World Mental Health Day 2026: Where to get urgent mental health support in Leeds

On World Mental Health Day, people in Leeds are being reminded where to turn for urgent mental health support.

The NHS 111 service, launched in May 2024, is available by dialling 111 from any phone and selecting option 2. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing support for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

The service is delivered by Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) on behalf of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). Its Customer Wellbeing Team handles around 4,000 calls a month across the areas it serves.

Call handlers receive specialist training and support from crisis services at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT), helping them assess callers' needs and direct them towards appropriate mental health support.

Alison Gregory, Customer Wellbeing Manager at NCHA, said: “Our team recognise how difficult it is to pick up the phone and ask for help, and they work hard to make sure each caller gets the support they need.

“We’ve had some excellent feedback from the Leeds crisis team on the way our team are triaging these calls and delivering support that’s tailored to the individual.

“It’s a really challenging job which requires resilience. It’s also extremely rewarding to know we’re supporting those in their darkest moments and saving lives every day. We’re incredibly proud of the team and the service that we have developed.”

The partnership with LYPFT includes regular training, monthly face-to-face peer supervision, call listening and feedback sessions, and weekly meetings to discuss service developments and operational issues.

Adele Campbell, Clinical Operations Manager for Crisis Services at LYPFT, said the trust regularly provides training and development to help NHS 111 call handlers offer high-quality assessments, timely advice and appropriate referrals.

She added that specialist colleagues, including the trust's Crisis Resolution Intensive Support Service, also share their expertise in supporting people in the community and involving their loved ones and carers.

The service is being highlighted ahead of World Mental Health Day on Saturday, October 10, which encourages people to talk openly about mental health and seek support when they need it.

Where to get mental health support in Leeds

NHS 111 mental health service

• How to contact: Call 111 and select option 2.
• When: Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Who it is for: Anyone experiencing an urgent mental health concern, whether for themselves or someone they know.
• Online support: Information is available through NHS 111 online, with options for different languages, including British Sign Language.

In an emergency

If there is an immediate threat to life, call 999.

People experiencing a mental health crisis can use the NHS 111 service to seek urgent advice and be directed towards appropriate local support.