University of Reading
Mobile search categories
Need Help?
Essentials Guidance and support Emergency and urgent help

What is the difference between emergency and urgent?

Emergency: a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment.

If a serious, unexpected and often dangerous situation requires immediate attention, you need to contact emergency services (999): i.e. someone has been hit by a vehicle and needs immediate attention for their injuries, you will need to contact an ambulance.

Urgent: An illness, situation or injury that requires urgent attention but is not a life-threatening situation: i.e. if someone is seeking help with their mental health, but they are not in immediate danger.

 

Contacting emergency services

  • Call 999 for emergency services (fire, ambulance, police) If you find yourself in an emergency. This is when you or someone else is seriously ill or injured and a life is at risk.
  • Royal Berkshire A&E department.

 

Emergencies on campus

  • Call 0118 378 6300 in the case of an emergency on campus. The University Security Team will be able to assist you in contacting the emergency services if necessary.
  • Call 0118 378 7799 for any other non-emergency campus security concerns.

 

Urgent help or support

 

Urgent mental health support

  • Call 116 123 to contact the Samaritans for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you.
  • Call 0800 129 9999 to contact the NHS Mental Health Crisis Team. If you need urgent help, but it's not an emergency.
  • Call or text 0800 068 4141 to contact PAPYRUS, the national UK charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. The service is staffed by trained mental health professionals 10:00 – 21:00 weekdays and 14:00 – 17:00 at the weekend. 
  • Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line.
  • Contact Your doctor/GP practice. If you are registered with the University Medical Group in Northcourt Avenue, contact: 0118 987 4551. Otherwise, please contact the doctor that you are registered with.
  • Visit our Suicide awareness webpage for more information and links.

 

If you're worried about someone

If you are concerned about someone’s welfare and think they need support, please encourage them to use the Student Wellness Check or come in to see the Welfare team. You can call them on 0118 378 4777. If they are living in halls, you can also contact the relevant Hall Warden. We will always act upon concerns raised although sometimes we are unable to speak to you about concerns you have raised due to confidentiality.

Take a look at our section Medical and general health for more information on local GP's, Meningitis and information in relation to your health at university.

Guidance and support