Even if you feel as if you are alone, needing support is human nature. Helplines are a great way to instantly connect you to people who want to help you! They can be a great resource; especially when you feel overwhelmed or feel like you cannot talk to anyone in your personal life. Hotlines offer immediate support and can help you to de-escalate a situation or connect you to necessary resources. 

What are some helplines?

1. Crisis Text Line: At Crisis text line, you can access immediate support to a trained counselor by simply texting. Access Crisis text Line through their online chatting feature at https://www.crisistextline.org/  or by simply texting "HOME" to 741741

2. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of skilled, trained counselors that can connect someone close to you to support you. They’re committed to providing free and confidential support to people in crisis and connecting them to resources near them. You can reach them by calling 988 or texting 988 to 988. To learn more about how the service works, you can listen to this podcast with more information. 

3. Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is built with LGBTQ youth in mind. The trained counselors understand the unique challenges of LGBTQ youth and are there to listen to your confidential conversations. You can share as much or as little as you’d like. You can access the counselors by calling 1-866-488-7386, texting ‘START’ to 678-678, or opening an online chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/. 

4. Disaster Distress Helpline: The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. To speak to a trained counselor with The Disaster Distress Helpline, call 1-800-985-5990.

5. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crises or emotional distress. They’re committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the United States, call 1-800-273-8255.

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1. Safehorizon: Safe Horizon is the nation’s leading victim assistance organization, operating a network of programs across New York City communities and systems. We work with survivors of all forms of violence, including racism, to move from crisis to confidence. Safehorizon provides a hotline for counseling and support on deescalating or escaping violence at 1-800-621-HOPE. You can also find support and resources to how to best proceed according to your individual circumstances at https://www.safehorizon.org/.   

2. Loveisrespect: Loveisrespect offers confidential support for teens, young adults, and their loved ones seeking help, resources, or information related to healthy relationships and dating abuse in the US. They’re available by text (“LOVEIS” to 22522), call (866.331.9474), or live chat online at https://www.loveisrespect.org/get-relationship-help/. 

3. RAINN: RAINN works to support victims of sexual assault by offering the technology infrastructure and the victim services expertise to provide quality, anonymous, and confidential crisis intervention services in English and Spanish, via telephone and online. RAINN partners with local service providers and offers solutions that will ensure survivors receive the help they deserve. For support, call 1-800-656-HOPE. 

4. Anti Violence Project: The Anti Violence Project provides a free, bilingual (English/Spanish), 24-hour, 365-day-a-year crisis intervention hotline (212-714-1141) that is staffed by trained volunteers and our professional counselor/advocates to offer support to LGBTQ & HIV-affected victims and survivors of any type of violence. Callers receive immediate crisis counseling and ongoing short or long-term counseling and other supportive services, including police, court, and social services advocacy and accompaniment. Call 212-714-1141 or use this form to access the hotline.  

5. NAMI Helpline: The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals, and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, and mental health providers, and the public. To contact the NAMI HelpLine, please call 800-950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET, or send an email to info@nami.org. 

6. National Domestic Violence Hotline: The National Domestic Violence Hotline is dedicated to providing free, accessible, trained counseling to those experiencing domestic violence. Trained counselors provide confidential help and may provide resources. You can access the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1.800.799.SAFE (7233), texting "START" to 88788, or opening an online chat at https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/. 

7. National Runaway Safeline: The National Runaway Safeline crisis services center team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can reach out in a variety of ways through the webpage, https://www.1800runaway.org/youth-teens, or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY. The National Runaway Safeline offers services like counseling and resources to finding safety. 

8. Teen Line- You can find confidential support from other people like you at the Teen Line. You can find this support in online chat at https://teenlineonline.org/ or by calling 800-852-8336.