Out of hours urgent help
Urgent help
If you are open to our service:
During office hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) contact your care coordinator or the main office number:
West Dorset (Swifts): 01305 361 414
East Dorset: 01202 584353
Out of office hours: call the urgent mental health helpline on 111 and select the mental health option.
If you are not open to our service:
If you need urgent help and you are not supported by our services, call 111 and select the mental health option to speak to the 24-hour urgent mental health helpline.
Alternatively for urgent mental health support you can call Dorset Connection on 0800 652 0190.
Please avoid visiting hospital A&E (accident and emergency) departments unless you have a life-threatening emergency. The number above can connect you to crisis services.
If you are with someone who has attempted suicide, call 999 and stay with them until the ambulance arrives.
If anyone is at serious risk of harm, call 999 and ask for the police.
Social care
Contact CHAD (The Children’s Advice and Duty Line) if you need support or have concerns about a child: 01305 228866
Signposting to help and support
In the event of a crisis (in times of difficulty), please contact your community team during normal working hours Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (excluding bank holidays). You can also use any of the services listed below.
If you have been discharged from care by the community team the following services are still available to all patients;
- Call Connection- our all ages 24-hour mental health support line on free phone 0800 652 0190 or 111
- The Retreats Dorchester and Bournemouth, for anyone aged 18 and above offer a safe place if you feel you are approaching a crisis point. Usually open daily between 4.30pm and 11.30pm.
- The Community Front Rooms in Bridport, Shaftesbury, Wareham and Weymouth, for anyone aged 18 and above also offer a safe place if you feel you are approaching a crisis point. Usually open Thursday to Sunday between 2.15pm and 9.45pm..
- For more details about Dorset HealthCare direct access services and to check accessibility please visit our Access Mental Health pages
- Samaritans are available 24/7 on free phone 116123
- Text SHOUT to 85258 to communicate to someone via text message
- You may wish to download an app called distrACT which can help with thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- You can also speak to your GP.
Our Dorset – Your local NHS and councils working together have partnered up with ORCHA to provide a digital site that gives you access to NHS approved apps that have gone through a rigorous review process for you to provide you with valuable health information to help us live healthier lives, which includes mental health apps.