Hi. You can't just turn up at a psych hospital with a suitcase and admit yourself, that just doesn't happen. I think what primary mental health services meant what that you should present at A&E or call for an ambulance if you feel that you can't keep yourself safe and have a plan and opportunity to end your life.

A suicidal gesture without the intent to die is known as parasuicide and both A&E medics and mental health professionals know the difference between parasuicide and an actual suicide attempt. It's not going to guarantee you an admission to a psych ward and may get you labelled as an attention seeker or worst case scenario as having BPD.

IF you go to A&E you'll be assessed by the crisis team, eventually, as A&E departments are crazy 24 hours a day right now so expect a long wait. They may decide to take you on as a patient where they visit you at home up to several times a day until you're through this crisis. They're a multidisciplinary team so they may be able to offer short term psychological intervention, an assessment with their psychiatrist and med changes.

Alternatively you can just phone them yourself 24 hours a day and they'll assess you over the phone. It's exactly the same as speaking to them in A&E except if you're actively suicidal A&E staff will try and keep you safe while you wait to be seen. If you're taken on as a patient by the crisis team they may decide that you need to be under secondary mental health services and they'll arrange continuity of care before they discharge you.