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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If you’re in the United States and facing a mental health crisis, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for yourself or because you’re worried about someone else. If anyone is in immediate danger or has a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Choose the right help for the situation
| Situation | What to do in the United States |
|---|---|
| Immediate danger or a medical emergency | Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. 911 is the emergency response route; 988 is a crisis counseling service. USAGov explains the distinction and crisis options. |
| Suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a mental-health-related crisis | Call or text 988, or use web chat at 988lifeline.org. You may reach out for yourself or someone you care about. The service is available around the clock. CDC’s mental health resources list these access routes. |
| Ongoing mental-health or substance-use treatment | Contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), text your five-digit ZIP code to 435748, or search FindTreatment.gov. |
| Distress outside the United States | Use your local emergency number for immediate danger or find a verified crisis service in your country. 988 is a U.S. service; the sources cited here do not establish crisis numbers for other countries. |
What happens when you call, text, or chat 988?
A trained counselor will ask about safety, listen to what is happening, offer support, and may share relevant resources. Contact does not require you to have a plan to harm yourself: the line also serves people experiencing emotional distress or worried about someone else. 988 describes its service as free and confidential.
Calling
When you call, menu options include pressing 1 for Veterans or 2 for Spanish-language support, or continuing to a local contact center. After you connect, the counselor introduces themself and asks whether you are safe, then works to understand how the situation is affecting you and what support may help. The Lifeline’s What to Expect page describes the process.
Texting
Text 988 to reach the main service; Spanish-language text support is available through AYUDA. You’ll see a short survey and a connection or wait message before a counselor joins. Veterans can also text 838255. Wait times can vary, so no particular response time is guaranteed.
Web chat
Start a chat through 988lifeline.org/chat. You’ll answer a few short questions before connecting with a counselor.
Privacy and cost
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline says, “Using the 988 Lifeline is free,” and that conversations are confidential. Confidential does not mean guaranteed anonymity: SAMHSA says a counselor may know a caller’s phone number or a chat user’s IP address, and you are not required to provide personal information to receive support. In rare circumstances involving immediate risk to life, a counselor may contact a 911 dispatcher; the dispatcher may request precise geolocation from a wireless carrier or internet provider. SAMHSA’s 988 FAQ explains these privacy limits.
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Specialized crisis and support services in the U.S.
If one of these situations applies, use the specialized route that fits. This is a selected list, not a complete directory; service details can change.
- Veterans and active-duty military: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or use the Veterans Crisis Line chat listed by the CDC.
- Deaf, hard-of-hearing, or TTY users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711, then 988. The Lifeline also provides Deaf and hard-of-hearing access information.
- Pregnancy or after birth: Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (833-852-6262) for maternal mental-health support.
- Distress related to a natural or human-caused disaster: Call or text SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. ASL videophone access is also listed by the CDC.
- Domestic violence: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or text START to 88788.
- Sexual assault: Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE.
- Child abuse: Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
The CDC’s mental health resource list provides these specialized contacts. Check the linked service for current access methods and hours.
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Finding care and practical support after the crisis
Treatment referrals
SAMHSA’s National Helpline can help locate mental-health and substance-use treatment. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357), text a five-digit ZIP code to 435748, or use FindTreatment.gov. For other provider directories, the CDC resource page lists additional options.
Peer support
The CDC lists the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264). Its listed hours are weekdays, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Eastern; verify current availability with NAMI before relying on those hours.
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Essential needs
If food, housing, or another basic need is adding to the crisis, call 211 for local assistance. The CDC includes 211 among its support resources.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If you’re helping someone else
You can contact 988 because you’re concerned about another person. Tell the counselor what you’ve observed and what makes you worried. If someone appears to be in immediate danger or has a medical emergency, call 911 or go to an emergency room rather than treating 988 as emergency dispatch.
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