Emergency Hotlines
For immediate assistance, here is a list of reliable resources.
Universal Emergency
Available 24/7. If you or someone else is in imminent danger of hurting themselves or others, you can call 911 and tell the dispatcher that you or your loved one is having a mental health crisis. It may also help to explain your/their mental health history and/or diagnosis in order to encourage them to safely respond to the psychiatric crisis call. They can also help to transport a person who wants to go to the hospital, take a person to a hospital for an involuntary evaluation, or check on the welfare of your family member.
County Crisis Screening Center (Middlesex county)
Rutgers University Behavioral HealthCare
Available 24/7. Designated Crisis Screening Center for anyone in Middlesex county experiencing an urgent mental health problem. There is a mobile response team available to provide services to clients at home or at the site of the crisis. Short-term intervention, de-escalation and stabilization, psychiatric evaluation, nurse assessment, and then information and referral to community-based services and access to inpatient hospitalization. Open to anyone experiencing an urgent mental health problem, or someone calling on behalf of anyone experiencing an urgent mental health problem.
Other County Crisis Screening Centers (NJ only)
Available 24/7. Designated Crisis Screening Center for anyone in New Jersey experiencing an urgent mental health problem. Open to anyone experiencing an urgent mental health problem, or someone calling on behalf of anyone experiencing an urgent mental health problem. This list is organized by county.
National Suicide & Crisis Hotline
Available 24/7. A national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress in the United States
National Hopeline Network
Available 24/7. A line that routes to local or regional hotline. They can also help through their online crisis chat.
Self-Harm Hotline
Available 24/7. S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Self-Abuse Finally Ends), an organization dedicated to helping people who self-harm.
The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
Available 24/7. Report child abuse. Go to childhelphotline.org for more information.
RAINN: Rape Abuse + Incest National Network
Available 24/7. When you call, you’ll be routed to a local RAINN affiliate organization based on the first six digits of your phone number. Cell phone callers have the option to enter the ZIP code of their current location to more accurately locate the nearest sexual assault service provider. More information here.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Available 24/7. A national hotline that provides information and assistance to adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, family and household members, and other persons such as domestic violence advocates, government officials, law enforcement agencies and the general public.
Planned Parenthood Hotline
Available 24/7. They can answer your sexual health questions, connect you with their health centers to make an appointment, or refer you to another trusted provider.
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Hopeline
Available 24/7. They can help you to assess your situation, provide information, and, if indicated, refer you to the most appropriate resources in your community, such as an inpatient residential facility, an outpatient, non-residential treatment program, or mutual aid/self-help resources like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), or the Al-Anon Family Groups or Nar-Anon Family Groups, among others. Website.
American Association of Poison Control Centers
Available 24/7. Get free, expert help from Poison Control right away if you suspect a poisoning. They can also help online.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
Available 24/7. A confidential and free information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
LGBT National Hotline
Available Monday through Friday from 4pm to 12am EST, and Saturday from 12pm to 5pm EST. Provides a safe space that is anonymous and confidential where callers can speak on many different issues and concerns including, but limited to, coming out issues, gender and/or sexuality identities, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety, safer sex information, suicide, and much more.
Trevor Project
Available 24/7. The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. Text, Instant Messaging also available. More info on their website.
The Trans Lifeline
Available 24/7. A peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Call if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in crisis or if you’re not sure you’re trans.
AIDS Crisis Line
Available 24/7.
National Crisis Line, Anorexia and Bulimia
Available 24/7.