Do these first
- Contact the service holding your referral and say plainly that your mental health has worsened.
- Ask whether your urgency can be reviewed, whether you need reassessment, and what support is available while you wait.
- Tell your GP what has changed, including sleep, eating, self-care, work or study, substance use, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide.
- Write down the date, who you spoke to, what they advised and when you should hear back.
A short script you can use
- “I was referred on [date]. Since then, [what changed]. It is now affecting [sleep/eating/work/safety]. I need you to review whether the current plan is still safe and tell me what support is available now.”
If making the call feels impossible
- Write three sentences before you call and read them word for word.
- Ask a trusted person to sit with you, make notes, or help you call if you consent.
- Ask whether the service can communicate by text, email, interpreter or another reasonable adjustment.
Keep it manageable
You do not have to complete every step today. Choose the smallest useful action, such as writing one sentence, saving one number or asking one person to sit with you while you call.
Trusted sources and next steps
NHS urgent mental-health help ↗Mind: coping on a therapy waiting list ↗General UK information, not a diagnosis or personal treatment plan. Services differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Information reviewed 23 August 2026.