Crisis support and information

If you or another person is in immediate danger or there is a risk to life, call 999 immediately. 

• Then, notify on-site security to ensure emergency services can access the building: 
  • If you are in a College, call the Porter’s Lodge
  • If you are in a Department, call the University Security Control Centre
• Someone (ideally a member of staff/guardian) should stay with the person until professional help arrives.

In a serious but not life-threatening situation, call 111 (available 24/7) or visit NHS 111 online for advice and guidance. 

If you’re unsure what NHS service to use or when to see a doctor, the NHS Symptom checker may be helpful. 

If you or another person is in a mental health crisis, call the local NHS First Response Service (FRS) on 111 and select the mental health option. The service is available within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

A mental health crisis looks different for different people.

Signs might include: 

• increased thoughts about life not being worth living   
• feeling unable to cope 
• thinking about harming yourself or someone else 
• having made a plan or preparations to take your life
• feeling hopeless 

If you’re not experiencing a mental health crisis but need urgent support, contact your NHS GP practice and ask for an urgent appointment.

If you have experienced rape or sexual assault, support is available. 

You have choice and control over what happens next, and there are a range of options available depending on what you need.

Immediate safety and medical support

If you don’t feel safe, you can call 999 and ask for the police.

If you need medical attention, seek medical advice as possible. If you have serious injuries or feel very unwell, call 999 and ask for an ambulance, or attend your local Accident and Emergency department.

If you have experienced any incident involving your breathing or airways being restricted, such as choking, strangulation, suffocation, or any other incident involving pressure to your neck, please seek medical advice, even if you do not have visible injuries or symptoms.

Specialist support after rape or sexual assault

If the incident happened within the last seven days, you can contact The Elms Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which provides free, confidential support including:

• Forensic medical examinations
• Emotional and practical support
• An opportunity to provide an initial account of what happened, with no obligation to report to the Police. 

Any forensic evidence collected can be stored for up to two years and can be shared with the Police at a later date if you decide to make a formal report. 

If you choose to attend the Elms, your College can arrange and pay for your taxi. You should contact your Porters’ Lodge in the first instance. You do not need to provide details of the incident.

Supporting someone else

If you’re supporting someone who has recently experienced rape or sexual assault, find guidance on how to help.

The following services are all free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

• The Samaritans is a UK and Ireland-based charity that provides confidential listening and emotional support to people experiencing distress or despair, including suicidal thoughts.
• Shout is text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
• Lifeline is a crisis and support helpline.

Crisis support

• Nightline is student-run listening and information service.
• The Stay Alive app provides practical information and tools to help you, or someone you're worried about, stay safe during a crisis.
• The DistrACT app is a support tool that provides information and links for people who self-harm or may have suicidal thoughts.

Ongoing support, counselling or wellbeing services:

• Qwell is a free online wellbeing service for adults in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
• Keep Your Head provides information on mental health and wellbeing services and support in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Self-help / informational resources

• The Centre for Clinical Interventions has resources for a wide range of mental health problems.
• CPSL Mind has designed this resource on coping with suicidal thoughts.

• To report a crime that does not need an emergency response, contact the local police on 101.  
• CrimeStoppers UK is an independent charity that allows people to report crime 100% anonymously,
• True Vision is a police-funded website offering advice and resources on hate crime and how to report it.
• To report inappropriate behaviour from staff, students, or members of the University community, use the University’s formal reporting options to raise your concern. Examples of inappropriate behaviour include:
  • Harassment
  • Bullying
  • Discrimination
  • Sexual misconduct