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Crisis support and information

Immediate and emergency care 

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

After then, notify on-site security to ensure emergency services can access the building: 

Mental health crises

In a mental health crisis, contact NHS 111 and select option 2 to access the local NHS First Response Service (FRS).

The service is available within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Recognising a mental health crisis

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.

There’s a wide range of external support for different urgent situations. Click on a heading below to find out more.

24/7 mental health support

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.
  • The Stay Alive app provides practical information and tools to help you stay safe during a crisis. You can use it if: 
    • You are having thoughts of suicide. 
    • You are worried about someone else who may be considering suicide. 
    • The app is available on smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. 
    • Download the Stay Alive app from your app store 
    • Visit the website for more information 
  • The DistrACT app is a support tool that provides information and links for people who self-harm or may have suicidal thoughts. 
Limited hours mental health support
Support if you've recently been raped or assaulted

If you have experienced any form of sexual violence and/or abuse, remember:

  • It was not your fault
  • You are not alone
  • You deserve to feel supported and believed 
  • You may have very mixed feelings about what happened, and whether to tell anyone
  • You have a choice in what you do next and what is right for you 
  • You can get support from trusted friends and family and/or professional support 
  • You should not feel under any pressure to act in any specific way

External Support

  • Rape Crisis England & Wales deliver specialist services to those affected by sexual violence and abuse.
  • The Elms Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Cambridgeshire offers free, confidential support to anyone who has experienced sexual violence or abuse.
    • You do not need to report to the police to access their services.
    • They provide medical care, emotional support, forensic examinations, and can store evidence for up to seven years if you choose to report later.
    • Their services are available every day between 09:00 and 21:00.
    • Outside these hours, you can still contact them for advice and guidance.
    • Call 0800 193 5434
    • Email theelms.sarc@nhs.net
    • Visit their website for more information
  • SurvivorsUK is a national charity for male survivors of sexual abuse.
  • The Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre offers free and confidential support to survivors of sexual violence, no matter when the abuse happened.

University Support

  • The Harassment and Violence Support Service (HVSS) supports students who have been subjected to any form of sexual harassment or violence and/or intimate partner abuse, and those who have been impacted by religious or racial discrimination or violence.
  • The Harassment and Sexual Misconduct webpage brings together everything students need to know about how the University prevents and responds to harassment and sexual misconduct.
Reporting a crime or inappropriate behaviour
  • To report a crime that does not need an emergency response, contact the local police on 101.   
  • To report a hate crime anonymously, contact CrimeStoppers UK. 
  • 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

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