Crisis Support: What to Do When You Need Help Now

If you’re in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you’re having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

A mental health crisis can feel like the world is collapsing. Whether you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, overwhelming panic, a psychotic episode, or any situation where you don’t feel safe, you need support right now. This article explains what crisis resources are available and how to access them.

What Is a Mental Health Crisis?

Recognizing when you need immediate help.

Signs of Crisis

You may be in crisis if:

• You’re thinking about hurting yourself
• You’re having thoughts of suicide
• You’re experiencing symptoms of psychosis
• You’ve experienced severe trauma
• You feel unable to cope or function
• You feel out of control
• You’re a danger to yourself or others

Crisis vs. Difficult Moment

Understanding the difference:

• Crisis: Immediate danger or severe impairment
• Difficult moment: Hard but manageable
• Crisis requires immediate support
• Difficult moments may need support but aren’t emergencies
• When in doubt, reach out

Anyone Can Experience Crisis

No one is immune:

• Can happen to anyone
• Doesn’t mean weakness
• Often triggered by events
• May come from illness
• Help is available for everyone

Crisis Resources Available Now

Where to turn for immediate help.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The main crisis line in the US:

• Call or text 988
• Available 24/7
• Free and confidential
• Trained crisis counselors
• Can dispatch local help if needed
• For suicidal thoughts or any mental health crisis

Crisis Text Line

If you prefer texting:

• Text HOME to 741741
• 24/7 support
• Free and confidential
• Connect with trained crisis counselors
• Good option if calling feels hard

Veterans Crisis Line

For veterans and military:

• Call 988, then press 1
• Text 838255
• Specialized support for veterans
• 24/7 availability
• Understanding of military experience

Trevor Project

For LGBTQ+ youth:

• Call 1-866-488-7386
• Text START to 678-678
• Specialized LGBTQ+ support
• For young people under 25
• 24/7 availability

National Domestic Violence Hotline

For abuse situations:

• Call 1-800-799-7233
• Text START to 88788
• 24/7 support
• Safety planning
• Connection to resources

SAMHSA National Helpline

Substance abuse and mental health:

• Call 1-800-662-4357
• 24/7, 365 days
• Free and confidential
• Treatment referrals
• Information and support

International Resources

Outside the US:

• International Association for Suicide Prevention maintains a directory
• Each country has crisis lines
• Search for crisis line + your country
• Help exists worldwide

Emergency Room

When to go to the ER.

When the ER Is Appropriate

Go to the ER if:

• You’ve harmed yourself
• You have a plan to harm yourself
• You’re experiencing psychosis
• You need medical attention
• You’re not safe at home
• Crisis lines recommend it

What Happens at the ER

What to expect:

• Medical evaluation
• Psychiatric assessment
• Safety evaluation
• Treatment decisions
• May include hospitalization or discharge with plan

Bringing Someone to the ER

How to help:

• Stay with them
• Provide information to staff
• Be calm and supportive
• Advocate for their care
• You may need to wait while they’re evaluated

Mobile Crisis Teams

Crisis support that comes to you.

What They Are

Community-based response:

• Mental health professionals who respond to crises
• Come to your location
• Alternative to police or ER in some cases
• De-escalation and assessment
• Connection to appropriate care

How to Access

Finding mobile crisis:

• 988 can dispatch in some areas
• Some areas have dedicated numbers
• Search for mobile crisis + your area
• Ask your mental health provider
• Not available everywhere

What They Do

When they arrive:

• Assess the situation
• De-escalate crisis
• Provide immediate support
• Connect to follow-up care
• May prevent hospitalization when safe

Getting Through a Crisis Moment

What to do right now.

Call for Help

Don’t go it alone:

• Use crisis resources listed above
• Tell someone you’re struggling
• Ask for support
• Help is available
• You don’t have to face this alone

Make Yourself Safe

Immediate safety:

• Remove access to harmful items
• Go somewhere safe
• Be with other people
• Don’t be alone with dangerous thoughts
• Safety first

Ground Yourself

Come back to present:

• Deep breaths
• Feel feet on floor
• Notice five things you can see
• Cold water on face
• Anything that anchors to now

Ride the Wave

Crises pass:

• This intensity is temporary
• It will not last forever
• You just need to get through this moment
• Then the next
• Moment by moment

Use Your Safety Plan

If you have one:

• Work through the steps
• Use your coping strategies
• Contact people on your list
• Follow the plan
• This is what it’s for

Don’t Use Substances

Alcohol and drugs make it worse:

• Impaired judgment
• Increased impulsivity
• Worsened mood
• Stay sober during crisis
• Critical for safety

After the Crisis

What comes next.

Follow-Up Care

Don’t stop at crisis intervention:

• See a therapist
• Follow through on referrals
• Take prescribed medications
• Continue treatment
• Crisis support is the beginning, not the end

Understand What Happened

Learn from the crisis:

• What led to it?
• What were warning signs?
• What helped?
• How can you prevent or prepare for next time?
• Build knowledge for the future

Create or Update Safety Plan

Be prepared:

• Write down warning signs
• List coping strategies
• Include support people
• Know your resources
• Have a plan before the next crisis

Self-Compassion

Be gentle with yourself:

• You went through something hard
• You survived
• Recovery takes time
• Don’t shame yourself
• Compassion aids healing

Supporting Someone in Crisis

How to help others.

Take It Seriously

Always:

• Believe them
• Don’t minimize
• Don’t dismiss
• Treat every crisis as real
• Better to overreact than ignore

Stay Calm

Your calm helps:

• Regulate your own response
• Speak calmly
• Don’t panic
• Your stability is grounding
• Model calm

Listen

Be present:

• Let them talk
• Don’t argue
• Don’t try to fix immediately
• Just be there
• Listening is powerful

Get Help

You can’t be their only support:

• Call crisis line with them
• Take them to ER if needed
• Contact their therapist if available
• You’re not equipped to handle this alone
• Connect them to professional help

Stay With Them

Don’t leave someone in crisis alone:

• Be present
• Watch over them
• Until professional help arrives
• Or until crisis passes
• Your presence matters

Know Your Limits

Take care of yourself:

• You can’t save someone single-handedly
• Professional help is essential
• Set boundaries as needed
• Get your own support
• You matter too

Creating a Safety Plan

Preparation for future crises.

Why Safety Plans Matter

Planning ahead:

• Hard to think clearly in crisis
• Plan created when stable
• Guide to follow when not thinking clearly
• Saves lives
• Everyone at risk should have one

What to Include

Key elements:

1. Warning signs: How you know crisis is coming
2. Internal coping: What you can do alone to calm down
3. Distractions: People, places, activities that help
4. People to call: Friends, family who can help
5. Professionals to call: Therapist, doctor, crisis lines
6. Making environment safe: Removing access to means

Making Your Plan

How to create one:

• Work with therapist if possible
• Write it down
• Keep copies accessible
• Share with trusted people
• Review and update regularly

Using Your Plan

When crisis hits:

• Start at step 1
• Work through each step
• If one doesn’t help, move to next
• Keep going until safe
• The plan guides you through

You Will Get Through This

Crisis feels endless when you’re in it. The pain seems like it will last forever, like there’s no way out, like nothing will ever be okay again. But this is the crisis talking, not reality. Crises pass. What feels unbearable in this moment becomes bearable. The intensity lessens.

Right now, your only job is to stay safe and reach out for help. Call 988. Text a crisis line. Tell someone. Go to an emergency room. Whatever it takes to get support and stay alive.

You’ve survived every crisis before this one. You can survive this one too. Help is available. You just have to reach for it.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment. If you’re in crisis, please reach out for help immediately.

Crisis Resources:
– 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
– Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
– Emergency services: 911 (US)
– Veterans Crisis Line: 988, then press 1
– Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth): 1-866-488-7386