This page contains links to the relevant mental health services in Barnsley for children and adults, which will provide you with information and contact details.

NHS 111 for mental health 

If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed, or worried about your mental health, you can now contact your local crisis service in Barnsley by calling 111 and selecting the mental health option.

You can call for yourself, or someone else. NHS111 is for all ages, including children and young people and those with neurodevelopmental needs.

If you’re deaf or have hearing loss, please use the following link to be connected to local crisis service – NHS 111 – SignVideo.

If you can’t make the call yourself, then anyone can call on your behalf - for example a friend, carer, loved one or even your GP. You can also access NHS111 online via 111.nhs.uk.

The service is available to anyone, currently living in Barnsley and facing a mental health crisis, which could include:

  • Significant changes to your mood
  • Withdrawing from people (close family, friends, or work colleagues)
  • Not taking care of yourself like you usually would
  • Having increased thoughts about your life not being worth living
  • Excessive worry
  • Feeling out of control or unable to cope
  • Hearing voices or seeing things that others can’t
  • Thinking about harming yourself or others.

Is your life or someone else’s in immediate danger?

In the event of an emergency situation or if you or someone else is in immediate risk of serious harm or injury:

  • Contact the Emergency Services by dialling 999 and stating which service you require;

If you're having problems with your mental health you should speak to your GP.

Adult Mental Health Services

Your GP may refer you to a NHS mental health service called the single point of access team. You may be offered an assessment and, if appropriate, short-term support or a referral to other mental health services. For more information see the single point of access team webpage or speak to your GP about a referral.

Self-referral: The improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) service can help you get quick and easy access to the best type of aid. It will help you understand and learn to manage your symptoms. This includes anxiety, stress, low mood and depression.

You can self-refer to the IAPT service online or you can also call (01226) 644900.

Out-of-hours support: If you need support for your mental health outside of normal working hours you can:

There's also a mental health liaison team based at Barnsley Hospital. You need to attend A&E at the hospital to access this service.

Mental Health Act referral line: A Mental Health Act assessment is a formal assessment to find out whether someone’s mental health treatment can be managed in the community. If not, a formal admission to hospital will be needed.

If you need to make a referral for a Mental Health Act assessment please call (01226) 772448.

Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

The emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health.  Good mental health allows children and young people to develop the resilience to cope with whatever life throws at them and to grow into well rounded adults.  

Branching Minds Barnsley: brings together local mental health support teams(MHST) and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) under one roof, helping children, young people and their families get the right support at the right time.

You can request support by:

The Branching Minds team is available Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to 4pm (excluding bank holidays). For emergency support outside of these hours, please contact your out of hours GP (by calling your practice number as usual) or NHS 111.​​​​​​​

Kooth: is available to those aged 11+ offering a safe and welcoming place to seek confidential and non-judgemental professional help for any mental health concern. It is available immediately via www.kooth.com.  Children and young people can access 24/7 one-to-one text based sessions with experienced counsellors and wellbeing practitioners. 

For more local help and advice you can visit :

  • Alright Pal? - the Alright Pal? campaign is all about starting the conversation around mental health and wellbeing as a first step towards suicide prevention.
  • Andy’s Man Club run free sessions where men over 18 can come together and offer each other peer-to-peer support. Visit the Andy's Man Club Barnsley Facebook page for more information.
  • Child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) is NHS service that offers support and treatment for children and young people, aged up to 18 years old,
  • Childline offers support on about anything. No problem is too big or too small. 
  • Creative Minds run projects to develop people's mental, physical and psychological wellbeing.
  • Exchange Recovery and Wellbeing College on Gawber Road, Barnsley offers a variety of informal courses that are run in small groups and are open to anyone.
  • HumanKind - Barnsley Recovery Steps provide free and confidential support to help you to manage, reduce or stop your drug or alcohol use.
  • HumanKind - Umbrella - provide mental health and wellbeing support, counselling, the opportunity to share and support others in group work programmes, as well as support from people that have been in a similar situation to you.
  • Making Space is an independent organisation that supports carers and families of people having mental health issues.
  • Mind is a national charity with a branch in Barnsley, for people having difficulties with their mental health. They offer counselling, support groups and help to get back into work.
  • Samaritans of Barnsley offer a listening service as well as confidential support and advice about emotional wellbeing and mental health.
  • Team Talk is a mental health programme run by Reds in the Community, designed to support men’s mental wellbeing through peer support, sharing experiences, tips and better ways to cope.
  • Young minds

National Support Services

  • Rethink Mental Illness offers help on a wide range of topics such as the Mental Health Act, community care, welfare benefits, and carers rights, as well as general information about living with mental illness, medication and care.
  • SANE is a national mental health charity offering an out-of-hours helpline (SANEline) for specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers.