September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time when we can all rally together to promote suicide prevention awareness and #BeThe1To ask, be there for someone who needs help, and help each other to stay connected and safe. With more than 700,000 dying due to suicide every year, making it the fourth leading cause of death among people between the ages 15 and 29, it’s more important than ever for communities to come together to prevent suicide.

To put more resources in the hands of anyone struggling with their mental health, we’ve put together this comprehensive list of mental health resources, hotlines and websites that can help individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts as well as the loved ones trying to help them.

How to Use These Resources

These resources are meant to act as educational tools and starting points for getting help. These hotlines and local resources are intended to provide a person struggling with a mental health crisis or a concerned loved one to talk to a trained individual, providing a compassionate listening ear and advocate who can act as a gateway to further resources and support.

While most of these resources are just the first step, they can guide individuals in the right direction and help them get referrals for treatment or access other resources in their community.

When You Know Someone Who Needs Help

If you are not personally struggling with a mental health crisis but are concerned about someone else, you can still use these resources! According to Thomas Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, one of the three main factors in suicidal ideation and attempts is “thwarted belongingness.” If a person feels socially disconnected from others or that they have no one to turn to for support, they are much more likely to contemplate suicide.

If a friend, relative, coworker, student or other person in your life is exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis, these resources can help you figure out the best means of supporting them.

When You Need Help

Remember that it is okay to ask for help! If you are struggling with your mental health, whether it’s just feeling a little down or facing a crisis, don’t hesitate to utilize these resources. They are not just for those on the brink but for anyone in need of mental health support. 

If It’s An Emergency

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. 

Mental Health Hotlines

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

What to Do: Call or text 988, or chat online

*LGBTQIA+ people under 25 can access 24/7 support via the 988 Lifeline. To call an LGBTQIA-trained crisis counselor, dial 988 and then press 3. To text, send the word PRIDE to 988. 

The 988 Lifeline is a confidential and free service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help connect individuals to the nearest crisis center in their national Lifeline network of over 150 locations. These centers are connected with the local community and can provide support with crisis counseling and mental health referrals.

Crisis Text Line

What to Do: Text “HOME” to 741741 or chat online or through WhatsApp

The Crisis Text Line offers text-based crisis counseling, providing support and information with both English and Spanish-speaking support available. This line is open 24/7 nationwide, and they also have international hotlines. You can find other information and resources on the Crisis Text Line website.

NAMI Teen & Young Adult Helpline

What to Do: Text “Friend” to 62640, call 800-950-6264, or chat online

Suicide is a significant issue among teens, with young people 10 to 24 years old accounting for 14% of all suicides. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a hotline specifically to provide peer support and referrals to teens and young adults in crisis. This line is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 10 pm ET.

Veterans Crisis Line

What to Do: Text 838255 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and Press 1

More than 6,000 Veterans commit suicide every year, but the Veteran Crisis Line is aiming to reduce that figure by providing free, confidential support through this 24/7 hotline. The line is available to all veterans and their loved ones, regardless of VA status or whether they are enrolled in VA Healthcare.

National Disaster Distress Helpline

What to Do: Call or Text 1-800-985-5990

From hurricanes and tornadoes to incidents of mass violence and global pandemics, the National Disaster Distress Helpline exists to provide immediate crisis counseling to persons experiencing mental health distress related to a national disaster, whether natural or human-caused. This service is free, multilingual, confidential and available 24/7.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

What to Do: Text “LOVEIS” to 22522, call 1-800-799-7233, or chat online

(TTY 1-800-787-3224)

The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides options and helps individuals find the support they need whether they’re planning to leave their partner or looking for advice on improving communication and safety. This hotline is also available to provide resources for survivors of abuse, concerned loved ones and abusive partners who want to change their behavior.

Because wait times can sometimes be 15 minutes or longer for this hotline, they have a local resources directory for finding support in your community.

National Child Abuse Hotline

What to Do: Text or call 1-800-422-4453

The National Child Abuse Hotline has counselors available to support those affected by child abuse or concerned adults. It is staffed by live, licensed crisis counselors who are trained in supportive listening, crisis intervention, trauma-informed practices and diversity.

National Sexual Assault Hotline

What to Do: Call 1-800-656-4673 or chat online

Provided by RAINN—the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, this hotline helps survivors of sexual assault and concerned loved ones access free, confidential support. Their website also has a lot of helpful information on public policy and laws in each state surrounding sexual assault and statutes of limitation.

How Camber Children’s Mental Health Can Help

If you are local to Kansas City, Wichita, Hays or Olathe, KS, Camber Children’s Mental Health provides access to youth mental health treatment through innovative services that help children and adolescents achieve health and wellness. Our services include inpatient and residential mental health treatment for children and youths as well as adult psychiatric expertise in Kansas City and Olathe.

In addition to our local mental health services, Camber has a digital resource library full of webinars, ebooks and guides to help advocates, allies and those struggling with a mental health disorder to educate themselves. Learn more about admissions and referrals here.