Hotlines, text, and chat resources

If you're in crisis, you can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You can get help by calling or texting 988 or chatting online.

You can contact 988 for any type of mental health crisis or emotional distress, including: 

  • Thoughts of suicide
  • Substance use concerns
  • Relationship problems
  • Job loss or financial concerns

Crisis counselors can also offer support if you’re worried about a loved one experiencing a mental health crisis. 

A state mental health crisis line (by county) can also help you with a therapy referral.

You can dial 211 or search the Washington 2-1-1 database to find local services and resources.

This page has the following information.

Crisis Lines for Specific Groups | Youth Online Services and Resources

Crisis Lines for Specific Groups

For those with specific crisis needs

Copline
24/7 confidential hotline for law enforcement. Calls are answered by a peer support counselor.

You can call them at 800-267-5463 or use their online email form. 

The Institute on Aging's Friendship Line
A crisis and support line for adults who are 60 or older or have disabilities.

You can call them at 800-971-0016.

Trevor Project Lifeline
This 24-hour hotline focuses on supporting young people in crisis who are LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and more). 

To reach the Trevor Project Lifeline:

LGBTQI+ Youth Subnetwork

LGBTQIA2S+ teens and young adults ages 13-24 can call or text 988 and choose option 3 to reach the LGBTQI+ Youth Subnetwork.

You can also chat online.  

Trans Lifeline
This 24/7 peer support hotline supports transgender people experiencing a crisis.

You can reach the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.

Washington Poison Center
The Washington Poison Center is a 24/7 confidential line that serves as the primary resource for poison treatment, education, and prevention. Call 800-222-1222 to reach specially trained nurses, pharmacists, and poison specialists in your local area to prevent harm from poisoning. 

Services are available in 240 languages and for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. TTY users, dial 711 to reach the Washington Relay Service.  

Veterans Resources

The Veterans Crisis Line is for veterans and their families, which includes anyone who has ever served in the armed forces, guard, or reserves. You can reach this helpline by calling or texting 988 and choosing option 1. 

You can also text a Veterans Affairs responder at 838-255 or chat online. 

Washington Recovery Helpline
Call 866-789-1511 to get 24-hour help for substance use, gambling, and mental health concerns. 

Youth Online Services and Resources

This section includes:

Apps | Washington Helplines and Resources | National Helplines | College Students | LGBTQIA2S+ Youth | Native Youth | Teens Experiencing Bullying | When a Friend Dies

Apps

Suicide Prevention Apps – At this link you will find 8 different suicide prevention apps. Use these apps to learn how to recognize possible signs of suicide, build a safety plan, and get practical advice on how to help someone during a crisis. You’ll also find more resources for suicide prevention information, breathing exercises, and grounding techniques and tips for reaching out to a loved one having thoughts of suicide. 

Resilience, Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention Apps – This list has app examples for: 

  • Upstream prevention: Using self-help strategies and community resources to prevent problems before they emerge. 
  • Midstream prevention: Catching emerging problems early and helping people find support.
  • Downstream prevention: Supporting people experiencing more serious mental health challenges and thoughts of suicide. 

The Mighty created a list of 8 apps you can download on your phone to help you cope with any type of challenge or struggle you’re experiencing. You’ll find examples for anxiety, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, and substance use.

Other apps to promote self-care

  • Calm Harm[CR1]  provides tasks to help you resist or manage the urge to self-harm, including cutting. You can set a password, if you like, to keep this app completely private.
  • Headspace offers guided meditations, animations, articles, and videos.

Washington Helplines and Resources

Clark County Teen Talk – The Clark County Teen Talk offers non-judgmental peer-to-peer support on any topic by phone, online chat, message board or email on Monday – Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties – The Crisis Clinic has a main crisis line and a youth helpline. Both are available 24/7. From 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., they try to have the youth line staffed by youth volunteers. No crisis is too small to make the call!

Call 360-586-2800 to get help.

ImHurting Crisis Chat – ImHurting Crisis Chat is a service offered through Volunteers of America Western Washington in the North Puget Sound region. You can call their crisis line or chat online 24/7.

  • North Sound, including Snohomish, Skagit, San Juan, Island, & Whatcom Counties: Call 800-584-3578
  • Salish, including Clallam, Jefferson, & Kitsap Counties: Call 888-910-0416

Teen Link – If you're under 21, you can call Teen Link at 866-TEENLINK (866-833-6546) and ask to talk to a peer. The phone line is open 6 p.m.– 10 p.m. and chat is available 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. daily. Trained youth volunteers will answer your call or chat. You can call for any reason. At Teen Link, no problem is too big or too small.

National Helplines

Boys Town – Boys Town has a 24/7 national hotline and text line. They have Spanish-speaking counselors and translation services for over 140 languages. There is also a TDD line.

To get help now:

Crisis Text Line – This text helpline offers 24/7/365 emotional support and resources for people experiencing any type of crisis. Text HEAL to 741-741 to start a conversation with a trained volunteer crisis counselor. 

Teen Line – The teen line offers peer support by teens for teens through a hotline (6–10 p.m.), a text line (5:30–9:30 p.m.), a message board, and email. It also provides a blog, information, and resources.

To get support:

Your Life Your Voice – This website offers four ways to get help. Youth can talk to counselors 24/7, chat Monday – Friday from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., text from 4 p.m. – 1 a.m. (CST), or send an email. You’ll also find tips on building coping skills and dealing with grief, a bulletin board, and videos.

  • Call 800-448-300
  • Text VOICE to 20121
  • Send an e-mail

College Students

The Jed Foundation – The foundation wants to promote the emotional health and prevent suicide among college and university students. It has a variety of programs for students, from MUV's college network to social networking sites to tours and events.

LGBTQIA2S+ Youth

It Gets Better Project – This project wants to let LGBTQIA2S+ youth know that life will get better. The project also inspires youth to make needed changes to help them feel better. It offers a resource center, tweets, and inspirational videos from members. Youth can record their own story on a camera and share it with other members.

Native Youth

Native and Strong Lifeline – This 24/7/365 helpline is available in Washington state. It’s operated by Native crisis counselors who provide support based on cultural and traditional healing and the lived experiences of Native people. 

Anyone with a Washington area code can reach the Native and Strong Lifeline by dialing 988 and choosing option 4. If you get service from T-Mobile or Verizon and are physically located in Washington, you can dial 988 from any area code to hear the option for the Native & Strong Lifeline.

We R Native – This website is for Native youth and operated by Native youth, but Native people of all ages may find the information and resources helpful. You can also post anonymous questions on the “Ask Auntie” message board.

You Are Not Alone Network – This website offers a Native Youth Crisis Hotline, which you can reach by calling  1-877-209-1266. The site also includes videos, information on state and national resources, wisdom from elders, an illustrated story, and videos.

Teens Experiencing Bulling

Teens Against Bullying – This website helps bullied youth understand that they’re not alone. It offers stories, videos, poetry, and artwork from bullied teens, encourages teens to reach out and to tell an adult, informs them of their rights, and helps them develop an action plan.

More information

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