Crisis Resources: What to Do When You or Someone You Know Needs Help Now

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For mental health or substance use crises, this guide provides immediate resources and practical guidance for navigating an overwhelming moment.

Immediate Resources

National Crisis Lines

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• Call or text 988 (available 24/7)
• Previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Supports anyone in suicidal crisis, emotional distress, or substance use crisis
• Available in English and Spanish, with interpreter services for 250+ languages
• Chat available at 988lifeline.org

Crisis Text Line

• Text HOME to 741741 (available 24/7)
• Text-based crisis counseling for people who prefer not to call
• Average wait time is under 5 minutes

SAMHSA National Helpline

• Call 1-800-662-4357 (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
• Free, confidential treatment referrals and information
• Available in English and Spanish

Veterans Crisis Line

• Call 988, then press 1
• Text 838255
• Specialized support for veterans, service members, and their families

Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Youth)

• Call 1-866-488-7386 (24/7)
• Text START to 678-678
• Chat at thetrevorproject.org

Substance Use-Specific Crisis Support

SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 — referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community organizations

National Drug Helpline: 1-844-289-0879 — 24/7 substance abuse support and treatment referrals

Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 — if someone has ingested a dangerous substance or you suspect overdose

Naloxone (Narcan): If you suspect opioid overdose:

1. Call 911 immediately
2. Administer naloxone if available (nasal spray or injection)
3. Place the person in recovery position (on their side)
4. Stay with them until help arrives
5. A second dose may be needed after 2-3 minutes if breathing doesn't improve

Recognizing a Crisis

Signs of Suicidal Crisis

• Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves
• Looking for ways to end their life (researching methods, acquiring means)
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing substance use
• Withdrawing from friends and activities
• Extreme mood swings
• Giving away possessions
• Saying goodbye to people as if for the last time
• Sudden calmness after a period of severe depression (can indicate a decision has been made)

Signs of Substance Use Crisis

• Unresponsiveness or inability to wake up
• Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
• Blue or gray skin, lips, or fingernails
• Gurgling or snoring sounds (may indicate airway obstruction)
• Seizures
• Extreme confusion or agitation
• Severe vomiting (risk of aspiration)
• Chest pain or irregular heartbeat

Signs of Mental Health Crisis

• Inability to perform daily tasks (eating, hygiene, basic functioning)
• Psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, severe disorganization)
• Severe panic attacks that don't resolve
• Self-harm behavior
• Extreme agitation or aggression
• Dissociation (person seems disconnected from reality)

How to Help Someone in Crisis

What to Do

Stay calm. Your calmness provides stability when the other person's world feels chaotic.

Listen without judgment. Let them talk. Don't minimize ("It's not that bad"), compare ("Other people have it worse"), or fix ("You should just..."). Say things like: "I hear you. I'm here. You're not alone."

Ask directly about suicidal thoughts. Research consistently shows that asking about suicide does NOT increase risk — it often reduces it by breaking the isolation. Ask clearly: "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?" or "Are you thinking about suicide?"

Take it seriously. Every expression of suicidal ideation or crisis is serious until proven otherwise. Don't assume it's "just for attention" — even if it were, the underlying pain is real.

Reduce access to means. If possible and safe, help remove access to lethal means — firearms, medications, sharp objects. Studies show that means restriction saves lives because most suicidal crises are temporary, and reducing access to the most lethal methods during a crisis period significantly reduces death.

Stay with them. Don't leave a person in acute crisis alone. If you can't be physically present, stay on the phone.

Connect to professional help. Your role is to bridge to professional resources, not to be the therapist. Offer to help call a crisis line, drive to an ER, or contact their therapist.

What NOT to Do

• Don't promise to keep suicidal thoughts a secret — safety overrides confidentiality
• Don't argue or debate whether they should feel the way they do
• Don't leave them alone if they're actively suicidal
• Don't try to physically restrain someone unless they're in immediate danger
• Don't offer substances (including prescription medications that aren't theirs) to "calm them down"
• Don't panic visibly — external calm helps even if your internal state is terrified

What to Expect When You Call a Crisis Line

Many people hesitate to call because they don't know what will happen. Here's what to expect:

1. You'll reach a real person (or be connected to one after brief automated routing)
2. They'll ask what's going on — you can share as much or as little as you're comfortable with
3. They'll listen without judgment and ask clarifying questions
4. They'll assess safety — asking about suicidal thoughts, plans, and access to means is standard and shouldn't alarm you
5. They'll help you develop a plan — whether that's a safety plan, connecting to local resources, or deciding next steps
6. They will NOT automatically send police — crisis counselors only involve emergency services if there's imminent risk of serious harm. You can discuss your concerns about this.

Calls are confidential. You can remain anonymous. You can hang up at any time. Most calls last 20-45 minutes.

When the Crisis Passes

Creating a Safety Plan

Work with a mental health professional to create a safety plan for future crises:

1. Warning signs — recognizing early indicators that a crisis may be developing
2. Internal coping strategies — things you can do alone (breathing exercises, distraction, grounding techniques)
3. Social contacts who can provide support or distraction
4. Professional contacts — therapist, psychiatrist, crisis line numbers
5. Emergency contacts — people who can help ensure your safety
6. Making the environment safe — strategies for reducing access to lethal means during vulnerable periods

Addressing the Underlying Issues

A crisis is an acute event, but it usually reflects underlying conditions that need ongoing treatment. After a crisis resolves, addressing the root causes — whether that's untreated depression, unmanaged addiction, trauma, relationship issues, or other factors — is essential for reducing future crisis risk.

Self-Care for Helpers

Supporting someone through a crisis is emotionally intense. After the crisis resolves:

• Process your own feelings with someone you trust
• Recognize that you can't control another person's choices
• Acknowledge what you did well — you showed up, and that matters enormously
• Seek your own professional support if the experience was traumatic
• Understand your limits — you can be supportive without being solely responsible for another person's safety

You Don't Have to Be "Bad Enough"

One of the biggest barriers to using crisis resources is the belief that your situation isn't serious enough. "Other people need this more." "I'm not really suicidal, just really struggling." "My problems aren't that bad."

Crisis lines exist for anyone in emotional distress — not just for people at the absolute worst moment of their lives. If you're struggling and don't know what to do, you qualify. Call, text, or chat. That's what these services are for.

You matter. Your pain matters. And help is available right now.