EMERGENCY HELP: Direct advice for overwhelming suicide or substance use urges
— Shut it Down — Sleep (no overdosing). Can’t sleep? Cold shower or face in ice-water (30 seconds and repeat).* This is a reset button. It slows everything way down.
— No Important Decisions — Especially deciding to die. Do not panic. Ignore thoughts that you don’t care if you die. Stop drugs and alcohol.
— Make Eye Contact — A difficult but powerful pain reliever. Look in their eyes and say “Can you help me get out of my head?” Try video chat. Keep trying until you find someone.
Video Guide (if you would like help following these steps). Here is a guided Eye Contact video to compliment the Guide.
*Not medical advice. Rapid reduction in heart rate may occur. Consult provider if concerned (e.g. heart condition, severe eating disorder). NowMattersNow.org ©2024
Text or Instant Messaging (IM)
USA
- Crisis Text Line (all ages, 24/7, text MATTERS to 741741)
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (all ages, 24/7, IM, or text 988)
- Online PEER Support Chat (LGBTQ, IM, also 1-888-843-4564)
- RAINN Online Hotline (sexual assault, global access)
- Veteran’s Live Chat (global access for American vets, also text 838255)
- Teen Line Online (teen)
- Trevor (LGBTQ youth)
- National Crisis Text Line for the Deaf – (text HAND to 839863)
UK
- Crisis Text Line UK (text 85258)
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) (men)
- Childline (youth)
- The Mix (25 and under)
- Nightline Online Listening (Strathclyde and Caledonian)
- Leeds Nightline (students in Leeds)
- Samaritans (email)
- Hopeline247 (under age 35, Text: 88247)
Canada
- Kids Help Phone
- YouthSpace (<30)
- ConnecTeen (youth)
- Woods Homes (youth and families)
- BC211 (BC)
- Distress Centre (Calgary, AB)
- IM Alive
- Kids Help Phone (<20, Canada, French too: Jeunesse, J’écoute)
- Manitoba Farm & Rural Support Services (Manitoba)
- Northern Youth Online (Northern Canada)
- Tel-jeunes (French-Canadian)
- Youth in BC (youth, BC and Yukon)
- Youth Line (LGBTQ youth, Ontario)
Australia and New Zealand
- eheadspace (AU 1800 650 890)
- Kids Helpline (AU, youth 1800 55 1800)
- Lifeline Crisis Chat (AU)
- On the Line (AU)
- The Lowdown (NZ)
- Youthline (AU)
- Beyond Blue (1300 224 636)
- Lifeline (13 11 14)
- Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467)
- 13 YARN (13 92 76 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis support)
Further Resources
Phone Hotline Directories
USA and Canada
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988 (USA)
Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860 (USA) 1-877-330-6366 (Canada)
Military Veterans 988 and Press 1
Spanish Lifeline 988 and Press 2
International
International Association for Suicide Prevention – Resources: Crisis Centers