You’re here. That’s already a step.
Whatever brought you here, you don’t have to carry it alone.
A human voice
Talk with a trained human. Free, 24/7.
In the UK? Call Samaritans on 116 123. Somewhere else? Find your local line.
In danger now, or have you taken something or seriously hurt yourself? Call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK, even if you feel fine.
Something to steady you
Small things that help right now
A listening companion — AI
Talk with Angel
Angel is an AI listening companion, designed by volunteers who answer crisis lines. Private, no sign-up, and Angel will always tell you it’s AI. It isn’t a human and isn’t a replacement for one — for a human, call or text 988.
All three are free and need no sign-up — take the one that feels possible right now.
Each small light in this sky is a real person’s story from the library — 888 of them so far.
Somewhere in the country, more than a dozen people reach out to 988 every minute of the day and night, and trained people are there to answer. Whatever this hour looks like, you aren’t the only one in it.
What happens when you call a helpline
- Have you taken something or seriously hurt yourself? Call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) now, even if you feel fine. That needs medical care, and a helpline can’t give that.
- When you call or text a helpline, someone listens. You don’t need to know what to say. They may ask how you are and whether you’re safe.
- Under 19 in the UK? You can also call Childline on 0800 1111.
- Afraid they’ll send police or an ambulance? Here is when 988 and Samaritans say they would, in their own words.
- If you’d rather not call a line, other ways to get help are below.
The 988 Lifeline recommends counselors contact emergency services (911, police, sheriff) for assistance only in cases where risk of harm to self or others is imminent or in progress, and when a less invasive plan for the caller/texter’s safety cannot be collaborated on with the individual.
Less than two percent of 988 Lifeline calls involve emergency services. When emergency services are involved, over half of these emergency dispatches occur with the caller’s consent.
Those figures count phone calls only, not texts or chats, and 988 does not say when they were measured. 988’s own study, published in July 2024, found a similar rate in calls from October 2019 to September 2023, most of them made before 988 began in 2022. In that study, of the fewer than 2 in 100 calls where help was sent, about 4 in 10 were recorded as with the caller’s consent, about 4 in 10 as without, and for the rest the person could not be found, so it is not recorded. Counting only the cases where it was recorded, about half were with consent, which matches 988’s “over half”. In an older sample, from four centers in 2007, before the Lifeline’s 2010 safety policy, the rate ranged from 0.5% to 8.5% of calls.
You have the right to expect that information about your contact with the 988 Lifeline will not be shared outside the 988 Lifeline without your consent. However, there are exceptions. We reserve the right to disclose personally identifiable information (PII) to authorities (such as 911, law enforcement, or urgent mental health services such as mobile crisis response teams) without your permission in certain circumstances, which may include:
- Imminent risk of physical harm to yourself or others is present, or the situation warrants a rapid in-person response and cannot be de-escalated safely during the conversation;
- A suicide attempt or overdose is in progress;
- Physical symptoms that could be a medical emergency;
- A minor or elder is being abused or neglected (according to their state’s laws); or
- A threat is made to a 988 Lifeline crisis contact center; office; or affiliated individual that we believe needs to be investigated.
The personal information shared should be relevant to providing emergency intervention to a person in a life-threatening situation.
Samaritans (UK) says:
We won't call emergency services, except for in these circumstances:
- You ask us to, and you’re unable to call for yourself
- You’ve already told us your address, location or phone number, and then become incoherent or unconscious during the call
- You’re in one of our branches, and you’ve harmed yourself in a way that puts you in danger at that time
- You are a child or an adult at risk
- Your situation fits one of the reasons why we cannot maintain confidentiality
What Samaritans means by a child or an adult at risk is under “More of what each line says”.
More of what each line says
Whichever line you use: if you have taken something or seriously hurt yourself, call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) first, even if you feel fine.
988 Lifeline (US)
If you need help because there is an immediate physical safety threat, please call 911 before connecting with the 988 Lifeline.
If a 988 Lifeline crisis contact center contacts emergency services (like 911 or mobile crisis) as a result of your call, you may receive a bill. This could include charges for an ambulance, hospital stay, etc.
Don’t let a possible bill stop you getting medical care.
Samaritans (UK)
Samaritans’ safeguarding policy says:
Most of the time whatever you tell us will stay between you and Samaritans.
However, if we feel that you are unable to make decisions for yourself sometimes we might need to tell someone else what you’ve told us to be able to help you.
This will apply to all children. Under some circumstances it may also apply to adults, if for example, you are not able to make a decision about your own safety because you don’t understand the risks, if you cannot remember the situation you are in, or if you lose consciousness whilst you are on the phone to us.
Crisis Text Line (US)
We care about your safety. We want to support you and others in staying safe and healthy and to do so in the least invasive way. In rare cases, this means we might contact and share your information with emergency services or other first responders if we believe it will prevent death or serious injury. Just saying “I’m feeling suicidal” does not necessarily mean we’ll contact emergency services.
We only contact emergency services as a last resort which is usually in less than 1% of our conversations.
Crisis Text Line wrote this in April 2023, about its conversations, so it can’t be compared with 988’s figure for calls. It does not say whether the texter agreed in those cases.
Shout (UK)
If we think you or someone else is in immediate physical danger or that you or someone else’s life is at imminent risk, we will try to work with you to form a safety plan.
If this is not possible or if we think you are at risk of what are called ‘safeguarding issues’ (for example abuse or neglect), a Clinician (a qualified mental health professional) may share your details with the emergency services or appropriate authorities, including police, ambulance/medical and social services, in order to keep you (or anyone else) safe and as necessary to protect your vital interests.
Please always call 999 if your life is at imminent risk.
Childline (UK, under 19)
Childline is a safe place to talk. Whenever you speak to us it’s confidential and we won’t tell other people what you’ve said. We only might need to say or do something if:
- you ask us to
- we believe your life or someone else's life is in danger
- you're being hurt by someone in a position of trust who is able to hurt other children like a teacher, religious leader, sports coach, police officer or doctor
- you tell us that you're seriously hurting another person
- you tell us about another child who's being hurt and is not able to tell someone or understand what is happening to them
- we're told we have to by law, for example for a court case.
You can talk to Childline about anything. That includes self-harm, suicidal feelings, running away or doing something to hurt yourself.
Most of the time we can keep what you’ve said confidential. But there are sometimes when we might need to tell someone, including if we think your life is in danger now or in the future.
Every other line has its own policy, on its own website.
Other ways to get help
- If you need emergency help, it’s better to ask for it yourself than for a line to have to send it: you can say what’s happening and what you need.
- If you’ve taken something or you’re hurt, say so and ask for an ambulance.
- In the US, if you haven’t taken anything and you’re not hurt, but it’s a mental health emergency, say that. NAMI, writing for families, says:
911 will produce the fastest response, but it will be a police response.
You can ask for officers with Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, if your area has them. - In the UK, you can also ask for an ambulance if you feel you may be about to harm yourself.
- You can also start without a helpline. Tell someone you trust. Or go to an emergency room (A&E). If you’re hurt or you’ve taken something, call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) now. If you feel you can’t keep yourself safe, Mind, a UK charity, says:
You shouldn’t drive yourself to A&E. You can ask someone to take you. Or call 999 for an ambulance.
In the US, that call is 911. If you don’t need 911 or 999, you can also see a doctor. In the UK, call your GP and ask for an emergency appointment.
Worried about someone?
- If they’re in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK, even if you’re not with them; you’ll need to give a location. If they’ve taken something or seriously hurt themselves, call even if they seem fine, and even if they ask you not to. If you can, stay with them until help arrives.
- In the US, if they’re in another town or state, call the police where they are on their 10-digit number, from that police department’s website. 911.gov says:
With few exceptions, 911 calls cannot be transferred to other towns, cities or states.
- Ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?” Saying it out loud doesn’t plant the idea — it tells them you noticed, and that you can handle the answer.
- Listen more than you fix. You don’t need the right words or a solution. Staying, and taking them seriously, is the help.
- Don’t promise to keep it secret. You may need to get them help.
- You can call a line yourself, to talk it through: 988 in the US, or Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK.
Afraid of someone at home?
In danger now: 911 in the US, 999 in the UK.
In the US
In the UK
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)Abuse survivors
Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage HelplineAbuse survivors
Live Fear Free HelplineAbuse survivors
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (Northern Ireland)Abuse survivors
Men's Advice LineAbuse survivors
Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Worried someone checks this device? How to browse more privately ↓
Need something more specific?
Free support from a trained counselor, any time.
Veterans press 1. En español, oprime 2.
Free support by text with a trained crisis counselor, any time.
Texting can feel easier than talking out loud, and you set the pace.
National Domestic Violence HotlineAbuse survivors
Support for anyone affected by relationship abuse, plus help thinking through a safety plan.
Advocates won't tell you what to do. They help you weigh your options at your own pace.
RAINN — National Sexual Assault HotlineAbuse survivorsTeens & youth
You can talk with someone trained to help after any kind of sexual assault or abuse, whether it happened last night or years ago.
It is free any hour. If talking out loud feels too hard, text, or use the live chat on their hotline page instead. You never have to give your name or location. If you share both and you are under 18 or a vulnerable adult, RAINN is required by law to report to authorities in your state, and it may also report if it believes you are considering suicide.
Childhelp National Child Abuse HotlineTeens & youthParentsAbuse survivors
You can talk with a counselor about child abuse — whether it is happening to you, to a child you know, or happened to you long ago.
It is open all day and night. You can call, text, or chat if you are not sure what to do next.
The Trevor ProjectLGBTQ+Teens & youth
Free support for LGBTQ+ young people, by phone, text, or chat, any time.
Counselors are trained to understand what LGBTQ+ young people face. You don't have to explain yourself first.
Veterans Crisis LineVeterans
Support for veterans and service members from people trained to understand military life.
Dial 988, then press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. You don't need to be enrolled in VA care.
Trans LifelineLGBTQ+
Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Pacific (1pm to 9pm Eastern). Closed on some holidays
A peer support line run by and for trans people. Call to talk with someone who gets it.
Run by trans volunteers.
StrongHearts Native HelplineAbuse survivors
Support for Native Americans and Alaska Natives affected by domestic or dating violence.
Advocates offer support that understands Native culture, and can connect you to Native-centered help near you.
Love Is RespectTeens & youthAbuse survivors
You can reach trained advocates when a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner is hurting, controlling, or scaring you.
It is made for teens and young adults, free any time, by call, text, or chat. It is run by the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
National Runaway SafelineTeens & youthParents
Support for young people thinking about leaving home, already gone, or feeling they have nowhere to go — and for the adults who care about them.
Free. They help you think through what's next, without judgment.
National Human Trafficking HotlineAbuse survivors
If you or someone you know is being forced or tricked into work or sex, you can call, text or chat to get support. You can also report a tip or find local services.
TTY users can dial 711. The site has a Quick Exit button for when someone may be watching your screen.
If you think you or someone near you swallowed, breathed in or touched something harmful, you can call and talk with a poison expert about what to do next. Your call goes to the poison center that serves your area.
Calling is free, and you can also get help online at poison.org. That online tool is not for some cases poison.org lists, including self-harm. If the person meant to harm themselves, poison.org says to call a poison center instead, and that immediate evaluation by a healthcare provider, usually in an ER, is always advised. They say help is available in over 100 languages. If the person has collapsed, is having a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be woken, call 911 first.
American Red Cross (shelters and help after a fire or disaster)
Their map shows open overnight shelters and sites with meals, water, first aid, help replacing lost prescriptions or glasses, phone charging, clean-up supplies and caseworkers. If you need help right now, their site finds your local Red Cross by ZIP code.
Free. Shelters do not ask for ID, only your name and where you lived before the disaster. Some places on the map are run by partner groups, not the Red Cross. If no shelter shows near you, check again later: sites are added as needs change.
Find a free helpline in your country. Search by where you are and what you're going through.
Useful if you're outside the U.S., or looking for a line for a specific situation.
NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System)Parents
A free national database, run by the US Department of Justice, for missing and unidentified people. Families can add a missing-person case, search cases, and get help from NamUs staff.
A case goes public only after NamUs checks that a police report is on file and the police agree. It is mostly used for cases that have gone on a long time, and it does not replace a police report.
National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenParents
If a child is missing or has been sexually exploited, you can call and get crisis support and referrals to local counseling. They also take reports of sightings.
Their page says to call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger, and to call your local police first if your child is missing. Then call this number.
StopNCII.orgAbuse survivors
Online
If someone has shared, or is threatening to share, intimate images of you from when you were 18 or older, you can use this free tool to help stop them being shared online. It makes a digital fingerprint of your images on your own device and shares only that with participating companies.
The site does not download your images from your device. It works with the companies that take part. It is run by the Revenge Porn Helpline, part of SWGfL, a charity. If you were under 18 in the images, it is not the right tool: see Childline's Report Remove in the UK or NCMEC's Take It Down in the US.
U.S. Department of State: help for U.S. citizens abroad
The U.S. embassy or consulate can help if you have lost a passport, are the victim of a crime, or need help returning to the United States during a crisis or after a natural disaster. The Department's Help Abroad pages cover crisis response and evacuations, lost or stolen passports abroad, victims of crime, missing U.S. citizens abroad, arrest or detention abroad, and emergency financial assistance, including loans for destitute U.S. citizens.
The two helplines are for when you cannot reach the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate during an emergency. Find your nearest embassy or consulate at usembassy.gov. The Department says the U.S. government does not pay medical costs for U.S. citizens travelling abroad, and that a State Department loan restricts your passport until you pay it back.
In the UK
You can talk to a trained volunteer who listens without judging or telling you what to do. You can call about whatever you are going through.
The call is free from any phone, and you do not need credit on your mobile. If you would like to talk in Welsh, there is a free Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123, every day 7pm to 11pm.
You can text with a trained volunteer about anything weighing on you, from stress and loneliness to self-harm or suicidal thoughts. You only share what you feel comfortable sharing.
It is free. Replies can take longer at busy times, and the highest-risk texts are answered first. If your life is at immediate risk, call 999.
Call 999 if a child is missing, or someone may be at risk of harm or in immediate danger. Call 101 to report a missing person when it is not an emergency, or to give the police new information.
You do not have to wait 24 hours. Calls to 999 and 101 are free. You can also go to any police station. In Northern Ireland, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff users call 028 9065 0222 instead of 101. Relay UK users can dial 18001 101.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)Abuse survivors
You can talk about domestic abuse, plan for your safety, and work out what options you have. You can also use their live chat or a secure online form.
The call is free. The advisers are all female. There is a British Sign Language service from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. In an emergency, call 999.
Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage HelplineAbuse survivors
If you are experiencing domestic abuse or forced marriage, you can talk to a trained helpline worker who will listen and believe you. Family, friends, colleagues and professionals worried about someone can call too.
You can call, text or message on WhatsApp, use online chat, or email. They can arrange an interpreter, and Relay UK and BSL contact options are on their site. If you are in immediate danger, phone 999.
Live Fear Free HelplineAbuse survivors
If you or someone you know has experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, you can get free advice and support or talk through your options. Practitioners can ask for professional advice too.
You can reach advisors by phone, online chat, text or email, free of charge. Calls are welcomed in Welsh.
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (Northern Ireland)Abuse survivors
If you are affected by domestic or sexual abuse, you can talk to trained helpline staff who will help you understand your experience and consider your options. You can call, email or use live chat.
The helpline is free, and the site describes it as a non-judgemental space open to all. It is for anyone aged 18 and over. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999.
Rape Crisis England & Wales: 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support LineAbuse survivors
If you have experienced sexual violence, abuse or harassment at any time in your life, you can talk to a specialist who will listen and reassure you it was not your fault. You can call or use a free online chat.
The call is free. Anyone of any gender, aged 16 or over, living in England or Wales can use it, even if you are not sure what happened. It is not an emergency service: if you feel unsafe or need urgent medical help, call 999.
Men's Advice LineAbuse survivors
Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm
If you are a man, including a trans or non-binary person, who is or was a victim of domestic abuse, you can talk it over with an adviser. Friends, family and frontline workers supporting a man can call too. It is a helpline and webchat.
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles in the UK and do not show on an itemised bill. You do not have to prove you are a victim. It is run by Respect, a registered charity. The site says the line may be required by law to share information where there is concern about someone’s safety. Webchat chats are kept as transcripts for 6 months. The advisers do not give legal advice. They can give legal information and point you to services that do.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
ChildlineTeens & youth
If you are under 19, you can talk to a counsellor about anything, big or small. You can call, or use the online 1-2-1 chat.
Calls are free from most landlines and mobiles, they will not show on a phone bill, and you can call without credit. The online 1-2-1 chat and messages need a Childline account; signing up does not ask for your email or personal information. Chat is open any time, but at night it can take longer to get through. In an emergency, call 999.
If you are in crisis, you can speak to a trained counsellor. The site also has a section if you are worried about someone.
Calls are free. There is a textphone line on 18001 0808 808 8000 via the Relay UK app, and British and Irish Sign Language users can use the SignVideo app. They can access translators if English is not your first language.
Lines open Monday to Thursday 6pm to 2am. Friday 6pm until Monday 6am
If you are in Scotland, aged 16 or over, and feeling low, anxious or depressed, you can call to talk it through. There is also a webchat during the same hours.
The call is free. The line is for people aged 16 and over in Scotland.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
C.A.L.L. Mental Health Helpline for Wales
If you are in Wales and worried about your own mental health, or a relative's or friend's, you can use a listening and support service. It is available in Welsh on request.
Calls are free. You can also email, search for local agencies, or order up to three free mental health leaflets. The same site links to the Wales Dementia Helpline and the DAN 24/7 drug and alcohol helpline.
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
Lines open 5pm to midnight, every day
You can talk to a trained helpline team if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, have lost someone to suicide, or are worried about someone else. You can call, use live chat, or message on WhatsApp.
It is free. The helpline is for people over 18. Outside its hours, call 999 in an emergency or Samaritans on 116 123.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK
Lines open every day, 6pm until midnight
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or worried about someone close to you, you can talk to the helpline. It is a service for anyone in need.
If you cannot connect on 0800 587 0800, try 0800 689 0880. In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999 first. The line also works with Relay UK for people with hearing or speech difficulties.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
The MixTeens & youth
If you are 25 or under, you can text for urgent mental health support. If you are under 25, you can also talk one-to-one with a trained peer supporter, join a group, or get one-to-one counselling. Their site also has a chatbot that works 24/7.
The Mix is for under-25s in the UK. The site lists free one-to-one counselling and a supportive community.
Switchboard LGBTQ+ Support LineLGBTQ+
You can reach a support line by phone, instant message or email. Every call, message and email is answered by a volunteer from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Their website shows whether the phone line is open right now. If it is closed, their site lists other services you can try. Chat and email do not work from outside the UK.
Galop LGBT+ Abuse and Violence HelplineLGBTQ+Abuse survivors
Lines open Monday and Tuesday 9:15am to 8pm. Wednesday to Friday 9:15am to 4:30pm. Closed 1pm to 2pm each day and at weekends
If you are LGBT+ and facing domestic abuse, sexual violence, conversion practices or any other kind of abuse, you can talk to an adviser for emotional support and to look at your options.
Phone, email and webchat are all free. Calls can last up to 40 minutes. The helpline is for people aged 18 and over. Friends, family and professionals worried about an LGBT+ person can call too.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Hourglass (older people and abuse)Older adultsAbuse survivors
If you are an older person, or you are worried about one, you can get information and support about abuse or neglect. You can call, text, email or chat live.
The helpline is free to call from a landline or mobile, and the number will not show on your phone bill. The helpline and chatbot run 24/7; their other services are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The Silver Line (Age UK's Silver Line Helpline)Older adults
If you are 55 or over, you can call for a friendly chat, some support, or a long conversation. It is especially there when you feel lonely or isolated.
The call is free, at any time of day or night, and the service is run by Age UK. The site calls it confidential.
Combat StressVeterans
If you are a veteran dealing with the effects of service-related trauma, you can call or text their helpline at any time. They also support family and friends who are worried about a veteran.
It is a free helpline, open 24/7. You can phone, text or email. Their site also has peer support and support for families and friends.
Action Against StalkingAbuse survivors
Voicemail only. Leave a message and our team will get back to you
If you are being stalked, you can leave a message on the freephone line or email the charity, and its team will get back to you. They offer support, advice and information, and if you choose to report to the police they can help you through the criminal justice system and may be able to advocate for you.
A Scottish charity that says it is here to help anyone in the UK affected by stalking, and calls itself Scotland's only charity dedicated exclusively to victims of stalking. It describes its support, advice and information service as free. The freephone line is a voicemail, so you cannot talk to someone straight away. The charity says whether it can offer you its service is decided case by case. It has a young people's team for ages 16 and over who live in the UK. The Scottish and Northern Ireland governments both list it. At the time of this check its self-referral page said its web form was having problems and to email support@actionagainststalking.org instead.
Brake (National Road Victim Service)
Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays
If someone you love has been killed or injured in a road crash, or you were bereaved or injured yourself, you can talk to Brake's free service about what happened and what support you need. They help with practical challenges, the unfamiliar procedures that follow a road crash, worries about money or a court case, and how to find legal support.
You can use the self-referral form, call or email help@brake.org.uk. Because of high demand, their page gives a current response time of 10 working days. If you need to talk before then, the Samaritans are on 116 123 at any hour. They do not replace emergency, police or health services: in an emergency call 999.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
CEOP Safety CentreTeens & youth
Online
If you are worried about online sexual abuse, or about the way someone has been communicating with you online, you can make a report to one of CEOP's Child Protection Advisors.
CEOP is a command of the National Crime Agency. The site says you can also report if you are worried this is happening to someone you know. If you are not ready to report, you can talk to Childline, online or on the phone.
Find a free helpline in your country. Search by where you are and what you're going through.
Useful if you're outside the U.S., or looking for a line for a specific situation.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: help for British nationals abroad
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and UK embassies, high commissions and consulates help British nationals in difficulty abroad, for example if they have lost their passport, been a victim of crime, been taken to hospital or been arrested. You can call the FCDO in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000 and choose the option 'Consular services for British nationals', or call the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate. You can also send your query online.
The FCDO says it does not charge for consular assistance, but some services, such as emergency travel documents, have fees. It says help is at its discretion, depends on the situation and the country, and goes first to people it assesses as vulnerable. It says you do not have a legal right to consular assistance and should not assume it will be provided. It does not give consular help in the British overseas territories, and usually cannot help nationals of other countries or a dual national in the country of their other nationality.
Missing PeopleParentsTeens & youth
Lines open 10am to 5pm; texts 10am to 10pm; online chat 5:30pm to 10pm; every day. It can close at short notice
If someone you love is missing, or you are away from home or thinking of leaving, you can call or text for free support. Once the police have a report, they can launch an appeal and help you with the media.
They cannot report someone missing to the police for you: call 999 if a child is missing or someone is at serious risk, otherwise 101. Calls and texts are free, even with no credit. Texts sent after 10pm are answered when they open.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline (Unseen)Abuse survivors
Lines open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday (reduced hours until further notice)
If you, or someone you know, is being forced or tricked into work, or an employer is holding your passport or ID, you can talk to a trained adviser or report it online.
They ask your consent before passing your details on, unless someone is in immediate danger or a child is at risk. In immediate danger, call 999.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
National Stalking Helpline (Suzy Lamplugh Trust)Abuse survivors
Lines open Monday and Wednesday, 9:30am to 8pm. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:30am to 4pm
If you are being stalked, or you are worried about someone who is, you can call this free advice line. Advisers give practical information, support and advice on risk, safety planning and the law. You may also be considered for an advocate, who works with you, for example to speak for you with the police, social services, housing or your employer.
The line is run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a charity, and is freephone. Press 1 for the national service or 2 for London. The page lists weekday hours only, and the charity says demand is very high: if you need advice quickly, call rather than use the online form. The charity says its advocacy is a national service for victims in England and Wales. The Scottish and Northern Ireland governments both list this line.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
If you need medical help right now and it is not a life-threatening emergency, 111 can tell you where to get help. You can answer questions online or call. For urgent mental health help, call 111 and select the mental health option; family and friends worried about someone can use it too.
111 online is for people aged 5 and over; for a child under 5, call 111. If you cannot hear or speak, use text relay on 18001 111, and you can ask for an interpreter on a call. If it could be life-threatening, call 999. In Scotland and Wales, NHS 24 and NHS 111 Wales run the local services.
If you feel unwell but it is not a medical emergency, you can call 111 or use the online symptom checkers. You will be given healthcare advice or directed to the local service that can help you best. For urgent mental health help, or if you are worried about a family member, call 111 and select option 2 to speak with a mental health worker in your area.
Calls to NHS 111 Wales are free from landlines and mobiles, and all calls are recorded for patients' safety. Deaf and hard of hearing people can use SignVideo for BSL (8am to midnight, 7 days a week) or Relay UK. In a medical emergency, call 999.
If you need urgent care when your GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed, or you think you need A&E but it is not life or limb threatening, you can phone 111. It can also help if you are in mental health distress.
Phoning 111 is free. During normal working hours, contact your own GP for urgent advice. It is busiest at weekends and public holidays, when you may be offered a call back. For a life or limb threatening emergency, phone 999.
Police: report stalking or harassment (999 or 101)Abuse survivors
Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. If it is not an emergency, call 101, or report stalking or harassment online, to the police in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Police Scotland also takes reports in person. GOV.UK says you have a right to feel safe in your home and workplace.
Calls to 999 and 101 are free. You can report online in each of the three police areas. If you are not sure whether it is stalking or harassment, Police Scotland says to tell them what has happened and they will explain. In Northern Ireland, Tesco Mobile and giffgaff users call 028 9065 0222 instead of 101. The Metropolitan Police say you do not need to collect evidence before you report.
Rape Crisis Scotland HelplineAbuse survivorsTeens & youth
Lines open every day, 5pm to midnight
If you have been affected by sexual violence, whatever happened and however long ago, you can get crisis support from a helpline worker by phone, text, email or webchat. You do not have to talk about anything you do not want to. Family, friends and supporters can use it too.
Anyone of any gender, aged 13 or over, living in Scotland can use it. The helpline is staffed by women. Calls, email and webchat are free and calls do not show on your bill; texts cost your normal network rate and show on an itemised bill. It gives short-term support and can put you in touch with a local Rape Crisis Centre, but most centres have a waiting list. If you are in danger, call 999. If you share details that identify you and say a child or vulnerable adult is at risk, or that your life is at risk, it would need to pass that on; you can ask the support worker about this first.
Call 08088 01 03 02Text 07537 410 027
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Revenge Porn HelplineAbuse survivors
Lines open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, excluding bank holidays
If you have been a victim of intimate image abuse, a Helpline practitioner can give you advice and support, by phone or by email. If you want help with reports of users, you can send a screenshot or direct link to their profile.
The Helpline can only support victims who live in the UK and are over 18: if you are under 18, its page points you to other help and advice. It is run by a charity. Calls cost the same as calls to a standard 01 or 02 landline number. If your phone plan includes calls to landlines, calls to this number are included too. It does not use a call queue, which it says protects callers from unexpected call charges. Outside opening hours, a chatbot called REIYA gives advice at any hour: it is software, not a person. Check your junk or spam folder for its email replies, because the word 'porn' in its address means some email providers may filter them.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Lines open 4pm to 10pm, 365 days a year
If you need to talk about your mental health, you can call SANEline in the evening. It is run by SANE, an independent mental health charity.
This is a phone line open in the evenings, every day of the year.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Lines open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 6pm to 9pm. Text Monday to Friday 6pm to 9pm
If you self-harm, or are worried about someone who does, you can talk by phone, text or email. It is open to people of all ages, genders and backgrounds.
Email is open at any time and they reply within a week. You can also write to them by post and they will reply within a week.
Call 0808 8008088Text 07537 432444
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Simon Community Scotland (rough sleeping helplines, Glasgow and Edinburgh)
If you or someone else is sleeping rough in Glasgow or Edinburgh, you can phone Simon Community Scotland's free helpline at any hour. Glasgow: 0800 027 7466. Edinburgh: 0808 178 2323.
The helplines are for Glasgow and Edinburgh. Elsewhere in Scotland, call your council's homelessness team, or its out-of-hours number if the office is shut.
StopNCII.orgAbuse survivors
Online
If someone has shared, or is threatening to share, intimate images of you from when you were 18 or older, you can use this free tool to help stop them being shared online. It makes a digital fingerprint of your images on your own device and shares only that with participating companies.
The site does not download your images from your device. It works with the companies that take part. It is run by the Revenge Porn Helpline, part of SWGfL, a charity. If you were under 18 in the images, it is not the right tool: see Childline's Report Remove in the UK or NCMEC's Take It Down in the US.
StreetLink (England and Wales)
If you are sleeping rough in England or Wales and want to find out about local support services, use 'Get help for yourself' on the StreetLink website. StreetLink connects people sleeping rough to local services.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS)
If someone you know has died by suicide, you can get peer-led support from people who have been through it themselves. The support is for adults.
SoBS describes itself as UK peer-led support: those who have experienced suicide loss help each other. Their site has resources, and the Support line number is on every page.
The Cyber HelplineAbuse survivors
If you are being stalked, harassed or hacked online, you can answer questions in a chatbot (software, not a person), get step-by-step guides, and if needed be connected with a vetted volunteer cybersecurity professional for one-to-one guidance and support.
A charity, and free: the site says it never asks for money for its service. Its helpline terms say it supports individuals and sole traders in the United Kingdom and the United States, and its about page says people aged 13 or older. It does not help businesses. The charity warns that people impersonate it, so use the website address given here.
Victim Support (Supportline)Abuse survivors
If you have been affected by crime, you can talk to trained staff who explain your rights and options and the further support available. You can also use the live chat.
The call is free. You can dial 141 first to hide your number, though that does not work on some mobile networks. Support is only for people in England and Wales.
Victim Support NIAbuse survivors
Lines open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
If you have been affected by crime in Northern Ireland, you can call a hub to make an appointment for free support, whether or not you reported the crime and however long ago it happened. Staff and volunteers give emotional and practical help, and can help with forms such as a criminal injury compensation claim.
Call the hub closest to you. Belfast, 028 9024 3133, covers Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Newry, Mourne and Down, and North Down and Ards. Foyle, 028 7137 0086, covers Antrim and Newtownabbey, Causeway Coast and Glens, Derry and Strabane, Fermanagh and Omagh, Mid and East Antrim, and Mid-Ulster. They can also help relatives and friends.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
Victim Support Scotland (helpline)Abuse survivors
Lines open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
If you have been affected by crime in Scotland, you can call or chat with the free support helpline. Support is available locally across Scotland.
The helpline is free. You can also use the web chat in the same hours.
Outside those hours: Samaritans will listen any time, on 116 123.
More help of every kind → the Resource Bank.
Browsing privately
A private (incognito) window saves no history at all; already-made entries can be removed one at a time. The short guide — Browsing privately — walks through both, plus the Leave-quickly button and its keyboard shortcut, in plain steps.
If someone who monitors this device could be a danger to you, the safest option is a different device — a library computer, or a trusted friend’s phone. The guide covers that too.
A candle for the next person
Whenever you’re ready — small steps from people who carried something like this: find one →
Or, for a night when your thoughts keep circling:the long view →
If something just happened — a job, a notice, a death — the practical guides: what to do first →
Pressing Esc twice also leaves fast. This hides the page quickly, but it can’t erase your browsing history — here’s how to browse more privately.