In a Crisis — getting mental health help

Reach a real person now. Call your local emergency number (e.g. 911, 112, 999) if there's immediate danger, or contact a crisis line — they're free, confidential, and trained to help, any hour. US/Canada: call or text 988. UK & Ireland: Samaritans 116 123. Elsewhere: search "[your country] crisis line" or "suicide helpline". You can text instead of call if that's easier.

This page is for getting through an acute crisis — it is not a substitute for talking with a trained person, which is the most important thing you can do right now. Please reach out to one. Crisis numbers vary by country; the examples above are not exhaustive.

Whatever is happening, this moment is survivable, and you do not have to face it by yourself. You don't need the right words, or to be certain, or to have it make sense. You just need to reach one person who can help — and then get through the next hour, and the next. Reaching out is not weakness or drama. It is the bravest and exactly right thing to do.

The one idea: reach a real, trained person now — emergency services or a crisis line. Don't be alone with it. Put distance between yourself and anything that could cause harm. Take it one hour at a time. Crises pass, even when they swear they won't.

Right now

Contact a real person. Emergency services if there's immediate danger; otherwise a crisis line (numbers above). You can text if calling feels impossible.
You don't need the perfect words. "I'm not okay." "I'm thinking of hurting myself." "I need help." That's enough — they'll take it from there.
Don't be alone with it. Tell someone nearby, or stay on the line with the crisis service.
Make yourself safer. If you can, put distance between you and anything you might use to harm yourself — move to another room, hand it to someone.

If you're thinking of suicide

You matter, and the pain you're feeling is real — but feelings, even this crushing, are not permanent, and they are not the whole truth about your life, even when your mind insists they are.

Please reach out before doing anything to harm yourself. Tell someone — a crisis line, emergency services, a person you trust. Get to a safe place and put distance between yourself and any means of harm. The most intense urges often pass with time and support; you don't have to ride this out alone, and you don't have to decide anything right now except to reach one person.

Getting through the next hours

One hour at a time. You don't have to solve your life tonight — only get through the next little while. Then the next.
Stay with someone, or stay connected to a crisis line. Being alone makes everything louder.
Slow your body down a little — slow breaths, some water, a safer or calmer spot. It won't fix everything; it can take the edge off enough to reach help.
Postpone any big, irreversible decision. Crisis is not the time to decide anything permanent.
Be as gentle with yourself as you'd be with someone you love in this much pain.

If it's someone else in crisis

Stay with them — don't leave them alone if the danger feels immediate.
Contact help together — a crisis line or emergency services, with them.
Take it seriously and stay calm; listen without judging, and don't promise secrecy about their safety.
Reduce access to means of harm if you can do so safely. (More in the Helping Someone Else guide.)

After the immediate crisis

Getting through it is real, and it matters — be proud of reaching out. A crisis is a signal to line up ongoing support so you're not back here alone: tell someone you trust what happened, and follow up with a professional or your doctor (the Where to Start guide walks through finding help). You deserve support on the ordinary days too, not only the worst ones.

You got through

If you reached one person, you did the hardest and most important thing. Hold onto this: crises end, feelings shift, and people who felt exactly this certain that it would never get better have gone on to be glad they stayed. You don't have to believe that fully right now — you only have to stay, and let someone help you through the next hour. You are not alone, and you are worth the help.

Free and public domain (CC0) — copy it, translate it, and share it where someone might need it. No accounts, no tracking; it runs entirely in your browser. This is support information, not a substitute for professional or emergency help — in a crisis, contact emergency services or a crisis line. Crisis resources and numbers vary by country; please check yours.