Get help now

If you or someone you know is in danger, is going through an emergency, or just needs urgent help, use these resources to find help now.

Who to call or text

Crisis counselors are available 24/7 to provide free, confidential support in multiple languages. These resources are free, and everything you tell them is confidential, unless it’s essential to contact emergency services to keep you or your friend safe.

Resource	Contact
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Press 1 for Veterans, Press 2 for Spanish	Call 988
Crisis Text Line	Text HOME to 741741
In a life or death medical emergency, call 911 If someone is injured or their health is in danger, call 911. If appropriate, ask the operator to send someone trained in mental health, like Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) officers.	Call 911

What to do in a mental health crisis

Someone who is going through a mental health crisis may not be able to function the way they usually do, and they may be a threat to themselves and others.

1. Assess the situation

First you need to figure out how severe and urgent the crisis is. Ask yourself:

Are one or more people in danger of getting hurt?
Is emergency assistance needed?
Is there time to call for outside help?

2. Reduce risk of danger

If someone is injured or their health is in danger, call 911. If appropriate, ask the operator to send someone trained in mental health, like Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) officers.

If you’ve assessed a crisis is happening, your first goal must be to create a safe space for anyone who could be in harm’s way. Do your best to make items such as drugs, sharp objects, guns, belts and ropes, vehicles and heavy machinery out of reach.

Alternatives to calling 911

Some folks don’t feel comfortable contacting the police in certain situations, and that’s OK. Visit dontcallthepolice.com and see if your city or a nearby city is listed—if it is, you’ll find resources in your community that may be able to help.

3. Stay calm and de-escalate

If someone you know is going through a crisis, you may be able to de-escalate it yourself by remaining calm and empathetic. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) you should:

Keep your voice calm
Avoid overreacting
Listen to the person
Express support and concern
Avoid continuous eye contact
Ask how you can help
Keep stimulation level low
Move slowly
Offer options instead of trying to take control
Avoid touching the person unless you ask permission
Be patient
Gently announce actions before initiating them
Give them space, don’t make them feel trapped
Don’t make judgmental comments
Don’t argue or try to reason with the person

4. Get outside assistance

Sometimes folks in a crisis aren’t able to communicate their needs, or won’t be receptive to de-escalation. If that’s the case, call 911 or one of the emergency resources listed above to get professional, immediate crisis intervention help.

Recommended resources

The following resources offer more information about and support for crisis situations:

Helpline
24-hour Deaf Crisis Line | DeafLEAD
DeafLEAD is a non-profit agency that provides 24-hour crisis intervention, advocacy, case management, interpreting and mental health services to Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and late-deafened individuals who are victims of crime and their families, as well as support to individuals, agencies, and organizations providing victim services to individuals with a hearing loss.

Family conflict, Trauma, For folks with disabilities, Hotline, Text line, For survivors of trauma, assault or violence, Crisis support, For a loved one, For families, For the deaf and blind
Helpline | Text line
Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH)
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. DDH callers can connect with counselors in over 100 languages via 3rd-party interpretation services.

Anger, Grief & loss, Trauma, Text line, Hotline, For survivors of trauma, assault or violence, Crisis support, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Depression, For survivors of natural or human-caused disasters
Helpline | Text line | Online Live Chat
TREVOR line | The Trevor Project
Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential. Call us at 1-866-488-7386, text 'START' to 678-678, or message using online livechat.

Trauma, Family conflict, Coping with discrimination & stigma, Navigating your gender & sexuality, Resources for teens, Online livechat, Text line, Hotline, Crisis support, For LGBTQ+ folks, For young folks, Depression, Suicide
Helpline
Veterans Crisis Line
Are you a veteran in crisis, or a veteran's family or friend? The Veterans Crisis Line provides 24/7, confidential support via call, text, or online livechat. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.

Grief & loss, Trauma, Crisis support, Suicide, Depression, Crisis support, Text line, Online livechat, For veterans, Hotline, For a loved one, For families
Online interactive tool(s)
Suicide prevention interventions and treatments | American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers online resources and many helpful approaches for individuals and their loved ones, when someone is in distress or at risk for suicidal behavior. Interventions and treatments have been developed in recent years for individuals who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or who have made a suicide attempt.

Family conflict, Trauma, Suicide, Depression, For a loved one