If today is dangerous

If life is in danger right now

Call 999. UK ambulance, police, or fire. Free from any phone.

If you cannot speak: dial 999, listen to the operator, and press 55 to be put through to the silent solution service.

Outside the UK: dial 112 in Europe, 911 in the US or Canada, or your local emergency number. Every country has one.

If someone is shaking, sweating, hallucinating, or having a seizure

This is alcohol withdrawal turning serious. It can kill.

• Call 999 or take the person to A&E.
• Do not let them drink to "level out." That is folk advice. In acute withdrawal it stops being safe.
• Stay with them. Keep them on their side if they have a seizure.
• Tell the paramedic or A&E doctor exactly how much alcohol per day, for how long, and when the last drink was.

The page on dangerous withdrawal signs explains the medical detail with sources.

If you or someone else is thinking about suicide

You can speak to a person right now.

• Samaritans — 116 123 — free, 24 hours, every day. UK and Ireland.
• Shout — text SHOUT to 85258 — free, 24 hours, text-based. UK.
• Papyrus HOPELINE247 — 0800 068 4141 — for under-35s and the people supporting them. UK.
• CALM — 0800 58 58 58 — 5pm to midnight, every day. UK.

If the person in front of you is in immediate danger, do not leave them alone. Stay until help arrives.

If you are in danger from someone you live with

If a drinker in your home becomes violent, or you are afraid for yourself or your children:

• 999 — police. If you cannot speak, press 55.
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline — 0808 2000 247 — free, 24 hours, every day. England.
• Refuge — refuge.org.uk — live chat available.
• Women's Aid — womensaid.org.uk
• Men's Advice Line — 0808 8010 327 — Monday to Friday.
• Galop — 0800 999 5428 — for LGBT+ people.

You do not need to wait until something physical happens. Coercive control is a crime in England and Wales since 2015.

If you are not in immediate danger but tonight is hard

You can talk to someone tonight without paying anything and without explaining yourself first.

• Samaritans — 116 123 — they take calls about anything. Not only suicide. Drinking, fear, exhaustion, the partner you are watching, the parent you are losing. All of it.
• NHS 111 — for medical advice that is not 999. They will tell you whether to wait, see a GP, or go to A&E.
• Drinkline — 0300 123 1110 — Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm. Free, confidential, for drinkers and the people around them.
• Adfam — adfam.org.uk — for family and friends of people with drug or alcohol problems.

Outside the UK

This network is written from the UK. The crisis principles are universal. The numbers are not. A short list, not exhaustive:

• Republic of Ireland — Samaritans 116 123, emergency 112 or 999, HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline 1800 459 459
• United States — 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), emergency 911, SAMHSA helpline 1-800-662-4357
• Canada — 988 (Suicide Crisis Helpline), emergency 911
• Australia — Lifeline 13 11 14, emergency 000
• New Zealand — Lifeline 0800 543 354, emergency 111
• Spain — Teléfono de la Esperanza 717 003 717, emergency 112
• France — 3114 (suicide prevention), emergency 112 or 15
• Germany — Telefonseelsorge 0800 111 0 111, emergency 112

If your country is not on this list, search "[your country] suicide helpline" or call your local emergency number. Every country has both.