This is a crisis, not a household question

If you are thinking about harming yourself, this is not a home maintenance issue and this website cannot help you. You need to speak to someone trained in crisis support when ready.

Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US) any time, day or night. You can also text "HELLO" to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). If you are outside the US, search "[your country] suicide helpline" — every country has a free, confidential service.

If you are in when ready danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Tell them you are having thoughts of suicide. This is what emergency rooms are for.

Key Takeaways

  • Call 988 or text 741741 right now if you are having thoughts of harming yourself — both services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
  • Suicidal thoughts feel permanent but they are not; they change, and people who have felt this way have gotten through it and are glad they did.
  • Go to an emergency room or call 911 if you believe you might act on these thoughts in the next few minutes.
  • Tell someone you trust — a family member, friend, teacher, doctor, or counselor — what you are feeling right now instead of trying to handle this alone.
  • After a crisis call or emergency room visit, counselors will help you find the next step, which might be therapy, medication, a support group, or a hospital stay.

Why this matters right now

Suicidal thoughts often feel permanent, but they are not. They change. People who have felt exactly as you do now have gotten through it and are glad they did. The feeling you have right now is temporary, even though it does not feel that way.

Talking to someone — even a stranger on a crisis line — changes what happens next. You do not have to figure this out alone, and you should not try to. The act of reaching out is the hardest part, and it is also the part that saves lives.

Crisis counselors have heard every version of what you are feeling. They will not judge you. They will not think you are overreacting. Their only job is to help you stay safe and find a path forward.

What to do in the next hour

Pick one of these and do it now:

  • Call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). They answer when ready. You do not need to explain anything first — just say you are having thoughts of suicide.
  • Text "HELLO" to 741741 (Crisis Text Line). A real person will respond within minutes.
  • Go to your nearest emergency room and tell staff you are having thoughts of harming yourself.
  • Call 911 if you feel you might act on these thoughts in the next few minutes.
  • Tell someone you trust — a family member, friend, teacher, doctor, or counselor — what you are feeling right now.

Do not wait to see if the feeling passes. Do not try to handle this alone. Do not research methods. Call or text now. The moment you reach out is the moment things can start to change.

If you are worried about someone else

If you think someone you know is considering suicide, take it seriously. Tell them you care about them. Ask them directly if they are thinking about harming themselves — asking does not plant the idea, and it often opens the door to them getting help.

Encourage them to call 988 or go to an emergency room. If they refuse and you believe they are in when ready danger, call 911. You are not betraying them — you are potentially saving their life. Many people who have been stopped from attempting suicide later say they are grateful someone intervened.

If someone tells you they are suicidal, do not leave them alone. Stay with them until they are safe or until help arrives. Listen without judgment. Do not try to talk them out of it or minimize what they are feeling — just listen and stay present.

Resources that are open right now

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, available 24/7. Free and confidential. Trained counselors answer every call and can help you figure out what to do next.

Crisis Text Line: Text "HELLO" to 741741. Available 24/7. Free and confidential. A real person responds within minutes.

International Association for Suicide Prevention: If you are outside the US, visit iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres to find a helpline in your country. Every country has a free service.

NAMI Helpline (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. They can connect you to local mental health resources and support groups in your area.

After the crisis: what comes next

If you call a crisis line or go to an emergency room, they will help you figure out the next step. This might be talking to a therapist, seeing a doctor, going to a hospital for a few days, or connecting with a support group. None of this is punishment — it is care.

Many people who have felt suicidal have gone on to feel better with the right support. Therapy works. Medication works. Time works. You do not have to feel this way forever. The brain can heal, and with help, it does.

If you are assigned to a therapist or doctor, be honest with them about what you are feeling and what you have been thinking. They cannot help you if they do not know the full picture. Everything you tell them is confidential, with only a few narrow exceptions (if you are about to harm yourself or someone else, or if a child is being abused).

Frequently Asked Questions

Will calling 988 get me in trouble?

No. 988 is confidential. They will not call the police unless you tell them you are about to harm yourself or someone else in the next few minutes. Their job is to help you stay safe, not to punish you.

What if I call and they don't understand?

You can call back and talk to someone else. You can also text 741741 instead. If the first person does not feel like the right fit, that is okay — keep trying until you find someone you can talk to.

Is it normal to feel this way?

Suicidal thoughts are a sign that you are in real pain and need real help. Many people have felt this way. It does not mean you are weak or broken — it means you need support, and support is available.

What if I don't want to go to a hospital?

Tell the crisis counselor or doctor. They will work with you to find other options. Sometimes outpatient therapy, medication, or a safety plan works. Sometimes a hospital stay is necessary. Be honest about what you are willing to do so they can help you find a path forward.

What if these feelings come back after I get help?

That is normal. Recovery is not a straight line. If suicidal thoughts return, call 988 again or go back to your therapist. Tell them the thoughts are back. This is what ongoing care is for — to help you through the hard days and the days that feel impossible.