Life-threatening emergency? Don’t search. Call now.Emergency? Call now.

Call 911Mental health crisis: 988
Lily’s Guide
Crisis Support

You don’t have to handle this alone

Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day. If you or someone else is in danger, reach out now.

Life-threatening emergencyCall 911Suicidal thoughts or emotional crisisCall or text 988Prefer to text?Text HOME to 741741Poisoning or overdose question1-800-222-1222
If you’re thinking about suicide right now

Please stay with us for a moment. These feelings can be overwhelming, but they can pass, and people do get through this. You deserve support. Call 988, text 988, or chat online to talk with a trained counselor now. If you might act on these thoughts, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Moving away from anything you could use to hurt yourself, and being near someone you trust, can help keep you safe.

Is it an emergency?

Know when to call 911 or 988

When you’re not sure, it’s always okay to call. Dispatchers and counselors would rather hear from you than have you wait.

Physical emergency: call 911

  • Not breathing, or struggling to breathe
  • Chest pain or pressure, especially with sweating, nausea, or pain in the arm, jaw, or back
  • Signs of stroke: face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, sudden confusion or loss of balance
  • Unconscious, unresponsive, or hard to wake
  • Severe bleeding that won’t stop with pressure
  • A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes, or a first-ever seizure
  • Severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing
  • A possible overdose or poisoning with serious symptoms
  • Serious burns, a head or neck injury, or a broken bone pushing through the skin

Don’t drive yourself if you’re having chest pain or stroke symptoms. Paramedics can start treatment on the way.

Mental health crisis: call or text 988

  • Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
  • Looking for a way to end their life, like searching online or getting a weapon or pills
  • Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or being a burden to others
  • Saying goodbye, giving away belongings, or withdrawing from people
  • Extreme mood swings, rage, or acting recklessly
  • Losing touch with reality: hearing or seeing things others don’t

Call 911 instead if someone has already hurt themselves, has taken pills or poison, or is about to act and you can’t keep them safe.

Calling for help

What to say when you call 911

  1. Say where you are first: the street address, or nearby landmarks and cross streets. Your phone’s map app can show your location.
  2. Say what happened: for example, “My father collapsed and isn’t breathing.”
  3. Answer the dispatcher’s questions and follow their instructions. They may tell you how to do CPR or stop bleeding.
  4. Don’t hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. If the call drops, call back.
  5. Help responders find you: unlock the door, turn on outside lights, put pets away, and send someone to wave them in if you can.

Can’t talk safely? In many areas you can text 911. Hearing or speech disabilities: 911 accepts TTY calls and relay services.

Supporting someone

How to help someone in a mental health crisis

  1. Ask directly. Ask, “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” Asking does not put the idea in their head. It shows you care and opens the door to talk.
  2. Be there. Listen without judging or arguing. Take what they say seriously. Don’t promise to keep it secret.
  3. Help keep them safe. If you can do it safely, put distance between them and anything they could use to hurt themselves, like firearms, medicines, or sharp objects.
  4. Help them connect. Call or text 988 together, or help them reach a doctor, counselor, or someone they trust.
  5. Follow up. Check in over the next days and weeks. Staying in touch can make a real difference.

Adapted from the 988 Lifeline’s #BeThe1To five steps.

Confidential support lines (U.S.)

Who to contact

All of these services are free. Most are open 24/7 and can connect you with local help.

Emergencies & poisoning

911 Emergency Services

24/7

Police, fire, and ambulance for any life-threatening emergency. In many areas you can also text 911 if calling is not safe or possible. Call if you can, text if you can’t.

Call 911 Text 911 (where available)

Mental health & suicide crisis

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

24/7

Free, confidential support for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or worried about someone else. Spanish and interpretation available. When you call, veterans can press 1, Spanish speakers press 2, and LGBTQ+ young people press 3.

Call 988 Text 988

Chat at 988lifeline.org

Abuse, violence & personal safety

Drugs & alcohol

Disasters & everyday needs

Worried someone could see your browsing?

If you’re looking for help with abuse, use a private browsing window or a device the other person can’t access, and clear your history afterward. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can help you make a safety plan.

Outside the United States

Emergency numbers in other countries

The numbers on this page are for the U.S. If you’re somewhere else, use the local emergency number:

WhereEmergency number
European Union and many other countries112
United Kingdom999 or 112
Canada911 (crisis line: call or text 988)
Australia000
New Zealand111
India112

Many mobile phones will also connect 112 or 911 to local emergency services. Find crisis lines in other countries at findahelpline.com.

Not an emergency, but need care?

For problems that can’t wait for a regular appointment, urgent care is often faster and cheaper than the ER.

Find care near meQuick guides