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Mental Health Crisis Resources Checklist

A checklist for preparing a personal crisis plan, with crisis lines for the United States, Canada and England and steps from WHO, NIMH and the NHS.

What this tool does

A checklist for preparing a personal crisis plan, with crisis lines for the United States, Canada and England and steps from WHO, NIMH and the NHS.

How to use

  1. Work down the list and tick each item as you finish it.
  2. Ticks are saved on this device, in your browser, so they are still there when you come back.

What this checklist covers

The list has 5 groups and 24 items.

  • In an emergency (2 items): Know your local emergency number. Call it if a life is at risk or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe; Saved the address of your nearest emergency department
  • Crisis lines (5 items): United States: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, 24 hours a day. The Lifeline says conversations are free and confidential. The US government agency SAMHSA says your phone carrier's standard rates may apply to texts. Administered by Vibrant Emotional Health, a not-for-profit organisation, with US government funding; Canada: 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline. Call or text 9-8-8, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and funded by the Government of Canada; England: NHS 111. Call 111 and select the mental health option, 24 hours a day. Run by the National Health Service; Anywhere else: found the national crisis line on your health ministry or health service website; Saved your crisis line in your phone and written it somewhere you will see it
  • Your personal crisis plan (8 items): Written your plan down. The NHS says a safety plan may help if you struggle with suicidal thoughts; Listed the people you trust and can talk to about how you feel; Saved the contact details of a health worker: a doctor, mental health professional, counsellor or social worker; Listed things that help you get through a hard day, such as being around other people or doing something you usually enjoy; Chosen a safe place you can go, such as a friend's house; Talked with a professional or support person about putting anything that could cause harm out of easy reach; Shared your plan with a person you trust; Looked into a support group
  • Warning signs to know (NIMH list, United States) (5 items): Written down your own warning signs; Talking about wanting to die, great guilt or shame, or being a burden to others; Feeling empty, hopeless or trapped, or in unbearable emotional or physical pain; Withdrawing from friends, giving away important items, taking dangerous risks, extreme mood swings, or using drugs or alcohol more often; Get help as soon as possible if these apply, above all if the behaviour is new or has increased recently
  • If you are worried about someone else (WHO advice) (4 items): Find a quiet time and place to talk, and let them know you are there to listen; Encourage them to seek help from a health worker, and offer to go with them to an appointment; If you think they are in immediate danger, do not leave them alone. Contact the emergency services, a crisis line, a health worker or a family member; Check in regularly to see how they are doing

Tip: If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number now. This page cannot get you help.

Limitations

  • This page is general information and not medical advice. It is not a crisis service, a diagnosis or treatment, and it cannot get you help. It does not replace a doctor or mental health professional.
  • If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number instead of using this page.
  • The crisis lines listed serve the United States, Canada and England only. Numbers and services can change, so confirm a line on its own website before you rely on it.
  • The warning signs come from a United States health agency and are not a complete list. A person can be in crisis without showing any of them.
  • Ticks, added items and removed items are saved only in this browser on this device.

FAQs

Q: Does this list include crisis line numbers?
A: Three. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States, the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline in Canada and NHS 111 in England. Each was read from the operator or a government page on 9 October 2026. If you live elsewhere, find your national line on your health ministry or health service website and add it to the list.
Q: What should I do in an emergency?
A: Call your local emergency number. The World Health Organization says that if you think you are in immediate danger of harming yourself, contact the emergency services or a crisis line.
Q: Is it all right to talk about suicide?
A: The World Health Organization says it is OK to talk about suicide, and that asking someone if they are thinking about suicide does not make them act on their feelings.
Q: Where do the items come from?
A: The steps about talking to someone you trust, a health worker and a support group, and the group about helping someone else, are from the World Health Organization questions and answers on suicide. The warning signs are from the US National Institute of Mental Health. The safety plan and coping items follow the NHS page "Help for suicidal thoughts". All were read on 9 October 2026.
Q: Does the checklist change with my situation?
A: No. It starts as one list of 24 items. It does not ask questions or adapt, but you can add your own items, such as your own contacts, and remove the ones you do not need.
Q: Are my ticks saved?
A: Yes, in your browser on this device. They are not sent anywhere and do not follow you to another device or browser.

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