Get Help Now – Signs of a Crisis
Callen-Lorde cares about our community. You matter and deserve to be supported. It’s okay not to be okay and ask for help. People can experience an emotional or mental health crisis due to a wide range of situations. For some, it might be the end of a personal relationship. For others, it might be the loss of a job. For LGBTQ communities, these crises can be heightened by their experiences from minority stress.
When emotional issues reach a crisis point, our LGBTQ community and their loved ones should contact a lifeline that is anonymous and confidential.
Callen-Lorde is proud to be partnering with Crisis Text Line® to provide 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling. We believe that everyone deserves to get support. Our partnership with the Crisis Text Line® ensures that our community and their loved ones have a lifeline to contact in a crisis.
You do not have to be a client to use the Callen-Lorde Crisis Text Line®. When we say, it is for everyone we mean it!
Text callenlorde to 741741
Many individuals may not show any signs of intent to harm themselves before doing so, but some actions can be a sign that a person needs help. Individuals in crisis may show behaviors that indicate a risk of self-harm. The following can all be warning signs:
- Appearing sad or depressed most of the time
- Hopelessness; feeling like there’s no way out
- Anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, or mood swings
- Feeling as if there is no reason to live
- Feeling excessive guilt, shame, or sense of failure
- Rage or anger
- Engaging in risky activities without thinking
- Losing interest in hobbies, work, or school
- Increasing alcohol or drug misuse
- Neglecting personal welfare; a deteriorating physical appearance
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Showing violent behavior, like punching a hole in the wall or getting into fights
- Giving away prized possessions
- Getting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, or writing a will
The following signs require immediate attention:
- Thinking about hurting or killing yourself
- Looking for ways to kill yourself
- Talking about death, dying, or suicide
- Self-destructive behavior such as drug abuse, weapons, etc.
When in crisis, you don’t have to face it alone. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, having thoughts of suicide, or becoming self-destructive, there are Crisis Counselor ready to help. Contact the Crisis Text Line® immediately for assistance.
Supporting a loved one through a crisis can feel overwhelming, but Crisis Counselors at the Crisis Text Line® can help. Contact the Crisis Text Line® immediately if someone in your life is showing signs of crisis, such as:
- Talking about feeling hopeless
- Experiencing anxiety or agitation
- Increasing risky behaviors or substance use
When you text the Crisis Text Line®, one of our trained Crisis Counselor, will help you through any personal crisis, even if it does not involve thoughts of suicide. You decide how much you want to share — we’re here to listen and to help.
If you are in danger — or the person you’re concerned about is in danger — the Crisis Counselor will work to make sure everyone is safe.
If you — or the person you are concerned about — are in crisis but not at imminent risk for injury or suicide, then the Crisis Counselor will listen, offer support, and help you make a plan to stay safe. Learn more here Crisis Text Line®
- Text callenlorde to 741741 to get help.
- You can say as much or as little as you like to get the conversation started. You will receive a text back that reads:
- The first two responses are automated. They tell you that you’re being connected with a Crisis Counselor and invite you to share a bit more.
- It usually takes less than five minutes to connect you with a Crisis Counselor. (It may take longer during high-traffic times).
- You may text STOP at any time to end the conversation.
Use your coping skills. Examples might be:
- Relaxation techniques
- Exercise
- Deep breathing
Call/text a friend or loved one
- Let them know you’re having a difficult day
- Ask if they can spend some time with you
Find distractions
- Go for a bike ride or walk
- Watch your favorite TV show or movie
- Play a game on your phone
- Play with a pet
- Write about a happy memory and how it reminds you of your reasons for living
Go somewhere you feel safe
- Visit a friend or loved one’s home
- Visit your favorite place or store
Make your environment safe
- Ask a friend or loved one to store your medications and firearms
- Lock up medications and firearms
If you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe right now, seek immediate help, text callenlorde to 741741 or contact:
- 24/7 Crisis Hotline: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Network (800) 273-TALK (8255) (Veterans, press 1)
- Veterans Crisis Line – Send a text to 838255
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline (800) 656-HOPE (4673)
- The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. (866) 488-7386
- Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. (877) 565-8860
- NYC Resources and Services
The more lifelines we build, the stronger our network of support
Substance Abuse Resources
Detox Local’s Drug Withdrawal and Detox Guide
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP)
Suicide Prevention Resource
American Association of Suicidology
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
National Organization For People of Color Against Suicide
Safety Planning Intervention – A brief intervention for reducing suicide risk
The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Intimate Partner Violence
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline – 800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline – 866-331-9474
The National Domestic Violence Hotline – 800-799-SAFE (7233)
The National Sexual Assault Hotline – 800-656 HOPE (4673)
Veterans Services
Veterans Affairs Mental Health Toolkit
Veterans Affairs Mental Health
Resource guides:
Families, Friends, and Neighbors The Columbia Lighthouse Project
The Columbia Protocol Community Card
Outreach-in-the-Time-of-COVID19-Matching-Person-to-Guided-Intervention.pdf (nowmattersnow.org)
APPs that can help:
Jason Foundation: A Friend Asks (Android, iOS) is a free app by the suicide prevention group Jason Foundation. It aims to teach its users how to recognize the signs that someone close to them may be thinking about suicide, and how to reach out to them proactively.
My3 App helps you build your own Safety Plan, asking you to think through and list your own warning signs, coping strategies and support network, so that you can easily act when you recognize your warning signs.
The Virtual Hope Box (VHB) is designed for use by patients and their behavioral health providers as an accessory to treatment. The VHB contains simple tools to help patients with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking. Patients and providers can work together to personalize the VHB content on the patient’s own smartphone according to the patient’s specific needs. The patient can then use the VHB away from clinic, continuing to add or change content as needed.
Now you know the warning signs for suicide and how to have a direct conversation with someone who may be in crisis. But don’t keep this important information to yourself. Help us educate others by sharing this website with friends, family, and loved ones through Facebook, Twitter, or email. Because together, we have the power to make a difference, the power to save a life.
Read the chat terms of service.
- The Crisis Text Line® does not collect personally identifiable information unless you provide that information to the Crisis Counselor.
- Security controls, including encryption and authentication, are in place to protect your information.
If you are in imminent danger or immediate emergency and you cannot keep yourself safe, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
