If you are in immediate danger
You are not a burden. You do not need to have the right words. You can call or text even if you aren't sure if it's "bad enough." They are there to help.
What happens when you call 988
- 1.A trained counselor picks up, usually in under a minute.
- 2.They will ask what's going on. You do not have to know.
- 3.They will listen. The conversation is yours to lead.
- 4.All calls and texts are confidential and anonymous.
- 5.Most calls end with the caller feeling more grounded. Some end with help connecting you to next-day care.
- 6.Police are not dispatched in the vast majority of calls. The Lifeline's policy is to prioritize voluntary, non-coercive support.
Urgent help, in one place.
Every resource on this page is free, confidential, and answered by humans. Bookmark it. Share it. Print it and put it on the fridge. We update this list as new lines come online.
911
Immediate emergency response from police, fire, and EMS.
Call 911
Use 911 if you or someone else is in immediate physical danger, has overdosed, or has a life-threatening medical emergency. Tell the dispatcher it is a mental health emergency and ask for a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained officer if available in your area.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24/7 free, confidential support for people in distress.
Call or text 988 · Chat at 988lifeline.org
Counselors trained in suicide prevention and crisis support. Available in English and Spanish, with specialty subnetworks for LGBTQ+ youth (press 3), veterans (press 1), and Spanish speakers (press 2). For Deaf/Hard of Hearing: videophone available at 988lifeline.org.
Visit official site →Crisis Text Line
Free, 24/7 support over text for any kind of crisis.
Text HOME to 741741
Connects you to a trained crisis counselor in under five minutes on average. Useful when calling is not safe or feasible. Available in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, and Canada.
Visit official site →Veterans Crisis Line
Veterans & service membersConfidential support for veterans, service members, and their families.
Dial 988, press 1 · Text 838255
Staffed by responders, many of whom are veterans themselves. You do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or healthcare to use it.
Visit official site →Trevor Project Lifeline
LGBTQ+ youthCrisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people under 25.
Call 1-866-488-7386 · Text START to 678-678
Counselors trained in the specific experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. 24/7. Live chat also available at thetrevorproject.org.
Visit official site →Trans Lifeline
Trans communityPeer support hotline run by and for trans people.
Call 1-877-565-8860 (US) · 1-877-330-6366 (Canada)
Operators are all trans-identified. The line is non-carceral: it does not contact emergency services without explicit consent.
Visit official site →SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential referral service for mental health and substance use.
Call 1-800-662-4357
24/7, 365-day, treatment referral and information service in English and Spanish for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Not a crisis line. To be used to find ongoing care.
Visit official site →RAINN (Sexual Assault Hotline)
24/7 support for survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones.
Call 1-800-656-4673 · Chat at rainn.org
Connects callers to a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in their area.
Visit official site →National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 confidential support for people experiencing relationship abuse.
Call 1-800-799-7233 · Text START to 88788
Advocates can help with safety planning, local shelter referrals, and emotional support. Available in 200+ languages via interpreter.
Visit official site →Disaster Distress Helpline
Crisis support for emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
Run by SAMHSA, 24/7. Multilingual. Useful in the days, weeks, and months after a wildfire, hurricane, mass shooting, or other event.
Visit official site →Postpartum Support International
Birthing parents & familiesHelp line for pregnancy and postpartum mental health.
Call 1-800-944-4773 · Text 'Help' to 800-944-4773 (English) / 971-203-7773 (Spanish)
Not a 24/7 crisis line, but connects callers to local providers specialized in perinatal mental health.
Visit official site →Findhelp.org
Free directory of local social services, including mental health, food, housing, and financial help.
Visit findhelp.org
Search by ZIP code to find vetted community resources. Useful when the underlying problem is structural (housing, food, income) rather than only clinical.
Visit official site →Samaritans (UK & Ireland)
United Kingdom & Ireland24/7 free emotional support across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
UK & Ireland: 116 123 · Email jo@samaritans.org
You do not have to be in suicidal crisis to call. Confidential, anonymous, available every day of the year.
Visit official site →Lifeline (Australia)
AustraliaAustralian 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention.
Call 13 11 14 · Text 0477 13 11 14
Free national crisis line, with text and online chat options. Trained Australian counsellors available 24 hours a day.
Visit official site →1737 Need to talk? (New Zealand)
Aotearoa New ZealandFree Aotearoa New Zealand counselling, by call or text, 24/7.
Call or text 1737
Run by Whakarongorau Aotearoa on behalf of the Ministry of Health. Trained counsellors available 24/7.
Visit official site →Befrienders Worldwide
Directory of emotional support helplines in 32+ countries.
Visit befrienders.org
The most reliable way to find a crisis line in your country if you are outside the U.S., UK, Australia, or New Zealand.
Visit official site →