What happens if you go to A&E for your mental health?
You're triaged like any other patient, then assessed by the hospital's mental health liaison team. Expect a long wait, often several hours. Most people are assessed and go home the same day with a crisis plan and a follow-up — being admitted or detained is uncommon. If you have not harmed yourself, calling NHS 111 and choosing option 2 is usually faster.
When A&E is the right call
- You've seriously harmed yourself or taken an overdose.
- You believe you might act on suicidal thoughts tonight.
- You can't keep yourself safe and there's nobody with you.
What the wait is like
Take a phone charger, a bottle of water and, if you can, someone with you. Tell the reception staff plainly that you're there because you're not safe — it affects your triage category.
The assessment
A liaison psychiatry nurse or doctor talks through what's happened, what support you already have, and what would make tonight safer. You can ask for a same-sex clinician and you can ask someone to sit in with you.
Faster alternatives
NHS 111 option 2 reaches your local crisis team 24/7. Many areas also run crisis cafés or safe havens in the evenings — quiet rooms with trained staff, no waiting room. Search your postcode on Hub of Hope.
Not sure where you are on the scale?
Press the button, pick a number from 1 to 10, and see what fits.
Last checked: September 2026