24/7 NHS mental health response line for support and advice
Call the local NHS helpline for free on 0800 038 5300, any time day or night if you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health. The team behind the 24/7 open access telephone response line will listen to you and determine how best to help.
Mental Health Safety Plans
A Mental Health Safety Plan is a preventative tool designed to help support those who struggle with mental wellbeing. It may be difficult to think clearly when you feel really low or incredibly overwhelmed. It may be difficult to ignore these feelings. Safety plans are best created when not in crisis.
By having a safety plan, you’re making sure that there are strategies you can use to keep yourself safe. These can help you feel more in control when everything feels out of control. Think of your safety plan as your ‘mental health first-aid kit’. It includes different things that will help you through a crisis.
Download your mental health safety plan
- Mental Health Safety Plan (PDF)
- Mental Health Safety Plan (Interactive)
- Mental Health Safety Plan for Children and Young People (Papyrus)
- Mental Health Safety Plan for Young Adults (Papyrus)
Easy Read Safety Plans
Due to the current circumstances, we are unable to send Z Cards out to individuals or to organizations, we will update you as soon as this changes.
Please email the Public Health desk via phdesk@cornwall.gov.uk with any questions about using Mental Health Safety Plans.
If you would like to, you can use a Stay Alive app instead of a paper based version. Download this app for free from your smartphone or tablet app store:
Find out more about the Stay Alive app
Whether you are looking for support with your own mental health, or helping someone else to understand theirs, there are thousands of apps to choose from.
The Papyrus website has a useful tool which can help you decide which are the best and most trusted apps to use.
Training
Please find below some recorded training for our Mental Health Safety Plans.
Read the transcript for the videoSupporting documents
- How to create a Mental Health Safety Plan Guidance
- It's Safe to Talk About Suicide (Exeter University)
- Mental Health Safety Plan Support for Children and Young People
- Further Guidance for Supporting Children and Young People
- Mental Health Directory of Local Resources
- Papyrus Conversation Starters
Helpful videos on how to make a safety plan
- SUICIDE: How and why to make a suicide safety plan by Pooky Knightsmith
- How to make a safety plan on StayingSafe.net.
British Sign Language video on how to make a safety plan
Online training on suicide prevention
Zero Suicide Alliance
Suicide - Let's Talk (Duration 20min)
The aims of this training are to:
- enable people to identify when someone is presenting with suicidal thoughts/behaviour
- be able to speak out in a supportive manner
- empower them to signpost the individual to the correct services or support
Suicide Gateway Module - Newly Launched! (Duration 5 - 10min)
A very brief introduction to suicide awareness, including skills and tips to help you have a conversation with someone you think might be considering taking their own life.
Grassroots Real Talk
Real Talk Interactive Film (Duration 30min)
Free interactive film where you choose from multiple choices. You decide which course of action is the most appropriate in the scenario that is played out. Influence the conversation and understand the effect your choices might have.
NHS Health Education England/Public Health
We Need to Talk About Suicide (Duration 60 - 90min)
The course is designed for anyone who regularly comes into contact with members of the public in their day-to-day role, whether clinical or not. At the end of this course you should feel more confident in having a conversation with someone you believe might be having suicidal thoughts or feelings. A few simple words of concern and offer of help could be all it takes to encourage someone to take the first steps in seeking further help and support. The course may also encourage you to discuss any concerns you have about suicide with your colleagues and family members.
The course maps to Public Mental Health Leadership and Development Framework and Mental Health Core Skills Education and Training Framework.
Elements included are: Introduction, Why Talking Matters, Risks and Warning Signs, What You Could Say, Support and Wellbeing, Next Steps.
Further training
Cornwall Council's Healthy Cornwall Team also offer various in-person training programmes.
Find out about Healthy Cornwall training programmesThese include:
- Mental Health First Aid
- Suicide Prevention training
Guidance for Supporting Children and Young People
Where to get help
Kernow Connect
Kernow Connect offers universal, targeted and specialist support for young people aged 11 to 19 or up to 25 with SEND.
For further information call 01872 321486 or email kernow.connect@actionforchildren.org.uk
Mental Health Safety Planning for Children and Young People
If you are supporting a Child or Young Person, there are many services available to provide information or advice.
Mind Your Way provides information, advice and guidance on how and where to get help.
MindEd Suicide Prevention and Safety Planning - Children and Young People
Interactive training that can be accessed as e-learning for an individual, or as a workshop for delivery to groups. Lots of opportunity for reflection and examples of how to have a conversation. Four cornerstones of this training are: Empathy, active listening, help seeking, containment.
The focus of this session is Safety Planning. It is designed to support early and effective intervention in the quest to prevent self-harm and suicide amongst children and young people. You will explore some of the key communication and relational issues. These must be closely attended to in order to co-create effective safety plans. This is great training, that looks specifically at safety planning for young people in school or community settings.
Kooth provides online counselling, support and advice for 11-19 year olds. Opening Times:
- Monday - Friday 12pm - 10pm
- Saturday - Sunday 4pm - 10pm
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.
- If you need urgent help text YM to 85258
- All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.
- Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3 Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
The Samaritans run a helpline you can ring for free at any time of the day or night if you're in distress and need support.
- freephone (UK and Republic of Ireland): 116 123 (24 hours)
- Email: jo@samaritans.org
If you're under 19 you can confidentially call, email, or chat online with Childline. This can be about any problem, big or small. If you signup for a childline account on the website you will be able to message a counsellor anytime without using your email address.
If you're under 25 you can talk to The Mix for free on the phone, by email or on their webchat. You can also use their phone counselling service, or get more information on support services you might need.
- Freephone: 0808 808 4994 (13:00-23:00 daily)
HOPELINEUK is a confidential support and advice service for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.
- Call: 0800 068 4141
- Text: 07860 039 967
- Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
- Every Day 9:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight)
