Urgent help
If you need urgent help
Please be aware that the National Autistic Society does not offer a crisis or emergency service. UK residents can access urgent help or support by contacting the services listed below.
Immediate risk or danger
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services, such as the police.
- Telephone: 999
- Textphone users: 18000 or visit Relay UK
- You can find out more about contacting the police, their accessibility options and how to report historic crimes by visiting Police UK or calling their non-emergency line on 101.
Urgent medical attention
If you or someone you know needs urgent medical attention, or is suicidal:
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Call 999 if there is an immediate risk of harm (this also includes risk of suicide)
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Go to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department of any hospital or make an emergency GP appointment
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If you live in England, Scotland, or Wales: call the NHS non-emergency line on 111 if medical advice is needed. You can also access advice online at NHS 111 online or via the NHS App.
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If you live in Northern Ireland: contact your trust’s GP out of hours service.
Help with mental health issues
If you need help with a mental health issue, you can call 111 and then select Option 2 to speak with a mental health professional.
You can also access this support using textphone services, British Sign Language video calls or a translator via the NHS 111 Accessibility Page.
If you live in Northern Ireland, you can call the Lifeline crisis helpline on: 0808 808 8000
You can find the telephone number for your local urgent mental health helpline using the following links:
Safeguarding concerns
Our charity does not have authority under UK legislation to investigate, assess or intervene in cases of abuse or neglect.
If you or someone you know may be at risk of abuse or neglect, contact your local children or adult safeguarding services to report your concerns.
You can find their contact details by typing into a search engine: “[your Local Authority/Trust name] [ adult/child] safeguarding team”
To ensure you are using a trusted webpage, you can check that the web address ends in ‘.gov.uk’ (for local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales) or ‘.hscni.net’ (for trusts in Northern Ireland)
If you are worried that a child may be at risk of harm, the NSPCC can offer support and advice.
Other helplines and listening services
Please note: the services listed below are delivered by other charities/organisations. Information about each service, including their privacy policies, can be found on each of their websites.
You can also find a list of other organisations and services that are specifically for, or have adapted their services to meet the needs of, autistic people and/or their families in our Autism Services Directory.
Samaritans
If you are having a difficult time, you can contact Samaritans any time, day or night.
- Telephone: 116 123
- Samaritans website (includes details of different methods of contact)
Shout 85258
A free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
- Shout Website
- Text the word ‘shout’ to 85258
Mind Helplines
Mind is a mental health charity providing information, signposting and support services.
- Mind Helplines Webpage (includes details on accessibility, call charges and an online chat option)
- Infoline Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday)
- Support Line Telephone 0300 102 1234 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday)
Saneline
For anyone experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else (4pm to 10pm, every day of the year).
- SANEline website
- Telephone: 0300 304 7000
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Suicide prevention helpline for anyone who needs to talk (helpline, online chat and Whatsapp contact available 5pm to midnight, every day)
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide.
- Call on 0800 689 5652 (6pm to midnight, every day)
- National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK website
C.A.L.L (Wales)
If you live in Wales, the Community Advice & Listening Line is available anytime.
- Call on 0800 132 737 (available all day, every day)
- C.A.L.L Website
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline
If you, or someone you care about, is experiencing domestic abuse, you can contact The National Domestic Abuse Helpline to discuss your options.
- Call 0808 2000 247 (available all day, every day)
- The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (website includes chatbot option)
Helplines Partnership
Helplines Partnership is the membership body for organisations that provide information, support or advice via phone, email, text or online. You can find details of helplines providing support for many different issues via their websites.