ‘mental health’ option. NHS 111 is free and available 24/7.

Local text numbers for Deaf people who use British Sign Language (BSL) are also being replaced by one single text number covering the North East and North Cumbria. The new text number will be 07860 064 775.

From 1 October, these numbers will be closed:

  • Cumbria: 
    • 0800 652 2865
    • 077595 656 226
  • Newcastle and Gateshead:
    • 0800 652 2863
    • 07919 228 548
  • North Tyneside and Northumberland:
    • 0800 652 2861
    • 07887 625 277
  • South Tyneside and Sunderland:
    • 0800 652 2867
    • 07889 036 280

You can read more details about this change on the mental health NHS trust's (CNTW) website.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis phone NHS 111 and select the mental health option to speak to a mental health advisor in your area. If you or another person have been harmed or are at immediate risk and require an emergency response, call 999.

Helping you take good care of yourself

To help you take good care of yourself, our local mental health services offer free self-help guides on a range of topics, from anxiety to sleeping problems and stress.

If you live in Teesside, County Durham, Darlington you can find lots of self-help information on the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust webpage.

If you live in Cumbria, Northumberland or Tyne and Wear, you can find lots of self-help information on the Cumberland, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust webpage, as well as local phone numbers to call if you need help urgently. 

Talking Therapies

If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS talking therapies services for anxiety and depression.

A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly without a referral.

NHS talking therapies services offer:

  • talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help
  • help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression

Find out more about talking therapies and the services provided