Suicide Prevention: Hotlines, Apps, and Other Support Resources
Key takeaways:
Suicide is one of the main causes of death in the U.S., but it is preventable.
Suicide can be prevented by using support hotlines, apps, and national and local support resources.
When faced with a mental health emergency, get help right away.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. But the good news is that it’s preventable. If you’re having thoughts of suicide — thinking about killing yourself — you’re not alone. Help is available 24/7.
In this post, we share resources designed to help you or a loved one who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide. We also discuss what to do during a mental health emergency.
Suicide prevention hotline phone numbers
If you or a loved one is having thoughts of suicide, please know you’re not alone and that there is immediate help available. One option is to call (or text) a crisis hotline.
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Suicide prevention hotlines connect you with a trained counselor. Counselors listen, try to understand the problems you’re facing, and share any resources that can help you cope better with your situation.
It’s normal to feel fearful or embarrassed about sharing your problems with a stranger. But rest assured that suicide prevention hotlines are designed to provide confidential, compassionate, and nonjudgemental support.
Below is a list of different suicide prevention hotlines and how to contact them.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
The Lifeline offers free, 24/7 confidential support to people experiencing emotional distress. If you’re facing a suicidal crisis or are worried about a loved one’s mental health, contact the Lifeline to speak with a trained counselor in your area. You can also live chat with a counselor if you prefer.
Starting July 2022, you’ll be able to contact this hotline just by dialing or texting 988. (Depending on where you live, you may be able to contact the hotline by dialing 988 already.) Even after this launches nationwide, you can still reach Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Launching the three-digit code is intended to give people a quick and easy-to-remember number in case of an emergency.
Crisis Text Line: Text ‘HOME’ to 741-741
The Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 private text support to people facing any crisis, including anxiety, eating disorders, depression, self-harm, and suicide. Send a text from anywhere in the U.S. to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
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SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990
The Disaster Distress Helpline is a free, 24/7 confidential national hotline that delivers immediate crisis counseling to people undergoing emotional distress caused by a natural disaster, like a flood, or human-made disaster, such as mass violence.
Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
The Veterans Crisis Line provides free, 24/7 private support to veterans in crisis or their concerned family members and friends. In addition to calling the hotline, you can also chat with a counselor online or text 838-255.
Trevor Lifeline: Call 1-866-488-7386
The Trevor Lifeline provides free, 24/7 confidential crisis support and suicide prevention services to LGBTQIA2+ youth. If you prefer, you can also text “START” to 678-678 to get support.
Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860
Trans Lifeline is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emotional and financial support to the transgender community. The organization offers free phone support to trans and questioning people who need someone to talk to, whether they are in a crisis or not. Currently, the hotline can be accessed 7 days a week from 5PM (ET) to 1AM (ET).
Suicide prevention support apps
More and more people rely on their phones for mental health tools and resources. As a result, some companies have developed apps to help educate and support those struggling with thoughts of suicide.
Here are a few free apps that you or your loved one can use to get help quickly:
Virtual Hope Box: This free smartphone app lets you record coping skills, reminders of reasons to stay alive, and who you can call in a crisis. In one study, Virtual Hope Box helped increase stress coping skills and served as a useful tool in treatment. Download the iOS version of the app here and the Android version here.
notOK: This free digital panic button was developed by two teenage siblings, one of whom was struggling with anxiety and depression. The notOK app provides immediate support to people struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts.
SAMSHA’s Suicide Safe: This free mobile app allows primary care and behavioral health providers to incorporate suicide prevention methods into your care plan.
Suicide prevention organizations
The organizations listed in this section offer access to programs and resources aimed at preventing suicide.
Keep in mind that suicide impacts individuals, entire families, and communities. Therefore, these organizations are also committed to raising public awareness and education about suicide prevention.
These organizations include:
How to find local resources in your community
You may be able to find suicide prevention resources from various local sources. To see what’s available in your community, ask or look for:
Healthcare providers (like your primary care provider or a mental health professional)
Walk-in clinics
Urgent care centers
Emergency departments
Schools and after-school programs
Cultural centers
You can also check with state and local health departments. They may offer suicide prevention programs, emergency mental health services, crisis hotlines, mobile crisis services, and other community resources.
What to do in a mental health emergency
A mental health emergency (also called a mental health crisis) is a situation where your thoughts, behaviors, or actions may cause you to hurt yourself or others. This can mean you need immediate support and care.
It can be scary to see someone you care about have a mental health emergency. You may also fear what to do if you have one. Here are some tips that can help:
Determine the nature of the crisis and whether it needs to be treated urgently.
If you are not sure whether the situation is urgent, you can call a suicide prevention hotline to speak with a trained counselor. You can also call your mental health provider or primary care provider for further guidance.
If you or another person has a concrete plan to die by suicide, then immediately call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Keep in mind that people who are in a mental health crisis may not be able to effectively communicate their feelings, thoughts, or needs. They may also struggle to understand what others around them are saying.
If this happens to your loved one, try to de-escalate (or reduce) the crisis. For example, stay calm, use active listening, and avoid overreacting. Also seek outside help if appropriate, by calling 911 or contacting a mental health organization that specializes in crisis management.
You can learn more about helping a loved one in a mental health crisis here. You can also use this form to create a suicide safety plan, so you know what to do and who to call if you have a crisis.
The bottom line
Although suicide is one of the leading causes of death among people of all ages, it can be prevented. This starts by knowing how to get help. Many resources are available, including suicide prevention hotlines, apps, national organizations, and local groups.
It’s also important to know what to do in a mental health emergency. Your best options often include calling 911, visiting the nearest emergency department, attempting to de-escalate the situation, or getting professional help.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you’re not alone and help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
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References
American Association of Suicidology. (n.d.). Homepage.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (n.d.). Homepage.
American Psychological Association. (2013). How to help in an emotional crisis.
App Store. (n.d.). Virtual Hope Box iOs app.
Bush, N. E., et al. (2017). A Virtual Hope Box: Randomized controlled trial of a smartphone app for emotional regulation and coping with distress. Psychiatric Services.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Risk and protective factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Facts about suicide.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Health department directories.
Crisis Text Line. (n.d.). Homepage.
Google Play. (n.d.). Virtual Hope Box Android app.
Loveless, G. E. (2021). The LGBTQIA2+ community: Our pronouns, when and how to use them. ACCENT.
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). What to do in a crisis.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (n.d.). Homepage.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (n.d.). Lifeline chat.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (n.d.). The Lifeline and 988.
notOK App. (n.d.). Homepage.
Sandler, E. P. (2018). The ripple effect of suicide. National Alliance on Mental Illness.
SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. (n.d.). Homepage.
Stanley, B., et al. (2021). Stanley-Brown Safety Plan. Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Homepage.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Suicide Safe mobile app.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Disaster Distress Helpline.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (n.d.). Faith communities.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (n.d.). Homepage.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (n.d.). Schools.
The Jed Foundation. (n.d.). Homepage.
The Trevor Project. (n.d.). We’re here for you now.
Trans Lifeline. (n.d.). Family & Friends Hotline.
Trans Lifeline. (n.d.). Homepage.
Veterans Crisis Line. (n.d.). Homepage.
Veterans Crisis Line. (n.d.). Chat.
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. (2008). Safety planning guide.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
