Hotlines

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support via phone or chat for people in distress, resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Includes information on finding your local crisis center.

#BeThe1To

Embodying the ethos that everyone that takes action to prevent suicide, #BeThe1To details the five evidence-based steps that any individual can take to help someone that is in suicidal crisis, as well as stories of recovery.

Website: http://bethe1to.com

Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator

Offered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the behavioral health treatment services locator offers confidential and anonymous sources of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the Unities States for substance abuse/addiction and/or mental health problems.

Website: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline

Is NOT a child abuse reporting hotline. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are confidential. A Childhelp crisis counselor will assist if you:

  • Are in physical or emotional crisis and need support and encouragement.
  • Need to be connected to the best possible resources in your area. Have questions about the signs of child abuse.
  • Need to find out how to report known or suspected abuse.
  • Have questions about the reporting process and what you might expect through the process.
  • Want to learn about Childhelp programs that will address you or your child’s needs.
  • Want to learn about resources available to parents, grandparents and caregivers.
  • Need emotional support as a survivor of abuse.
  • Want a referral to an agency, counseling or other services near where you live.
  • Want literature mailed to you. (Allow two weeks for delivery via the U.S. Postal Service.)
  • Childhelp crisis counselors cannot come to the home where the abuse is happening and take away the child or teen who is in danger of being hurt and put them in a new home.
  • The Childhelp Hotline crisis counselors can’t make the child abuse report for you, but we are here to help you through it.
  • Childhelp counselors can assist you by providing options based on the situation you describe. They cannot tell you what to do or guarantee that a specific outcome will occur.

Contact Information

Compassionate Friends

Provides support for bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents who have lost a child. Chapter meetings are open to families that have experienced the death of a child at any age, including pre-birth, from any cause. Supports chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam as well as chapters in more than 30 other countries. Also offers “virtual chapters” providing support online. Serves all ages, any children attending should be old enough to understand the meeting discussions and not be upset by them. Some chapters have sibling groups for children 12 or older.

Crisis Text Line

Crisis Text Line is a free, 24/7 support texting service for those in crisis.

Disaster Distress Helpline

A national hotline providing year-round immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. DDH staff provides counseling and support before, during, and after disasters and refer people to local disaster-related resources for follow-up care and support.

  • Phone: 1-800-985-5990
  • Hours: 24/7 Deaf/Hard of Hearing: 1-800-846-8517
  • Text
    • (English, within U.S.): TalkWithUs to 66746
    • Text (Spanish, within U.S.): Hablanos to 66746
    • Text (Spanish, Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands): Hablanos to 1-212-461-4635
    • Text (Spanish, American Samoa, Guam, Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia): Hablanos to 1-206-430-1097
    • Text (English, any U.S. Territory): TalkWithUs to 1-212-461-4635
  • Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline

DoD Safe Helpline (operated by RAINN)

A support service specially designed to provide live, one-on-one support to sexual assault survivors and their loved ones within the DoD (Department of Defense) community. Safe Helpline staff members have been trained to answer questions relating to military specific topics such as Restricted and Unrestricted Reporting and how to connect with relevant military resources, such as an installation or base’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), should those services be requested.

  • Phone: 1-877-995-5247 Hours: 24/7 Info by Text:
  • Text your zip code or installation/base name to 55-247 (in the U.S.) or 1-202-470-5546 (outside the U.S.), and they will text you back with contact information for the nearest civilian or DoD sexual assault service provider. Message and data rates may apply.
  • Safe HelpRoom: A place for survivors to chat with and support each other online. Safe, moderated and open 24/7 at https://safehelpline.org/about-safe-helproom
  • Self-Care App: Survivors can create a customized self-care plan and access recommended exercises and resources at https://safehelpline.org/about-mobile Online Helpline: https://safehelpline.org/
  • Service Area: International

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Help Center

offering the following four programs and services:

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Youth Talkline

National telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States. Assists with coming-out issues, relationship concerns, parent issues, school problems, HIV/AIDS anxiety and safer-sex information, and more. Maintains a resource database with 15,000 listings containing information on youth groups, social and support organizations, as well as gay-friendly religious organizations, sports leagues, student groups and more.

Phone: 1-800-246-PRIDE (1-800-246-7743)

Hours: Monday-Friday from 4pm-12am, EST; Saturday from 12-5pm, EST

Website: http://www.glnh.org/talkline/

 Ages Served: Teens and young adults up to age 25

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) National Hotline

Provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States. Assists with coming-out issues, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety and safer-sex information, and more. Maintains a resource database with 15,000 listings containing information on social and support groups, as well as gay-friendly religious organizations, sports leagues, student groups, lawyers, doctors and various counseling professionals

  • Phone: 1-888-843-4564
  • Hours: Monday-Friday from 4pm-12am, EST; Saturday from 12-5pm, EST
  • Website:http://www.glnh.org/
  • Ages Served: All ages

GLBT Online Peer Support Chat

Free, confidential, one on one peer support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning people. Volunteer-run service, not a casual chat service or a substitute for ongoing professional counseling

  • Website: http://www.glnh.org/
  • Hours: Monday-Friday from 4pm-12am, EST; Saturday from 12-5pm, EST
  • Ages Served: All ages

Love Is Respect (formerly known as the National Dating Abuse Helpline)

Engages, educates and empowers young people to prevent and end abusive relationships. Trained peer advocates offer support, information and advocacy to young people who have questions or concerns about their dating relationships. Also provides information and support to concerned friends and family members, teachers, counselors, service providers and members of law enforcement.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline

offers education and information about mental health issues including symptoms of mental health conditions, treatment options, local support groups, and helping family members get treatment. NAMI does not offer counseling.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans

Assists homeless Veterans and their families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the community. Hotline staff will conduct a brief screen to assess needs. Homeless Veterans will be connected with the Homeless Point of Contact at the nearest VA facility. Family members and non-VA providers calling on behalf of a homeless Veteran will be provided with information regarding the homeless programs and services available.

Phone: 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838)

Hours: 24/7 Homeless Veterans Online Chat: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx?account=Homeless%20Veterans%20Chat

Website: http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/NationalCallCenter.asp

National Center for Victims of Crime Advocates

for victims’ rights, trains professionals who work with victims, and serves as a trusted source of information on victims’ issues. Crimes could include: arson, assault, bullying, burglary, car theft, carjacking, child abuse, child sexual abuse, clergy abuse, dating violence, domestic violence, drugged/drunk driving, elder/vulnerable adult abuse, fraud, gang violence, group stalking, harassment, hate crime, hit and run, home invasion, homicide, identity theft, missing adults, missing children, property crime, ritual abuse, robbery, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, terrorism, trafficking and more.

Services include:

National VictimConnect

Helpline Provides live, anonymous referrals and support for victims of crime, their friends, and families.

Phone: 1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846)

Hours: Monday-Friday from 8:30am-7:30pm, EST 15

National Victim Connect Online Chat

Provides live, anonymous referrals and support for victims of crime, their friends, and families.

Website: https://victimconnect.org/

Hours: Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-5:00pm, EST

Connect Directory

Locate crime victim assistance in a variety of jurisdictions throughout the country

Website: https://victimconnect.org/resources/search-resources/

National Council on Problem Gambling

National advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and their families. Services provided include the National Program Gambling Helpline (linking to local resources), information and literature on problem gambling treatment, research and recovery and referrals to gambling counselors and treatment facilities.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable victims to find safety and live lives free of abuse. Callers to The Hotline can expect highly trained, experienced advocates to offers compassionate support, crisis intervention information and referral services.

National Eating Disorder

The National Eating Disorders Association supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

A national anti-trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.

National Runaway Safeline

A federally-designated national communication system for runaway and homeless youth. Youth and family members connect to the hotline or online crisis services to work through problems and find local help from social service agencies and organizations. Some individuals just need someone to talk to, others need help finding a shelter, food, medical assistance, or counseling. Some youth are on the streets. Others are struggling with issues at home.

RAINN–Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network

RAINN is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, which runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline and offers support, guidance, and advocacy for those who have been affected by sexual assault or violence.

Reporting on Suicide

Free guidelines for responsible reporting and storytelling related to suicide.

S.A.F.E. Self-injury (Information only)

Offering education and support, SAFE Alternatives works to promote healthy choices over self-injury. Educational-only.

SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator

An online source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities for substance abuse/addiction and/or mental health problems.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline

Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this Helpline provides 24-hour free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery. Does not provide counseling, trained information specialists answer calls; they transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

Stomp Out Bullying

Stomp Out Bullying is an anti-bullying organization focused on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country.

Stop Bullying

StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project, founded in 1998, is a leading national crisis intervention service aimed to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning young people between ages 13–24. Their hotline is available 24/7 and offers phone, texting, and chat services.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces. Online Community Support (chat room, message boards, blogs, survivor stories, online peer groups)–age restrictions and membership requirements may apply for some of these services: https://www.taps.org/secure/online/default.aspx

Trans Lifeline Hotline

staffed by transgender people for transgender people and gender non-conforming people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs members of the community might have. The line is primarily for transgender people experiencing a crisis. This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity and are not sure that they are transgender. It connects callers with services that can help them meet their needs whenever possible.

2-1-1 – 211

Free. Provides information and referral (I&R) services connecting people to local community government, non-profit and faith-based services. Types of services listed in 2-1-1 databases include (but are not limited to): Food, Shelter, Transportation, Mental Health Services, Legal Assistance, Environmental, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Child Care, Aging Services, Youth Services and more. 2-1-1 services are provided by a wide range of contact centers across the country. Note: while all 2-1-1s follow similar operating standards there are differences in how, when and where each 2-1-1 operates. Most, but not all, 2-1-1 centers are open 24/7. 2-1-1 is available to over 93% of the United States population, but is not yet completely nationwide. There are some states that do not yet have full 2-1-1 coverage. 2-1-1s can be reached by dialing 2-1-1, most also have an 800# available for out of area callers.

Chat and Text: many 2-1-1 centers are also available by Live Chat or Texting Services. Hours for these services may be more limited than their hours available by phone. To check if your area has 2-1-1 service and/or to self-search your local 2-1-1 provider’s online database visit http://www.211.org. Phone: 211