Crisis lines in the USA provide free, confidential support for people experiencing mental health emergencies, suicidal thoughts, and substance use crises anywhere in the country. Whether you are searching for nationwide resources or a crisis line near you in your city or state, trained counselors are available 24 hours a day by phone, text, and chat.
How crisis line resources work in the USA
National crisis lines are staffed around the clock by trained counselors who provide emotional support, help callers assess their immediate safety, and connect them to local follow-up resources. National lines often use geographic routing to connect callers to counselors familiar with their state or region, improving the quality of local referrals.
The USA has several specialized national crisis lines in addition to the general 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. These include dedicated lines for veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, Spanish-speaking callers, domestic violence survivors, and others. Text and chat-based options are also available for people who cannot safely call or prefer written communication.
National crisis lines work alongside state and local resources. After a call, counselors can refer callers to community mental health centers, mobile crisis teams, peer support services, or crisis stabilization facilities in their area. The local availability of these follow-up resources varies by state and county.
How crisis lines are organized in the USA
The USA’s crisis line infrastructure operates at three levels: national lines that anyone can call from anywhere, state-operated or state-coordinated lines that may offer better local routing, and county or city crisis lines operated by local community mental health organizations. Many areas have all three levels available, and knowing which to call can improve the speed and quality of local follow-up.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is the national standard entry point, available by call or text from anywhere in the US. SAMHSA and NAMI also maintain resources to help people locate state and local crisis services. For people in need of immediate physical intervention, 911 remains the appropriate call.
Major metropolitan areas in the USA
New York
New York City has one of the country’s most developed crisis response systems, including a dedicated city crisis line, mobile crisis teams, and psychiatric emergency services. Callers in New York can access both national lines and robust local resources through the city’s 24/7 mental health crisis system.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County has local crisis lines, county-operated mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization units that supplement national lines. LA callers have access to multilingual crisis services in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and other languages.
Chicago
Chicago and Cook County have local crisis resources including mobile crisis response and community mental health crisis services. The city has invested in non-police mental health crisis response alternatives in recent years.
Houston
Houston and Harris County have a regional crisis line and mobile crisis outreach teams that work alongside national services. The Texas Statewide Behavioral Health Coordinating Council coordinates statewide crisis capacity including resources serving the Houston metro area.
Phoenix
Phoenix and Maricopa County have local crisis resources including regional crisis lines, mobile crisis teams, and crisis receiving centers. Arizona has invested in crisis stabilization infrastructure that gives callers in the Phoenix area access to local in-person follow-up options.
What you’ll find on this page
- National crisis lines accessible from anywhere in the USA by phone, text, or chat
- Specialized lines for veterans, LGBTQ+ callers, Spanish speakers, and other populations
- Information on how national lines connect callers to state and local follow-up resources
- State-level crisis line listings to find resources near you
- Guidance on when a crisis line is appropriate versus calling 911
- Resources for family members and caregivers supporting someone in crisis
- Tips for comparing national, state, and local crisis options