Mental Health Hotline

A significant portion of Americans live with some form of mental illness. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, almost one-fifth of adults in the country have a mental health disorder. Some people may be unsure of where to turn for help when they are struggling with mental health symptoms, but a mental health hotline can provide a source of support. 

Mental Health Hotline Number 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a national mental health hotline at the following number:

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

This hotline is free to call and is available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. It is free to call the hotline, which is staffed by operators who refer callers to local mental health treatment resources and support groups. 

Other national mental health hotline numbers include:

  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
  • National Eating Disorders Association Hotline: 800-931-2237
  • National Drug Helpline: 844-289-0879

When You Should Call

If your mental health is beginning to interfere with daily life but you don’t know where to turn for help, you can find assistance by contacting a mental health hotline. You can also reach out to a mental health hotline if you are concerned about a family member who may need treatment. 

Some reasons to call a hotline include: 

  • Locating treatment providers or resources in your area
  • Receiving information about how to help a family member who needs treatment
  • Determining which local mental health providers are suitable for your financial situation 
  • Learning about mental health treatment 

You may be able to call a hotline when experiencing a mental health crisis, such as suicidal thoughts, as some hotlines specialize in crisis management.

What Happens When You Call?

When you call a mental health hotline, you will be connected to a trained specialist who can answer your questions and refer you to nearby resources. In some cases, the staff member taking your call may be trained in a specific area, such as suicide assessment and response. 

Hotline calls are typically confidential. Some hotlines, such as the SAMHSA national mental health hotline, guarantee confidentiality. The staff member taking your call will not gather any personal information or ask for your name, but they may request your zip code so they can refer you to services in your area. 

Calls made to the national suicide hotline Lifeline are confidential, but a staff member will gather information to ensure your safety.  If you are in a crisis situation and at risk of danger, the operator may ask for some contact information to connect you to local emergency services. Each hotline differs a little, so it can be helpful to ask whether your call will be confidential. 

In general, when you make a call to a mental health hotline, you can expect the operator to keep your phone call confidential and gather information about your safety and needs. They may refer you to local resources or help you make decisions regarding your mental health. Crisis hotlines can also provide emotional support and help you process your feelings during a crisis, allowing you to make smart decisions and stay safe.

Mental health hotline calls are free of charge. However, it is important to check with your phone provider to see if text messaging or data charges may apply.

Teen Mental Health Hotline 

For teenagers looking for assistance with mental health symptoms, The Youth Alliance provides a website with links to multiple hotlines. Some mental health hotlines for adults, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, are also prepared to meet the needs of adolescents.

One particularly useful teen mental health hotline is I’m Alive, which allows teens in crisis to chat with trained volunteers. Chat sessions are secure and confidential. 

Mental Health Hotlines by State

While calling a national mental health hotline can be helpful, you may prefer to contact a hotline that serves your state. State hotlines can provide coverage to smaller areas and reduce some of the call volume received by large national hotlines.

Consult the list below for mental health and crisis hotlines in your state:

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

Finding Supplementary Support

While mental health hotlines can provide helpful information and link you to mental health services in your area, some people may prefer a different approach. For example, it is becoming more common for people to use mental health apps to access mental health resources from home. If you want to take advantage of on-the-go mental health resources via your smartphone or tablet, Nobu may be the perfect option for you. 

The Nobu app is free to download and offers a range of free features, including: 

  • A journaling service
  • Mood tracker
  • Lessons on mental health topics
  • Training in mindfulness techniques like yoga and meditation
  • Mental health assessments for a variety of conditions
jonathan strum headshot
Edited by – Jonathan Strum Jonathan Strum graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha with a Bachelor’s in Communication in 2017 and has been writing professionally ever since. He has written, edited and published content for health care professionals, educators, real estate agents, lawyers and high-level university faculty… Read more.
jenni jacobsen
Written by – Jenni Jacobsen, LSW Jenni Jacobsen is a licensed social worker through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. She has seven years of experience working in the social work field, working with clients with addiction-related and mental health… Read more.
dr angela phillips

Medically Reviewed by – Dr. Angela Phillips

Angela is a licensed therapist and clinical researcher, and has worked in public, private, government, and not-for-profit organizations, across clinical and research-oriented roles. Angela’s clinical and research experience has included suicide prevention, cognitive behavioral… Read more.

  • National Institute of Mental Health. “Mental Illness.” Accessed November 13, 2021. 
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “FAQ.” Accessed November 14, 2021. 
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “National Helpline.” November 8, 2021. Accessed November 14, 2021. 
  • The Youth Alliance. “Help Hotlines.” Accessed November 14, 2021.