Need help? It's just a phone call away. Hotlines are usually open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls are welcome and encouraged from teens as well as worried parents.

 

Depression and Suicide
United States National Suicide and Crisis Hotlines

 

HOPE - The National Hopeline Network
1-800-SUICIDE
(1-800-784-2433)

Incoming calls get routed to a suicide crisis agency located near the caller. More than 40 percent of calls come from people between the ages of 14 and 24.

Teenline Hotline Help Center
1-888-747-TEEN (8336)
www.teenline.org

Youth America Hotline (YAH!)
1-877-YOUTHLINE
1-877-968-8454
http://youthline.us

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
1-800-799-4TTY (4889)  TTY Line

Drug Abuse

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse Services Administration
800-622-4357

Callers receive information on where to find treatment in their areas for the abuse of all types of substances, from alcohol to illegal and legal drugs.

Overdose

Poison Control Centers
800-222-1222

You may think of this as a number to call when someone accidentally swallows a substance like cleaning fluid. But Poison Control also takes calls concerning alcohol and drug abuse-many from teens worried that a friend has overdosed. Toxicologists are on hand to help the caller figure out if he should take the friend to the emergency room or follow steps to deal with the problem on his own.

Runaways

National Runaway Switchboard
800-786-2929

This hotline helps runaways find local shelters, transitional housing, and other resources. It can even help arrange for them to get a free bus ticket home. Volunteers and professional staff also work to prevent troubled kids from leaving home in the first place.

Eating Disorders

National Eating Disorders Association
800-931-2237

This helpline (staffed only during certain business hours) offers referrals to local support groups and treatment centers for anorexia, bulimia, and other eating problems. After hours, callers can leave a confidential voicemail; a staffer will call back promptly.

School Shootings

Pax Real Solutions to Gun Violence
866-773-2587

In more than 80 percent of school shooting cases, the attacker told at least one other student about his or her scheme beforehand. This is a number kids can call if they've heard about such a plan. Callers are not required to reveal their identity. Trained counselors ask questions, then call the school and local law enforcement to report the threat.

Any Issue

Girls and Boys Town National Hotline
800-448-3000

This crisis, resource, and referral line is designed to help young people with problems ranging from fighting with parents and bullying to sexual assault and drug abuse.

Covenant House Nineline
800-999-9999

Staffers take calls on any subject and have access to a database of 30,000 social service agencies throughout the country, including the 15 Covenant House shelters.