Crisis & Urgent Support

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (US) or your local emergency number now.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or are in acute distress, please reach out. You don't have to be sure it's "bad enough." These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Right now

United States

988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988. Available 24/7. 988lifeline.org — chat available on the site.
Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741. Available 24/7. crisistextline.org
911 — Emergency Services. Use for medical emergencies, immediate danger to yourself or others.
SAMHSA National Helpline (mental health & substance use). 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 24/7, confidential, free, in English and Spanish. samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

International

Find a helpline — Find A Helpline (Throughline). Search by country to locate a free, confidential crisis line. findahelpline.com
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) crisis centres directory. iasp.info/suicidalthoughts
Befrienders Worldwide. Volunteer emotional support across 32 countries. befrienders.org

LGBTQ+ specific (US)

The Trevor Project — for LGBTQ+ young people. Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678-678, or chat. thetrevorproject.org
Trans Lifeline. 877-565-8860 (US), 877-330-6366 (Canada). Peer support by and for trans people. translifeline.org

Veterans (US)

Veterans Crisis Line. Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255, or chat. veteranscrisisline.net

When to reach out

It's okay to call before things feel like an emergency. Reasons people contact a crisis line include:

Thoughts of suicide or self-harm — even passing or ambiguous ones
Feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope
A sudden loss, trauma, or change you can't get traction on alone
Worrying about someone else who may be in crisis
Wanting to talk to someone who is trained to listen, anonymously

You don't need to be sure. You don't need a plan to call. You don't need to talk about anything specific.

Why crisis support can be especially relevant for alexithymia

People with alexithymia may notice the physical signs of severe distress (chest tightness, nausea, sleep loss, agitation, dissociation) before the emotional signs become available to them. If your body is sounding alarms and you can't name what you're feeling, that itself is reason enough to reach out. A trained crisis counselor can help you name and de-escalate, even when words aren't coming.

Building a safety plan

A safety plan is a short written document you make before a crisis, so you have a path you've already chosen to follow when things feel hardest. A typical plan covers:

Warning signs — thoughts, feelings, situations, or body sensations that have preceded crises before.
Internal coping strategies — things you can do alone to ride out a wave (slow breathing, cold water on face, walking, music, grounding exercises).
People and places that distract — calling a friend, going to a coffee shop, going outside.
People you can ask for help — name, phone, what you'd want them to do.
Professionals to contact — therapist, prescriber, primary care.
Crisis lines — 988, Crisis Text Line, others above.
Making your environment safer — temporarily restricting access to means.

The 988 Lifeline has a free safety planning template you can fill in.

If you're worried about someone else

Ask directly. Asking about suicide does not increase risk — it usually reduces it.
Listen without trying to fix.
Help them connect to a crisis line or professional. Offer to sit with them while they call.
For immediate danger: 911 (US) or your local emergency number.
For non-emergency support and guidance, the 988 Lifeline and Crisis Text Line both accept calls from concerned others.

A note about this page

This page is maintained as a safety resource. Numbers and links are reviewed periodically; if you spot something out of date or incorrect, please contact us and we'll update it quickly.

For everyday support, community connections, and finding a therapist, see Support & Community.