If you’re in danger right now
Call 911. Or go to the nearest emergency room. If you can, tell someone near you what’s going on.
If it's bad
right now
I’m really glad you’re here. Take a breath if you can. You don’t have to do anything big right now. Just the next small thing.
Here are people who can talk with you tonight. They’re real, they’re free, and they’re awake.
Talk to someone now
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988. Or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Free, confidential, all day and all night. You don’t have to be suicidal to call. Overwhelmed counts. Scared counts. “I don’t know” counts.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741.
Free, all day and all night. Good if talking out loud feels like too much.
When you’re ready for more than tonight
These aren’t emergencies. They’re for when you want steady help and money is tight. I don’t get anything from sharing these. No affiliate links. Just places that might help.
FindTreatment.gov
A free, confidential search run by the U.S. government (SAMHSA). Find mental health and substance use care near you, including places that offer sliding-scale fees or take Medicaid. Visit findtreatment.gov.
Open Path Collective
A nonprofit that connects people with therapists who offer lower-cost sessions, in person or online. Visit openpathcollective.org.
A few small things, if you want them
Not advice. Just things that help me sometimes.
Put your feet flat on the floor. Notice it holding you.
Drink some water.
Text one person, even just “hey.”
Get through the next ten minutes. Then the next ten.
One more thing
Feeling this way doesn’t mean you’re weak or broken. It means you’re carrying something heavy. You don’t have to carry it by yourself.
I’m one guy, not a crisis service, so please reach out to the people above first. But you can still write to me after. I’d like to know you’re okay.