Depression and Low Mood Crisis Support Worldwide

Support when everything feels heavy

Depression & Low Mood Crisis Support – Worldwide

This page is for people who feel deeply low, numb, hopeless, exhausted, disconnected, overwhelmed, or unable to cope. It is also for people supporting someone who may be struggling with depression or emotional shutdown.

Depression and low mood can make even small steps feel impossible. You do not need to explain everything perfectly. A simple message like “I am not coping and I need support” is enough to begin.

If you are in immediate danger

If you may harm yourself, feel unable to stay safe, have taken something, are at risk, or feel you might not make it through safely, contact emergency services now or go to the nearest emergency department.

New Zealand: 111
Australia: 000
United States / Canada: 911 or 988 where available
UK / Europe: 999, 112, or your local emergency number

Gentle content notice

This page talks about depression, low mood, hopelessness, emotional crisis, suicidal thoughts, self-harm risk, and urgent support. If this feels too much, pause here and contact a safe person or crisis service.

Low mood can make help feel hard

Depression can make it difficult to speak, reply, move, eat, shower, think clearly, or believe things can change. That does not mean support is pointless. It means the next step needs to be smaller and safer.

You can use fewer words

If you cannot explain what is happening, you can send: “I’m not safe alone,” “I’m not coping,” or “Please help me contact support.”

Quick support steps for right now

Choose one tiny step. You do not need to solve everything today.

Tell one person

Send one short message to someone safe: “I’m not doing okay. Can you check in with me?”

Reduce danger

Move away from anything you could use to hurt yourself, or ask someone to stay with you while you get help.

Use crisis support

Call, text, chat, or ask someone else to contact a crisis service with you if you feel unsafe or unable to cope.

Smallest possible next step

Put both feet on the floor or sit somewhere safer.
Drink water if you can.
Send one message: “I need support.”
Stay near another person or public/safe place if possible.
Use emergency or crisis support if you may not stay safe.

What depression or low mood crisis may look like

Depression does not always look like crying. Sometimes it looks like silence, irritability, shutdown, exhaustion, numbness, withdrawal, or being unable to do basic tasks.

Area	What it might look like	Helpful next step
Mood	Sadness, numbness, irritability, tearfulness, hopeless thoughts, or feeling emotionally flat.	Tell someone safe, write one sentence, or use a mood check-in.
Energy	Feeling exhausted, slowed down, restless, or unable to keep up with daily tasks.	Lower the demands and choose one essential task only.
Connection	Withdrawing, not replying, avoiding people, or feeling like a burden.	Send a short message: “I’m struggling and could use a check-in.”
Safety	Thoughts of not wanting to be here, self-harm, or feeling unable to stay safe.	Reach out for urgent support now: emergency services, crisis line, or trusted person.

If this is happening to you

If you feel very low, numb, hopeless, or unable to cope, your job right now is not to make a perfect plan. Your job is to get through the next few minutes safely and connect with support.

Try this first

Move away from immediate danger if possible.
Stay near another person, even quietly.
Send one message instead of explaining everything.
Use text/chat if calling feels too hard.
Seek urgent help if you may not stay safe.

Copy-and-send message

“I’m feeling really low and I’m not coping. I don’t want to be alone right now. Can you stay with me or help me contact support?”

If you are supporting someone with depression or low mood

Try to be calm, practical, and non-judgemental. Depression can make people feel ashamed, burdensome, or unable to explain what they need.

What can help

Ask directly and gently if they feel safe.
Stay with them or help them contact support.
Offer simple choices instead of lots of questions.
Validate that things feel hard without arguing.

What to avoid

Do not shame, lecture, minimise, or compare.
Do not say “just think positive.”
Do not leave them alone if they may not stay safe.
Do not promise secrecy if there is safety risk.

Helpful phrase

“I’m really glad you told me. You do not have to handle this alone. Let’s get support together.”

Worldwide depression & low mood crisis contacts

Contact options can change, so check the official service page where possible. If there is immediate danger, use your local emergency number first.

New Zealand / Aotearoa

Emergency: 111
1737: free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757
Lifeline NZ: 0800 543 354 or free text 4357

Australia

Emergency: 000
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
Lifeline text: 0477 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

United States

Emergency: 911
988 Lifeline: call, text, chat, and Deaf/HoH access options
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Canada

Emergency: 911
9-8-8 Canada: call or text 9-8-8 for suicide crisis support
Crisis Text Line Canada: text HOME to 686868 where available

United Kingdom

Emergency: 999 or 112
Samaritans: 116 123, free any time
Shout: text SHOUT to 85258
NHS urgent mental health: NHS 111 or local urgent mental health services where available

Ireland

Emergency: 112 or 999
Samaritans: 116 123
Crisis Text Line Ireland: text HOME to 50808 where available

Europe

Emergency: 112 in many European countries
Local support: use country-specific suicide prevention, mental health, or urgent care pathways
Language access: ask for interpreter or translated support where available

International / worldwide

Find a Helpline: search by country and topic, including depression, anxiety, suicide prevention, self-harm, grief, trauma, and more
Befrienders Worldwide: international emotional support and suicide prevention directory

Open location support

If you are unsure what to use

Choose the safest urgent option: emergency services for immediate danger, a crisis line/text/chat service if you may not stay safe, or a trusted person who can stay with you while support is contacted.