If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse, domestic violence, suicidal thoughts or sexual assault, these are the numbers to call.
If you feel like you or someone you know is in immediate danger, you should call 911 (or your country’s local emergency line) or go to an emergency room to get immediate help. Explain that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for someone who is trained for these kinds of situations.
Getting help for any kind of mental health or domestic issue can feel hard. Calling a hotline can be intimidating, and often it can feel tough to justify that what you’re going through is “serious enough” to reach out.
The process has gotten easier though — now there are many hotlines that let you text or chat with someone, without ever placing a call. Not only does that remove some of the intimidation of talking on the phone, it also means you can have a discrete conversation if you want or need to.
No matter what issue you’re facing, there is a free, confidential service that can help. Most are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
This guide outlines many different organizations in the US (some service other countries as well) that can provide support, resources and counseling, whether you are in a crisis situation or not. This list is not exhaustive, and it’s worth Googling to find any local services available where you live as well.
What to know before calling a crisis hotline
You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn.
These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues.
Even if someone at a crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.
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