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Suicidal thoughts can be hard to discuss with friends and loved ones. Knowing who to talk to or feeling safe talking about these thoughts can seem impossible. In these cases, a suicide prevention hotline may be a good option. Suicide hotlines provide judgment-free support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Calling a suicide crisis hotline can be intimidating. While it may seem overwhelming or even scary to call someone to discuss suicidal thoughts, suicide helplines are staffed by individuals trained to handle these types of calls.
When Should You Call a Suicide Hotline?
Calling a suicide hotline may not always be the best course of action to take, so it is important to know when to call a suicide hotline and when to use other resources.
You may benefit most from calling a 24-hour suicide hotline if you have been experiencing any of the following:
- Thinking you would be better off dead
- Believing it would be better for others if you weren’t around
- Wanting to go to sleep and never wake up
- Having specific thoughts of harming or killing yourself
- Believing that you are a burden to others
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible.
What Kinds of Questions Will You Be Asked?
One fear associated with calling a suicide hotline is not knowing what happens when you call a suicide hotline. Being prepared with this information before you call can ease some of this stress. When you call a suicide hotline, the first question you are asked will typically assess why you are calling. After this, the hotline operator may ask questions to determine if you are safe.
To get the best results and the most helpful assistance, it is important to be honest and open when answering questions, even if they seem irrelevant.
Benefits of Calling a Suicide Hotline
There are many benefits of suicide hotlines. Calling can:
- Provide support when you need it most
- Help you focus on healthy coping skills
- Connect you to with local resources and emergency services (when appropriate)
Are Suicide Hotlines Free?
Unlike therapy options which are conducted over the phone or online, suicide hotlines are free without any hidden charges. A free suicide hotline can allow you to speak with someone when you are in a crisis, regardless of if you have insurance. Most toll-free suicide hotlines are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving you a free resource anytime you need it.
Is My Call Confidential?
One feature of most suicide hotlines is that they are committed to protecting your privacy. Anonymous suicide hotlines allow callers to speak with supportive operators without revealing their identity or other personal details. Confidential suicide hotlines may gather information such as your name and location but will not share this information or use it unless there is a serious concern for your safety or the safety of someone else. Even in these cases, confidentiality is protected to the highest degree possible.
National Suicide Hotlines
There are several national suicide hotlines accessible from nearly anywhere in the United States. These national suicide prevention hotlines can be used by anyone in the country, at any time. The most reputable of these hotlines is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Online Hotlines
Individuals who feel particularly uncomfortable talking about their suicidal thoughts may find a suicide hotline online chat to be a more accessible option. Online suicide hotlines and suicide hotline text lines allow people to chat online or via text with support personnel. Some crisis line text numbers and online chats available include:
- Lifeline Crisis Chat: Online chat option in your web browser
- Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741-741
Teen Hotlines
In addition to general national helplines, there are several helplines dedicated to special populations such as teenagers. For example, Teen Line is a teen suicide hotline that has both call and text options. This service even provides a teen suicide prevention hotline app for smartphones among other ways to connect.
Reach youth suicide hotline at:
- Teen Line: Call 310-855-2673 or Text TEEN to 839963 or download the app
- Boys Town: Call 1-800-448-1833
LGBT Hotline
Due to discrimination, LGBTQ youths are often at a higher risk of suicide. In order to best support this group, there are specific LGBT suicide hotlines such as the Trevor Project hotline. The Trevor Project can be reached in any of the following ways:
- Call 1-866-488-7346
- Text START to 678-678
Veterans Crisis Line
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs a veterans crisis line providing specialized help for veterans. Many operators at the veterans suicide hotline are veterans themselves. The veterans crisis line number can be reached in the following ways:
- Call 1-800-273-8255
- Text 828-255
Christian Suicide Hotline
For individuals who would rather reach out to a Christian crisis service, there are some options for Christian suicide hotlines, including:
- The Prayer and Crisis Line: 1-866-599-2264
- NeedHim.org: Text 320-345-3455 or chat online
International Suicide Hotlines
Many countries have their own hotlines. If you live abroad or are traveling, there may be an international suicide hotline available to you. These can be located using an international suicide hotline finder such as Befrienders Worldwide.
Additional suicide hotlines in specific countries can be found online on various websites, including the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and WhatsApp.
Suicide Hotline Finder
If you would like to find a hotline near you, you may wish to use an online suicide hotline finder. Additional resources for specific populations, including gender, race, and age-specific resources, can also be found online.
Local Suicide Hotlines
If you would prefer to call a local suicide hotline instead of a national hotline, there are many local suicide prevention hotlines available. However, unlike most national options, local hotlines may not be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Local suicide hotline numbers by the state served include:
NAMI Alabama (800) 626-4199 Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center (205) 387-0541 AFSP Alabama (205) 355-1876 Crisis Center (205) 323-7777 Crisis Services of North Alabama (800) 691-8426 Alabama 2-1-1 211 NAMI Alaska (907) 277-1300 Mental Health Association in Alaska (907) 563-0880 Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (907) 269-7960 Alaska Division of Behavioral Health (907) 465-3370 Alaska CARELINE (877) 266-4357 NAMI Arizona (602) 244-8166 Mental Health Association of Arizona (480) 982-5305 EMPACT – Suicide Prevention Center (480) 784-1514 Teen Lifeline (602) 248-8337 NAMI Arkansas (800) 844-0381 Mental Health Council of Arkansas (501) 372-7062 Arkansas Crisis Center (888) 274-7472 NAMI California (916) 567-0163 California Mental Health Service Authority (916) 859-4827 AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) San Francisco (707) 968-7563 California Accredited Crisis Centers (800) 273-8255 Friends for Survival (916) 392-0664 Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention (303) 692-2369 NAMI Colorado (303) 321-3104 Mental Health Colorado (720) 208-2220 Sources of Strength (701) 471-7186 Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program (303) 429-3530 University of Colorado Depression Center (303) 724-3300 NAMI Connecticut (860) 882-0236 Mental Health Association Connecticut (860) 529-1970 The United Way of CT (800) 273-8255 NAMI Delaware (302) 427-0787 Mental Health Association in Delaware (302) 654-6833 New Directions Delaware (302) 286-1161 NAMI DC (202) 546-0646 Mental Health America – Washington DC (202) 806-7707 AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) – National Capital Area (646) 632-5189 DC Behavioral Health Association (202) 481-1419 NAMI – Florida (850) 671-4445 Mental Health America of Northeast Florida (904) 738-8420 Mental Health Association of Central Florida (407) 855-0588 AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) – Central Florida (407) 415-8757 Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Inc. (813) 964-1964 x3043 NAMI – Georgia (770) 234-0855 Mental Health Association of Georgia (404) 527-7175 AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) – Georgia (770) 843-3836 Behavioral Health Link (404) 420-3202 NAMI Hawaii (808) 591-1297 Mental Health America of Hawaii (808) 521-1846 AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) Hawaii Chapter (808) 521-6110 Mental Health Kokua United Way Hawai’i (808) 737-2523 NAMI Boise (208) 376-4304 SPAN Idaho (208) 860-1703 Centerstone – Illinois locations (855) 608-3560 Crisis Line of Will and Grundy Counties (815) 722-3344 x815 Greater Chicago/Illinois Chapter (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) (312) 890-2377 IL Mental Health Collaborative / IL Warm Line (866) 359-7953 Mental Health America of Illinois (312) 368-9070 NAMI Illinois (800) 346-4572 Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (312) 467-2552 Riveredge Hospital (708) 771-7000 Suicide Prevention Services of America (630) 482-9699 NAMI Indiana (800) 677-6442 Mental Health America of Indiana (317) 638-3501 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Indiana Chapter (317) 517-5973 Purdue University Fort Wayne – Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute (260) 481-4184 Indiana Division of Mental Health & Addiction (317) 232-7935 LookUp Indiana (800) 284-8439 NAMI Iowa Chapter (515) 254-0417 AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) Iowa (641) 990-4957 Foundation 2 (800) 332-4224 Your Life Iowa (855) 581-8111 Polk County Suicide Prevention Coalition-Polk County Health Department (515) 286-3430 Kansas Suicide Prevention Resource Center (785) 841-9900 NAMI Kansas (800) 539-2660 Mental Health America of the Heartland (913) 281-2221 AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) Greater Kansas (913) 620-4136 NAMI Kentucky (502) 245-5284 Mental Health Association of Kentucky (859) 684-7778 AFSP Kentucky – Support Groups (502) 396-8996 Kentucky Mental Health Coalition (877) 894-0222 NAMI Louisiana (866) 851-6264 Mental Health America in Louisiana (225) 978-2177 Via Link (Listening, Understanding, Connecting) (800) 749-2673 Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center (800) 437-0303 NAMI Maine (800) 464-5767 NAMI Maryland (410) 863-0470 Mental Health Association of Maryland (800) 572-6426 Mental Health Association in Talbot County (888) 706-9902 AFSP Maryland (202) 770-8973 AFSP-Greater Boston (508) 450-3309 Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (617) 742-7452 NAMI Massachusetts (617) 580-8541 Riverside Trauma Center (781) 433-0672 Michigan Suicide Hotlines (800) 273-8255 NAMI Michigan (517) 485-4049 Mental Health Association in Michigan (248) 647-1711 AFSP – Metro Detroit/Ann Arbor (312) 402-2006 NAMI Minnesota (888) 473-0237 Mental Health Association Minnesota (651) 493-6634 SAVE – Suicide Survivor Support (952) 946-7998 Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (651) 644-7333 Canvas Health (866) 379-6363 Minnesota Carlton County Public Health and Human Services (888) 818-4511 NAMI Mississippi (800) 357-0388 Mental Health Association of South Mississippi (228) 864-6274 AFSP Mississippi (205) 335-1876 Brentwood Behavioral Healthcare of Mississippi (800) 863-4004 Southwest Mississippi Mental Health Complex (601) 684-2173 NAMI Missouri (800) 950-6264 Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri (800) 359-5695 AFSP Greater Mid-Missouri (312) 402-2006 Pharmacists Preventing Suicides (314) 517-8708 Suicide Awareness Survivor Support (913) 681-3050 Kids Under Twenty One (KUTO) (314) 963-7571 NAMI Montana (406) 443-7871 Montana Mental Health Association (888) 268-2743 x406 Montana Children’s Initiative (406) 256-3585 Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation (406) 585-2659 NAMI Nebraska (877) 463-6264 Mental Health Association of Nebraska (800) 422-6691 AFSP Nebraska (402) 681-9109 The Kim Foundation (402) 891-6997 NAMI Nevada (775) 336-3090 Nevada 211 (866) 535-5654 NAMI NH (603) 225-5359 x315 New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association (603) 225-6633 NAMI-NH CONNECT Suicide Prevention Program (800) 242-6264 NAMI New Jersey (732) 940-0991 Mental Health Association in New Jersey (973) 571-4100 New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addictions Agencies, Inc. (609) 838-5488 New Jersey Hopeline (855) 654-6735 NAMI New Mexico (505) 260-0154 Mental Health Association of New Mexico (505) 425-7030 Honoring Native Life (505) 272-6238 NAMI New York State (518) 462-2000 The Mental Health Association in New York State (518) 434-0439 Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide – University of Rochester Medical Center (585) 275-9251 Center for the Promotion of Mental Health in Juvenile Justice (212) 305-6001 The Samaritans of New York (212) 673-3041 The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-North Carolina (919) 356-2488 NAMI North Carolina (919) 788-0801 Mental Health Association in Forsyth County (336) 768-3880 REAL Crisis Center (252) 758-4357 Hopeline, Inc. (919) 832-3326 Family Services, Inc. (336) 722-8173 Durham Yellow Ribbon Program (919) 544-7997 Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Abuse (919) 855-4800 FirstLink, Fargo (701) 293-6462 AFSP North Dakota – State Fact Sheet (701) 219-4110 Native American Development Center (701) 595-5181 Pride Collective (Serving Minnesota and North Dakota) (218) 287-8034 North Dakota Cares Coalition (701) 333-2012 NAMI- North Dakota (701) 857-3345 NAMI Ohio (614) 224-2700 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (614) 355-0850 Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (614) 466-2596 Mental Health America of Franklin County (614) 221-1441 AFSP Central Ohio (317) 517-5973 Consolidated Care, Inc. (800) 465-8065 NAMI Oklahoma (800) 583-1264 Mental Health Association of Oklahoma (918) 585-1213 AFSP Oklahoma (312) 402-2006 Oklahoma Mental Health and Aging Coalition (406) 632-1900 Oklahoma HeartLine (211) (405) 848-2273 NAMI Oregon (800) 343-6264 Mental Health America of Oregon (503) 922-2377 AFSP Oregon (503) 951-3012 Lane County Suicide Prevention (541) 682-3650 Washington County Suicide Prevention Council (503) 846-4748 NAMI Pennsylvania (800) 950-6264 Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (717) 346-0549 AFSP Central Pennsylvania (215) 746-7256 Services for Teens at Risk (STAR) – Center (412) 246-5598 NAMI – Rhode Island (800) 749-3197 Mental Health Association of Rhode Island Kid’s Link RI (855) 543-5465 Parent Support Network of Rhode Island (800) 483-8844 Samaritans, Inc. Rhode Island (401) 272-4243 United Way of Rhode Island (401) 444-0600 Rhode Island Student Assistance Services (RISAS) (401) 732-8680 NAMI – South Carolina (803) 733-9592 Mental Health America of South Carolina (803) 779-5363 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – South Carolina Chapter (803) 552-9318 Three Rivers Behavioral Health (802) 796-9911 NAMI South Dakota (605) 271-1871 South Dakota Council of Mental Health Centers, Inc. (605) 224-0123 Aliive – Roberts County (605) 698-3477 HELPLine Center (211) (605) 334-6646 NAMI Tennessee (615) 361-6608 Mental Health Association of East Tennessee (865) 584-9125 Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) (888) 881-2323 Tennessee Voices for Children (615) 269-7751 NAMI Texas (800) 633-3760 Hotline to Help – Austin Travis County Integral Care (512) 472-4357 NAMI Utah (801) 323-9900 Valley Behavioral Health (888) 949-4864 Violence and Injury Prevention Program (801) 538-6865 Intermountain Healthcare (801) 442-2000 Vermont Department of Mental Health (802) 241-0113 University of Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP) (802) 656-8210 NAMI – Vermont (802) 244-1396 Vermont 2-1-1 (866) 652-4636 PEAR: People Education Advocacy Recovery (802) 223-6263 NAMI Virginia (888) 486-8264 Mental Health America of Virginia (804) 257-5591 AFSP Virginia (646) 632-5189 The Crisis Center, Inc. (276) 466-2312 ACTS Helpline/Suicide Prevention Hotline (703) 441-8606 Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services – PRS CrisisLink (703) 536-9000 The Planning Council (800) 410-9774 Forefront Innovations in Suicide Prevention (206) 543-1016 Safer Homes Coalition (206) 543-1016 AFSP Washington State Chapter (206) 459-7617 NAMI Seattle (206) 783-9264 Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (206) 744-9430 West Virginia Behavioral Health Providers Association (304) 343-0728 NAMI Wisconsin (608) 268-6000 Wisconsin United for Mental Health (866) 948-6483 NAMI Wyoming (888) 882-4968 Grace for 2 Brothers (307) 256-3344 Wyoming Association of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Centers (307) 855-9883Browse by State
If you are struggling with substance use and a mental health condition that may be causing suicidal thoughts, The Recovery Village may be able to provide you with dual diagnosis treatment. Contact The Recovery Village today to learn more about options for treating co-occurring disorders.
SuicideHotline.com. “Hotlines in Your State.” April 29, 2018. Accessed on May 17, 2019. USA Today. “What Actually Happens When You Call You Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.” September 10, 2018. Accessed on May 17, 2019. iFred.com. “Suicide Hotlines.” Accessed on May 17, 2019. SuicidePreventionLifeline.org “Talk to Someone Now.” Accessed on May 17, 2019.
