Mental Health Crisis Resources: Where to Get Help Now
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Key takeaways
- Call local emergency services or go to an emergency department if someone is in immediate danger, has seriously harmed themselves, or can’t stay safe.
- For urgent distress without immediate danger, contact a crisis line or urgent mental-health service in your country.
- Crisis contacts and service arrangements vary by location; check official pages for current information.
- You can contact a crisis line for support about yourself or because you’re concerned about someone else.
Table of contents
- Mental Health Crisis Resources: Where to Get Help Now
- Key takeaways
- Table of contents
- Mental health crisis resources by location
- When to use a crisis line—and when to call emergency services
- What to say when you contact a crisis service
- How to help someone who may be in crisis
- Common mistakes to avoid
- A practical next step
- FAQ
Mental health crisis resources by location
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, has seriously harmed themselves, or can’t stay safe, contact local emergency services or go to an emergency department. For urgent distress without immediate danger, contact a crisis line or urgent mental-health service in your country. If making a call feels difficult, see whether the service offers text or chat.
The right contact depends on where you are. The numbers below are for the United States, Canada, and parts of the UK; they aren’t a complete international directory. Crisis contacts and service arrangements can change, so check the linked official pages for current details.
United States
Call or text 988, or use the 988 Lifeline chat. The service is free and confidential, and people can reach out about many kinds of emotional distress—not only suicidal thoughts. Reasons for contacting 988 may include relationship problems, substance use, loneliness, illness, or financial worries. Spanish-language support is available by call, text, and chat. See the 988 Lifeline’s help page for details.
Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255. If someone is in immediate danger or needs an emergency response, call 911 rather than relying on a crisis line.
Canada
Call or text 9-8-8 for suicide-related support, including if you’re worried about someone else. The service is available 24/7 in English and French to people in Canada. If someone’s safety is at immediate risk, call 9-1-1. Check 9-8-8 Canada’s service information and contact page for current details.
England
For an emergency or immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. For urgent mental-health help that isn’t an emergency, call 111 or use NHS 111 online and select the mental-health option.
For listening support, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123. A listening service can offer someone to talk to, but it isn’t a substitute for emergency services when a person is in immediate danger.
Scotland and other parts of the UK
In Scotland, NHS 24 lists 111 as an urgent support option. For an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E. Samaritans can be reached on 116 123; the Scottish Association for Mental Health also lists Shout’s text service, 85258, among support options. See SAMH’s guidance on seeking support.
The available urgent-care route can differ across the UK. If you’re in Wales or Northern Ireland, or you’re unsure which service applies where you are, check your local health service’s current guidance. Samaritans is a UK-wide listening option, but call emergency services if there’s immediate danger.
Outside these areas
Use your local emergency number if someone is in immediate danger. Otherwise, contact a local health service or look for a crisis line verified for the country or region you’re in. Don’t assume that a number from another country will work where you are: for example, Canada’s 9-8-8 service is intended for people in Canada (service terms).
When to use a crisis line—and when to call emergency services
A crisis line is for urgent emotional support and help finding a next step. You don’t have to wait until a situation reaches a breaking point, and distress doesn’t have to involve suicidal thoughts for a person to seek support. In the US, 988 explicitly welcomes people dealing with a range of problems (988 Lifeline).
Emergency services are the clearer choice when someone has seriously harmed themselves, faces immediate danger, or cannot stay safe. A crisis line and an emergency service have different roles: if an emergency response is needed, don’t delay it while trying a hotline first. Both US and Canadian guidance direct people to emergency services when safety is immediately at risk (988 Lifeline; 9-8-8 Canada).
If the situation is urgent but not an immediate emergency, try the appropriate crisis line or local urgent mental-health service. If the person already has a clinician or a crisis plan, the plan may list a care-team contact or other recommended steps. Use those when appropriate, but don’t let finding the plan delay emergency help if someone’s safety is at risk.
What to say when you contact a crisis service
You don’t need to find perfect words. Start with what is happening now and what kind of help you need. For example:
- “I’m overwhelmed and need help working out what to do next.”
- “I’m worried I might not be able to stay safe.”
- “I’m contacting you because I’m concerned about someone else.”
- “I’m in [your location], and this is what’s happening right now.”
Tell the responder whether anyone is in immediate danger. If you’re contacting them about another person, say what you know and where that person is, if you know. If speaking feels too hard, check whether the service offers text or chat: US 988 offers text and chat, and Canada’s 9-8-8 offers text (US 988 contact options; Canada 9-8-8).
You can also say if you’re unsure what kind of support you need. Reaching out is still a useful first step.
How to help someone who may be in crisis
You don’t need to solve the person’s problems before helping them connect with support. Stay calm, listen without judgment, and ask what would make it easier to contact someone. They might want you to sit with them while they call, help find the correct local service, or stay nearby while they text.
If you’re worried about someone else, you can contact a crisis line for guidance. Both the US 988 Lifeline and Canada’s 9-8-8 service accept contacts from people concerned about another person (988 Lifeline; 9-8-8 Canada).
If the person can’t stay safe, involve emergency services or another trusted person who can help. Stay with them if it’s safe for you to do so, but don’t put yourself in danger. Avoid promising to keep the situation secret if immediate safety is at stake; explain that you may need to bring in help.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting for the situation to become “serious enough.” A crisis line can be useful for distress before there’s an immediate emergency. In the US, 988 lists several reasons beyond suicidal thoughts for contacting the service (988 Lifeline).
Using a hotline instead of emergency services in an immediate emergency. If someone is in immediate danger, has seriously harmed themselves, or can’t stay safe, call the relevant emergency number or go to an emergency department. A listening or crisis service isn’t a replacement for an emergency response.
Assuming one number works everywhere. The contacts and urgent-care routes above are location-specific. Check that a number serves the country or region where the person is, and use local health-service guidance when available.
Assuming every service has identical privacy rules. The US 988 Lifeline describes its service as confidential, but that shouldn’t be taken as a guarantee of absolute secrecy in every situation or across every service. Check the relevant service’s privacy information if you have questions.
A practical next step
If you need support now, choose the route that fits the situation: emergency services for immediate danger, or a local crisis line or urgent mental-health service for urgent distress without immediate danger. If you’re supporting someone, offer to help them make that connection. When the crisis has passed, save the relevant local contact and any clinician or care-plan details somewhere easy to find.
FAQ
What should I do if someone is in immediate danger?
Contact local emergency services or go to an emergency department. If someone has seriously harmed themselves or can’t stay safe, don’t delay emergency help while trying a crisis line first.
Can I contact a crisis line if I’m not having suicidal thoughts?
Yes. A crisis line can provide urgent emotional support for distress that does not involve suicidal thoughts. In the US, 988 welcomes people dealing with a range of problems.
Can I contact a crisis line about someone else?
Yes. Both the US 988 Lifeline and Canada’s 9-8-8 service accept contacts from people concerned about another person. Share what you know and where the person is, if you know.
What if speaking on the phone feels too difficult?
Check whether the service offers text or chat. US 988 offers text and chat, and Canada’s 9-8-8 offers text.
What should I do if I’m outside the listed areas?
Use your local emergency number if someone is in immediate danger. Otherwise, contact a local health service or look for a crisis line verified for your country or region. Check local health-service guidance for the correct urgent-care route.
