Crisis Support in the United States
Crisis Support in the United States
This page helps route crisis support across the United States, including emergency help, 988, text and chat support, identity-safe pathways, and practical mental health support.
In the United States, 988 offers free, confidential crisis support 24/7 by call, text, or chat for mental health distress, suicidal crisis, substance use concerns, or emotional overwhelm. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Quick Access Crisis Support
Immediate danger
Call 911 now for immediate danger, medical emergency, or urgent safety risk.
Call or text 988
Use 988 for urgent emotional distress, suicidal crisis, substance use concerns, or mental health crisis. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Online chat support
988 also offers live online chat when speaking feels harder.
What 988 Can Help With
Suicidal thoughts
Support for suicidal thoughts, immediate emotional crisis, or fear for your safety.
Mental health distress
Support for panic, emotional overwhelm, severe distress, or escalating mental health symptoms.
Substance use concerns
Support for substance use distress, crisis escalation, or concern about someone else. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Text, Chat & Lower-Pressure Support
Text support
Texting 988 can be easier when speaking feels too hard, too fast, or too overwhelming. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Live chat
Online chat can offer quieter, lower-pressure crisis support with more time to process. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Lower-pressure access
Written support can help when speech, sensory load, shutdown, anxiety, or overwhelm make calls harder.
Safer Crisis Pathways
Identity-safe support
Find support that feels safer around identity, gender, sexuality, culture, faith, and belonging.
Neurodivergent-friendly support
Find calmer, clearer, lower-pressure support that is easier to process.
Practical support
Find safer next-step support for housing, family stress, safety, and immediate practical needs.
Where To Go Next
Text / Chat Crisis Support
Lower-pressure written crisis support when speaking feels harder.
Open text/chat supportCrisis Support by Audience
Find support by age, identity, and support role.
Open audience supportLGBTQIA+ Crisis Support
Identity-safe crisis support for gender, sexuality, and belonging.
Open LGBTQIA+ supportNeurodivergent Crisis Support
Lower-pressure support for autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neurodivergent people.
Open ND supportNorth America Crisis Support
Return to North America crisis support.
Open North AmericaCrisis Support Main Index
Return to the wider crisis support hub.
Open crisis hubImportant Disclaimer
Aspie Answers provides education, signposting, and supportive information. This page is not a replacement for emergency care, medical advice, therapy, legal advice, safeguarding, or professional crisis assessment. In an emergency, contact local emergency services immediately or use the safest crisis pathway available where you are.