First aid for distress

Learn adult first aid for someone experiencing a mental health crisis including signs, symptoms and what to do in an emergency.

Signs and symptoms of distress

When people are experiencing emotional or psychological distress they may:

look shocked and confused
be crying or screaming, sweating, shaking
have trouble breathing or showing other physical signs of anxiety and stress
be very quiet and withdrawn, and appear sad and upset
talk about feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness or ideas about harming themselves.
describe feeling confused or detached from others

First aid for someone experiencing distress

1. Let them know that you are here to help and support them.

You might want to give them a hug, but that might not be the most appropriate response if you don’t know them. It might be tempting to tell them everything will be okay, but that might not be true in every situation and can seem like you are downplaying their feelings.

A woman leans on her partner's shoulder for support while another woman offers the couple a bottle of water.

2. Show you are listening. Consider and acknowledge how they are feeling and what they’ve experienced.

Being injured ,witnessing an injury and going through a traumatic event can all be scary and often unexpected and can trigger emotional responses. Stress responses are the normal way that your body and brain react to stressful situations, but what stress and distress looks like will depend on the person.

An upset woman talks while another woman listens attentively.

3. Encourage them to seek further professional help if needed.

Help them to access self-help resources. Further help may be needed if the distress has been going on for some time, is particularly acute and overwhelming and you suspect may lead to harm of themselves or others, or they have little other support from anyone else.

4. Help them contact someone who can support them before leaving them.

If they are having thoughts about killing themselves, help them to call a helpline, or someone they trust. If they have attempted to kill themselves, call 999.

A woman hands another woman a British Red Cross self-kindness toolkit.

Spotting the signs of emotional and psychological distress (video)

Watch this British Red Cross first aid video to learn about the signs of a mental health crisis and how to offer emotional support.

Watch a British Sign Language version of how to help someone who is distressed.

Frequently asked questions about first aid for someone who is distressed

Will I be traumatised if I help people who have been in an accident or are distressed?

The majority of people are not traumatised by helping others. Usually, people are pleased they were trying to help. If you feel upset after the experience, talk to people you trust. See your GP if you are worried about your experience and think it is significantly affecting your health.

What if they don’t know or can’t tell me what they want?

Offer to listen. Try to contact others on their behalf. It can help to simply be a calming influence and reassure the person that you can help.

What should I do if they seem to be over-reacting?

Everyone has different needs and experiences of life and they might react differently from you. Always show them respect and listen to what they are saying.

During life-threatening emergencies, call 999, or for non-emergency medical help, call 111.

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