If You or Someone You Know is in Crisis or Needs Immediate Help

Please reach out for help if you need it.
​We all need support sometimes and there are people who care about you.

Please call 911 if you are having a medical emergency
or feel you're in immediate danger.
Call 988 if you are in a mental health crisis or feeling suicidal. 

​If emergency responders are involved, be sure they know you have a disability, 
​and provide other information that may be relevant for first responders or your safety,
including your race, gender, or other information to prevent miscommunication or additional trauma.
If it is difficult for you to communicate in a crisis or you are concerned about using 911, consider having a letter or ID card that explains your disability, any of your characteristics that may alarm people trying to help you (e.g., if you make "odd" noises or don't like being touched), and what you may need (e.g., "tell me before you touch me").

Bring your insurance card, ID, and any important papers, including a psychiatric advanced directive, distress plan, or safety plan, be sure to have that with you.

See examples of cards/letters for people who stutter, who are autistic, ​or who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing.  Also consider having a friend, family member, or ally with you when you make the call or go to the emergency room. We want you to be safe and supported.

24-Hour Hotlines

  • National Suicide Hotline: 988

  • Crisis Text Line: Free, 24/7, Confidential
    Text START to 741-741 (Text "Steve" if you are a student of color and you will be prioritized for getting a counselor who is a POC; some culturally Deaf counselors are available, so if you prefer one, ask if any are available)
    ​
  • Project LETS has an online grassroots peer crisis line specifically for people without insurance, or access to medical or psychological support.  ​Go to the website and start a chat using the icon on the bottom right of the screen.  Available Monday - Friday: 12 pm - 12 am and Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 1 am but urgent messages may be left any time.

  • The Trevor Lifeline (Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ Youth): 866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386)

  • CDC-INFO (Formerly known as the CDC National STD and AIDS Hotline) 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

  • Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), press 1

  • National Sexual Assault 24-hour hotline: 
    1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673) or
    https://www.rainn.org/ for 24/7 text-based chat line
 
  • Trans Lifeline US: 877-565-8860; Canada: 877-330-6366 If you have medical/police/EMT trauma, they do not call 911 without consent.
 
  • National Eating Disorders Association Helpline and Online Chat (only available 9am-9pm Monday through Thursday, and 9am-5pm Friday (Eastern Standard Time: 1-800-931-2337.  Online chat available at https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
 
  • Treatment Referral Hotline (Substance Abuse)
    1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357)
NCCSD Crisis Poster
A free Poster with Crisis Resources in PDF format to download for your office or room

Find Resources on Your Campus, in Your Community, or Online

  • Check campus and community listings at The Jed Foundation.  Be sure to check with your insurance company to know what is covered and how much your deductible will be for each visit.​

  • If your campus or community lack resources or you face waiting lists, Unlimited Messaging Therapy offers texting, audio, and video options for therapy, costing $32-69 per week (this is free to Alpha Tau Omega fraternity members).  

TTY, Text, and VP Hotlines
​for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People

Crisis Line for VideoPhone users who use American Sign Language (available 24/7):
  • 321-800-3323 (321-800-DEAF)

National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
Crisis text line: text START to 741-741 (free, available 24/7, sometimes have Deaf counselors available)

National Domestic Violence Hotline:
  • E-mail hotline: deafhelp@thehotline.org 
  • TTY: 1-800-787-3224 (24/7 hotline) 
  • VP:  1-855-812-1001  (Monday to Friday 9AM—5PM Pacific Standard Time)
    ​

Self-Care Check

  • Need a self-care check?  Here's a text-based accessible interactive self-check you can do to see how you're feeling physically and emotionally, and what you may need: bit.ly/selfcarehelp

Dealing with Natural Disasters

  • SAMHSA has an online Disaster Technical Assistance Center with resources, including information for tribal communities.  Resources include tip sheets and guides for survivors, displaced people, and more.
  • The Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 is available toll-free to anyone who needs counseling about the coronavirus (COVID-19) or natural disasters.
  • The Disability Underground at the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies has set up a National Disability COVID-19 Healthcare Support and Advocacy Hotline at 1-800-626-4959 or send an email to contact@disabilityunderground.org

Grief and Resources for Those Who Have Lost Someone to Suicide

  • Resources for those who have lost someone to suicide are listed at the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. There is a link to national resources at the bottom of the page.
  • Actively Moving Forward connects college students who are grieving and has a network of campus chapters.  
  • HealGrief.org provides state and national resources about grieving and death, including information about the death of parents, funeral and grief customs, grieving the loss of pets, and information about living wills and other legal documents.