Depression Hotline

If you’re living with depression, you may be unsure of where to turn. If you’re feeling alone and you don’t know where to start, you may realize it’s time to reach out for help. If this is the case, a depression hotline can be a useful resource. 

Depression Hotline Number 

If you’re looking for a depression hotline, consider one of the following hotline numbers:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine:  1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, option 1 

National Hopeline Network, Suicide & Crisis Hotline: 1-800-442-HOPE (4673)

When You Should Call 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 7.8% of American adults live with depression within a given year, and 5.3% have such significant depression that it results in severe impairment. 

If feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are beginning to interfere with daily functioning and you don’t know where to turn for help, it may be time to call a depression hotline. Similarly, if you notice a loved one struggling with depression symptoms, and you want to help, calling a depression hotline can be a good first step.

There are several common reasons people may contact a depression hotline, either on behalf of themselves or a friend or relative:

• To obtain general information about how depression is treated
• To talk to someone supportive who understands what the caller is going through 
• To locate depression treatment options in their area, such as counseling or support groups 
• To receive confidential help and support
• To get immediate help in an emergency, such as if you or a loved one is experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm as a result of depression symptoms 

What Happens When You Call?

Most people want to know what they can expect when they call a depression hotline. In most cases, depression hotline calls are free and confidential, and the staff member taking the call will not know your name. 

When you make a call to a depression hotline, the person on the other end of the line will likely ask some basic questions to understand why you’re calling. They may ask about your symptoms and what they can do to help. The trained staff member taking the call may provide emotional support or refer you to depression counselors in your area. To assess the situation, they may also ask some of the following questions:

• Where are you located?
• Are you safe?
• Are you having any thoughts of harming yourself or others?

While depression hotline calls are typically confidential, the person taking the call may need to collect additional information from you, such as your current location, in order to contact emergency personnel to intervene if you disclose that you’re having thoughts of taking your life, or otherwise seriously harming yourself or others. 

Teen Depression Hotline

While teenagers are certainly welcome to call any of the general depression hotline numbers, there are some depression hotlines for teens that are especially sensitive to the struggles of this age group. 

The numbers below can be helpful for teens who’d like to call a depression hotline:

• YouthLine: 1-877-968-8491
• Boys Town National Hotline: 1-800-448-3000
• S.A.F.E. Alternatives Hotline: 1-800-366-8288

Depression Hotlines by State

National depression hotlines are an excellent resource, but it can be more efficient to call a mental health hotline in your state since national hotlines tend to be overwhelmed with more calls. 

Each state hotline will vary in the services it can offer, but in general, state depression hotlines are able to provide resources for mental health conditions, including depression. 

Alabama

Alabama Department of Public Health

1-800-691-8426

Alaska

North Star Behavioral Health System

1-800-478-7575

Arizona

Mercy Care Crisis Services

1-800-631-1314

Arkansas

Arkansas Crisis Center

1-888-274-7472

California

Los Angeles County Suicide Prevention Center

1-877-727-4747

Colorado

Colorado Crisis Services

1-844-493-8255

Connecticut

United Way of Connecticut

211

Delaware

Contact Lifeline

1-800-262-9800

Florida

United Way of Florida

211 in multiple counties

Georgia

Fulton Emergency Mental Health

1-404-730-1600

Hawaii

AMHD Crisis Line

1-800-753-6879

Idaho

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

1-888-573-7652

Illinois

InTouch Hotline

1-312-996-5535

Indiana

United Way of Indiana

211

Iowa

Great Rivers 211

1-800-362-8255

Kansas

Crosswinds Counseling and Wellness

1-866-330-3310

Kentucky

Pathways Inc.

1-800-562-8909

Louisiana

Louisiana Association of United Ways

211

Maine

Maine Department of Health and Human Services

1-888-568-1112

Maryland

Mental Health Association Call Center

1-301-662-2255

Massachusetts

Samaritans-Suicide Prevention

1-617-247-0220

Michigan

University of Michigan Health System

1-734-936-5900

Minnesota

Minneapolis Hennepin County Medical Center

1-612-873-2222

Mississippi

Mississippi Contact Helpline

1-662-328-0200

Missouri

Missouri Department of Mental Health

1-800-356-5395

Montana

Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-800-273-8255

Nebraska

Center Point Helpline

1-402-475-6695

Nevada

Nevada Crisis Call Center

1-775-784-8090

New Hampshire

New Hampshire HelpLine

1-800-852-3388

New Jersey

Ocean Mental Health Services

1-732-240-6100

New Mexico

NM Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-866-435-7166

New York

Capital District Psychiatric Center Crisis Unit

1-518-447-9650

North Carolina

Mecklenburg County Crisis

1-704-566-3410

North Dakota

FirstLink Crisis Services

1-701-235-7335

Ohio

Dayton Suicide Prevention Center

1-937-229-7777

Oklahoma

Heart Line / Care Line

1-405-848-2273

Oregon

National Suicide Prevention Line

1-800-273-8255

Pennsylvania

Resolve Crisis Services

1-888-796-8226

Rhode Island

The Samaritans of Rhode Island

1-401-272-4044

South Carolina

United Way Association of South Carolina

211

South Dakota

Northeastern Mental Health Center

1-605-229-1000

Tennessee

Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line

1-855-274-7471

Texas

Hope Line

1-325-677-7773

Utah

Weber Human Services

1-801-625-3700

Vermont

Clara Martin Center

1-800-639-6360

Virginia

Crisis Link

1-703-527-4077

Washington

Wahkiakum County Health and Human

1-800-635-5989

West Virginia

Help4WV

1-844-435-7498

Wisconsin

The Crisis Center of Family Services

1-920-436-8888

Wyoming

Wyoming Behavioral Institute

1-800-457-9312

Other National Hotlines

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about half of people who live with mental illness will experience a substance use disorder at some point during their lives. Research also shows that psychiatric conditions, including depression, are common among individuals with eating disorders. Therefore, while general mental health hotlines are beneficial, it’s also crucial to have access to other, more specific hotlines that may be able to help with any co-occurring conditions, like: 

• National Eating Disorders Association Hotline: 1-800-931-2237
• National Drug Helpline: 1-844-289-0879
• The Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990

Depression and other national hotlines can be invaluable for people living with depression and related conditions. While these hotlines can be useful for obtaining information and connecting to resources, some people may prefer a self-help approach over calling a hotline. 

If you’re looking for self-help tools to help with depression, Nobu offers a free-to-download mental wellness app that features mindfulness training, lessons from mental health experts and a goal tracker so you can monitor your progress. A paid plan with Nobu is also available, where users schedule online therapy sessions with licensed counselors. Download the app today on the App Store or Google Play Store to get started.