Crisis Resources & Immediate Support

If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. The services below are listed with the availability and cost details their own official sites state.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, use these free, confidential 24/7 support lines. Beiing is educational and not a crisis service.

Safety

On this page

1. If you need help right now
2. United States
3. Canada
4. Outside the United States and Canada
5. How to support someone in crisis
6. What Beiing can and cannot do

If you need help right now

If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. Beiing is an educational website. We do not provide crisis counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are thinking about suicide, self-harm, harming someone else, or you feel unsafe, please contact one of the services below.

United States

Each service below is described using the wording published on its own official website. Availability and cost vary by service, so we have noted them individually rather than as a single blanket claim.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Lifeline states it is available 24/7/365 and that conversations are free and confidential.
• Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741. Described by the service as free, confidential, 24/7 mental health support.
• Veterans Crisis Line - dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255. The service states it offers free, confidential support 24/7, 365 days a year, and that you do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care.
• The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ young people) - call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678. The Trevor Project states it is available 24/7 from anywhere in the U.S. and is confidential and 100% free.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline - call 1-800-799-7233 (800.799.SAFE) or text START to 88788. The hotline states its support is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline - call or text 800-422-4453. Childhelp states counselors are available 24/7 and that guidance is confidential.

Canada

Canada's national suicide crisis line is 9-8-8. The official 988.ca service describes itself as 24/7/365 crisis support, reachable by call or text.

• 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada) - call or text 9-8-8, available 24/7/365.

Outside the United States and Canada

Crisis services vary by country, and 988 does not work everywhere. Find A Helpline (findahelpline.com) lists free, confidential helplines by country and is a useful starting point if your country is not listed here.

• International directory: findahelpline.com - free, confidential helpline search by country.
• United Kingdom & Ireland - Samaritans: 116 123. Samaritans states the line is open any time, day or night, is free to call, and is confidential.
• Australia - Lifeline: 13 11 14. Lifeline states crisis support is available 24/7.

How to support someone in crisis

You do not need to solve everything. Listening without judgment, taking the person seriously, staying with them, removing access to means of harm when possible, and helping them contact a professional or crisis line can all make a meaningful difference.

• Ask directly and calmly whether they are safe.
• Listen more than you speak; avoid arguing with their feelings.
• Do not promise secrecy about safety concerns.
• Help them contact 988, a local crisis line, or emergency services.
• Follow up after the immediate crisis passes.

What Beiing can and cannot do

Our articles and tools are for general education. They cannot assess risk, diagnose a condition, or replace professional care. If you are unsure whether what you are experiencing is a crisis, treat it as one and reach out to a qualified professional or one of the services above.

Related Resources

Editorial and research review by Beiing writers and researchers. This is not medical or clinical review, and no clinician signs off on our content. Our editorial standards.

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition. If you are in crisis or thinking about self-harm, call or text 988 (US Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or visit our crisis resources.

Educational content only - not medical advice. In a crisis, call or text 988 (US) or your local emergency number. See crisis resources.