U.S. Hotlines and Warmlines for Emotional First Aid

When you’re administering emotional first aid, one key component of your preparation is having resources ready should a client need them. Here are some resources you may need if you’re administering emotional first aid to a client who has experienced a loss.

GEOGRAPHIC NOTE: These resources are primarily focused on serving the United States. If you’d like to contribute additional resources that primarily serve other areas, reach out to us at abbythesociologistdoula@gmail.com. Abby would love to pay you to put together a blog post specifically for your area.

Emergency resources:

  1. 988 Lifeline (suicide & crisis lifeline): call 988, text, or chat via website anytime for immediate support. There are videophone resources available for folks who are Deaf/HoH, and there are Spanish and English speakers available. 988 Lifeline – If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988.
  2. 911 or your emergency services: call anytime (or, if available in your area, text) and give the address and information of the person who is at risk. Remember that police or fire departments may respond.
  3. Crisis Textline: text HOME to 741741 anytime to be connected to a trained volunteer. Crisis Text Line | Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support

For when something isn’t an emergency, but someone needs more help:

  1. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: serves pregnant and postpartum moms via text or call anytime. While volunteers speak English and Spanish, they also have translators available for 60 additional languages. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline | MCHB
  2. Postpartum Support International Warmline: a perinatal-focused warmline that provides services in both English and Spanish. I appreciate that their volunteers are also trained to talk to bereaved families particularly. PSI HelpLine (English & Spanish) | Postpartum Support International (PSI)
  3. National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline: a resource line available Monday through Friday via call, text, or email to help find mental health resources. They also have a line specifically dedicated to teens and young adults helping their peers. NAMI HelpLine | NAMI
Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash

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