crisis + bereavement hotlines
Reach out to the below regional and national organizations if you are in distress and need crisis or bereavement support. If you seek a compassionate peer to lend an understanding ear, a link to "warmlines" is listed at the bottom of this page.
The information listed below is not an endorsement of any of the organizations cited.
c r i s i s s u p p o r t
emergency situation
NATIONAL: If you or someone you know are in immediate danger call or text: 9-1-1.
suicide + crisis lifelines
NATIONAL: The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides support for mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just someone for you to talk to. Caring counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are not alone.
call or text: 9-8-8
chat: 988lifeline.org
An excellent list of additional resources is available at: speakingofsuicide.com/resources
NATIONAL: Crisis Text Line provides free mental health texting service through confidential crisis intervention via text messaging, 24 hours a day.
text: 741741 and type "TALK"
teens in crisis
WA STATE: TeenLink provides unconditional, confidential support for teens, their friends and families with a crisis line manned by trained teens.
Lines open: Daily from 6 to 10pm
phone & text: 1-866-833-6546
chat: teenlink.org/chat/
GLOBAL: YouthLine's teen volunteers listen non-judgmentally and validate teen callers anywhere in the world sharing their issues, no matter how big or small. Live interpreters available for non-English speakers. Teens answer calls from 4pm to 10pm PST. Adults answer calls at all other times.
phone: 1-877.968.8491
text: 839863 and type "teentoteen"
chat: OregonYouthLine.org
email: teentoteen@linesforlife.org
substance abuse or mental health crisis
WASHINGTON: The WA Recovery Help Line offers anonymous, confidential 24-hour help for WA State residents experiencing a substance use disorder, problem gambling and/or a mental health challenge. Emotional support is provided by professionally-trained staff who can also connect callers to local treatment resources and useful community services.
phone: 1-866-789-1511
resources: WArecoveryhelpline.org
NATIONAL: SAMHSA's National Helpline provides free, 24-hour, confidential treatment referral and information services for mental and substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery.
phone: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
NATIONAL: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline assists individuals and families who have questions about mental health disorders, treatment, and support services. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm EST.
Phone: 1-800-950–6264
LGBTQ+ crisis + peer support
US phone: 1-877-565-8860
Canada phone: 1-877-330-6366
phone: 1-866-488-7386
text: 678-678 and type "START"
chat: thetrevorproject.org/get-help/
domestic violence crisis
phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
For an excellent overview of domestic violence, including a directory of local shelters, legal help, resources for deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing plus Native Americans, go HERE.
veterans + service members in crisis
NATIONAL: Veteran Crisis Line is for U.S. Military Personnel and their families. Connect with caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs, many of them veterans themselves. You do not need to be enrolled in VA services to use this resource.
phone: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) + press 1
text: 838255
TTY:1-800-799-4889
chat: veteranscrisisline.net
NATIONAL: Lifeline for Vets is a crisis line answered by veterans who understand your experience in the military. Speaking to another veteran who "gets it" can be crucial for a soldier who has returned to the homeland and feels like a "stranger in a strange land." Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
phone: 1-888-777-4443
text: 838255
TTY:1-800-799-4889
In addition, support services are available through the National Veterans Foundation including crisis management, information, and referral needs for U.S. Veterans and their families HERE
crime victim + survivor support
NATIONAL: The VictimConnect Resource Center is a referral helpline where families of crime victims and survivors can learn about their rights and options confidentially and compassionately. Help and Chat Lines are manned with professional victim assistance specialists on Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm ET. Please be in a safe place before you connect, otherwise, call 9-1-1!
phone or text: 1-855-484-2846
chat: HERE
The VictimConnect Resource Center includes a searchable map for victims to find national and local resources for support for crimes such as sexual assault including men, deaf and deafblind; terrorism; mass violence; domestic violence; elder abuse or neglect; human trafficking (sex + labor); child sexual or physical abuse; child neglect; stalking; teen dating violence; assault; kidnapping; non-consensual pornography, and more.
find resources HERE
b e r e a v e m e n t s u p p o r t
grief support
NATIONAL: The Dinner Party offers a unique and comprehensive list of U.S. grief support organizations for all kinds of loss and all kinds of grievers,including LGBTQ; Disabled, Chronically Ill and/or Neurodiverse; BIPOC; Addiction Recovery and Life Threatening Diagnoses. Please note: not all organizations listed offer free resources.
review list HERE
SEATTLE AREA: The Healing Center offers free grief support groups for children and teens in person and for adults virtually on Zoom including Spouse + Partner Loss; Parent Loss; Parents supporting a Grieving Child; LBGTQ+ Grievers; Adults + Elders transitioning from Fresh Grief; and18-30 year olds Grievers. Each group is led by a licensed therapist or trained facilitator and run on an open model, meaning you can join at any time and remain enrolled as long as you wish.
contact form: HERE
NATIONAL: Contra Costa is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for people who are grieving the death of a significant other with a 24-hour phone counseling service.
phone: 1-800-837-1818
child loss
WASHINGTON: The Journey Grief Support Program,offers culturally responsive bereavement support for children, individuals, couples and families living with the loss of a child including pediatric counselors, support groups for adults, a giving library, and an annual community memorial service.
phone: 206-987-2062
NATIONAL: The Compassionate Friends helps bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents who are grieving the loss of a child to locate a local TCF support group and provide bereavement materials specifically chosen to apply to your situation.
phone: 1-877-969-0010
NATIONAL: Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) is dedicated to the aftermath and prevention of murder through groups offer ALL adult family members (not just parents) and friends emotional support and information about surviving the loss of a loved one who has been murdered.
email: natlpomc@pomc.org
phone: 513-721-5683
bereaved children + teens
NATIONAL: eLuna provides an extensive online library of resources for parents, caregivers and professionals to help support grieving or affected children. In addition, eLuna supports a nationwide network of free camps for children and teens, as follows:
-
CAMP ERIN is available in many locations in the U.S. and Canada for grief support for youth bereaving the loss of someone close.
-
CAMP MARIPOSA supports youth affected by a family member's substance use disorder with multiple camp sessions year-round where youth receive mentoring, life skills training and emotional support.
contact form: HERE.
PORTLAND AREA: The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families offers free virtual and in-person support groups - Bereavement, Pathways (for advanced serious illness) , and Esperanza in Spanish. In addition to family support groups, programs are age-based for children, teens and young adults, available at three Portland area facilities - Southeast, West & South.
phone: 503-775-5683
global list of grief resources HERE
baby loss
NATIONAL: First Candle provides parents grieving a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or other sleep-related infant death with 7/24 phone counselors.
phone: 1-800-221-7437
spouse loss
NATIONAL: Soaring Spirits International does not have a crisis hotline. Instead, they focus on providing community-based support and resources for widowed people, including online and in-person programs, events, and peer connections. (For Seattle residents; see also The Healing Center above)
web: soaringspirits.org
DUI or drugged driving death
NATIONAL: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Services provides emotional support plus no-cost legal and advocacy assistance to victims and survivors of a drunk or drugged driving crash 24-hours a day, 7 days a week
phone: 1-877-623-3435
suicide death
NATIONAL: Friends for Survival is a bereavement outreach organization supporting family and friends grieving a suicide death. The organization offers free virtual suicide grief support groups for Grieving Mothers; Grieving Men; Spouses + Partners, as well as Open Groups for all suicide loss survivors. Same day pre-registration required.
register HERE
Friends for Survival also offers a "warmline," available to any survivors of suicide nation-wide, manned by paid, trained staff. Lines are open 7 days a week. If no answer, leave a message and you will be called back.
phone: 1-800-646-7322
NATIONAL: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) offers Healing Conversations, a safe space for you to share your story with a trained volunteer who understands firsthand the pain and complexity of suicide loss. After you request a visit, the assigned volunteer will schedule a one-time meeting with you.
contact form: HERE
find a suicide support group HERE
INTERNATIONAL: Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors offers a free 24/7 online forum with a culture of kindness, hope, and understanding to people who have lost a loved one to suicide. The forum is supervised by a mental health professional and moderated by a trained team of loss survivors. Grievers share their stories and connect with suicide loss survivors across the globe. You must register to participate.
community forum HERE
homicide death
NATIONAL: National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) is dedicated to serving individuals, families, and communities harmed by crime. NCVC offers homicide related grief resources in English, Spanish and over 200 languages through its Center for Victim & Survivor Services’ (CVSS) which operates the VictimsConnect hotline.
phone + text: 855-4-VICTIM (484-2846)
chat HERE
NATIONAL: Justice for Homicide Victims operates a support hotline to help you deal with the pain and suffering associated with a homicide, JHV also provides support coping with a complex legal system by providing an understanding of your role in the criminal justice system.
phone: 310 457-0030
military or veteran death
NATIONAL: The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) provides comfort and guidance for all those grieving the death of a military or veteran loved one--military spouses, parents, children, siblings, family members, and friends through Good Grief Camps, Family Camps, seminars, and a 24/7 Helpline available toll-free with loving support and resources.
phone: 1-800-959-TAPS (8277)
w a r m l i n e s
NATIONAL: warmline.org is a centralized hub of free warmline listings. A "warmline" is an alternative to a crisis line that is run by peer specialists, generally individuals who have experienced trauma or addiction who "get" your situation/issue. There are over 150 warmlines offered by mental health agencies across the US. Unlike a crisis line, your warmline peer is unlikely to call the police or have you locked up if you share suicidal or self-harming thoughts or behaviors. Warmlines have the purpose of offering a cost effective and non-intrusive, voluntary intervention, thereby reducing hospitalization and forced treatment.
find warmlines: HERE
WA: call 1-877-500-WARM (9276) Daily 2 to 9pm.