You are not alone
Clear options for urgent moments: who to call, what to say, and a plan for next time.
If you or someone else is in danger right now, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
For an emotional or mental health crisis, call or text 988, any time, day or night.
Crisis lines
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Free, 24 hours a day. For anyone in emotional distress or a mental health crisis, or worried about someone. Veterans: dial 988 and press 1. Deaf or hard of hearing: call 988 by videophone for ASL, or use your relay service.
988lifeline.orgCrisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741. Free, 24 hours a day, with a trained crisis counselor.
crisistextline.orgSAMHSA National Helpline
1-800-662-4357. Free, private, 24 hours a day. Help finding mental health and substance use treatment.
samhsa.govAbuse or neglect
Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services in your state. Childhelp: 1-800-422-4453. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (or text START to 88788).
Find Adult Protective Services
When you call 911 for someone with IDD
- Say the person has an intellectual or developmental disability, and how they communicate.
- Ask if a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer or a mobile crisis team can come.
- Say what calms the person and what makes things worse.
- Share the person's communication card if they have one.
- 988 can often send a mobile crisis team instead of police for a mental health crisis.
Crisis help built for people with IDD
Many states have START programs (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) for people with IDD and mental health needs. They offer crisis planning, 24-hour support, and short stays. Ask your state DD agency or search below.
Grounding
5-4-3-2-1 grounding
A quick way to come back to the present when everything feels like too much. Press Next for each step.
Ready when you are.
Make a personal safety plan
Private. Your answers stay in this browser while the page is open. We do not see or save them. Print or save the plan if you want to keep it.
