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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →If someone you care about may be suicidal, you can contact 988 in the United States for crisis guidance—even if you are calling about another person. If they are in immediate life-threatening danger or have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You do not have to manage this alone: crisis professionals, treatment-referral services, and trusted people can help support both of you.
Choose the right help for the situation
| Situation | Where to turn |
|---|---|
| Immediate life-threatening danger or a medical emergency | Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. NIMH and SAMHSA identify emergency care as the route for immediate danger. |
| You are worried about someone and need crisis counseling or guidance | Call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org. A family member or friend can contact the Lifeline about someone else, and supporters can also ask for help for themselves. The Lifeline’s guidance for helping someone else explains this option. |
| You need help finding treatment or a provider | Search for treatment facilities or providers at FindTreatment.gov, or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for treatment referrals and information. SAMHSA describes the helpline as free, confidential, and available 24 hours in English and Spanish: National Helpline details. |
These contacts are for people in the United States. If you are elsewhere, use your local emergency number and crisis services; 988 is not an international number.
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What you can do while connecting them to help
NIMH recommends five practical actions. They are supportive steps, not a substitute for crisis professionals or a guarantee that you can control what happens.
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- Ask directly. Ask whether they are thinking about suicide. A clear question can open a conversation; listen to the answer rather than trying to debate or dismiss it.
- Be present and listen without judgment. Let them talk, express concern, and avoid shaming or minimizing what they are experiencing. SAMHSA also recommends asking questions and listening.
- Help make the situation safer. Talk with them about a safety plan and reducing access to highly lethal means. Seek professional guidance when you need help deciding what to do.
- Connect them with support. Offer to contact 988, a trusted person, a community resource, or a mental health professional together. Practical help—such as making a call or helping arrange an appointment—can make taking the next step easier.
- Follow up. Stay in touch after a crisis or a discharge from care. NIMH says follow-up can make a difference.
You can offer help and encourage care, but you cannot force someone to accept treatment. SAMHSA recommends being present, asking what they need, and helping them connect to care if they need or want it.
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If they say they are going to kill themselves
NIMH advises that you should not leave the person alone and should not promise to keep suicidal thoughts secret. Tell a trusted person and seek help. If there is immediate life-threatening danger, call 911 or go to an emergency room. For crisis counseling and guidance in the United States, call or text 988.
Find treatment and referral information
When the need is not an immediate emergency, the right next step depends on the person’s needs and location. FindTreatment.gov is SAMHSA’s online search for treatment facilities or providers. If you would rather speak to someone for referral information, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357; it is free, confidential, and available 24 hours in English and Spanish, according to SAMHSA. Family and friends can help take the first step toward finding mental health treatment, but a directory or referral cannot determine which care is right for a particular person.
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Supporting someone through a suicidal crisis can bring up fear, exhaustion, and other difficult emotions. You can call 988 for your own support, ask a trusted friend or relative to stand with you, or seek guidance from a mental health professional. The 988 Lifeline tells supporters: “If it does, please reach out for support yourself.” Asking for help is part of responding to a difficult situation; it is not a failure to care for the person.
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