If you or someone you care about is in crisis, help is available right now, day or night, free and confidential. You do not have to be certain it counts as an emergency to reach out, and you do not have to be one of our clients. This page lists the quickest ways to reach trained support.
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Available 24/7, free and confidential, in multiple languages.
Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor by text.
Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
Call 1-800-662-4357 for free, confidential help finding treatment and support, 24/7.
Call 911 for any situation that is immediately life-threatening.
Watching someone you love struggle is frightening, and you do not need to have the perfect words. A few things genuinely help: stay with them if you can, listen without arguing or rushing to fix it, and take any mention of suicide seriously rather than assuming it will pass. You can call or text 988 yourself for guidance on how to help, even when the person is not there with you. If there is any immediate danger, call 911.
Crisis lines are built for the urgent moment. The steadier, ongoing support that comes afterward is a different kind of help, and it is worth reaching for once things are safe. When you or your loved one is ready to think about treatment, St. Louis Mental Health is here for that step; our Admissions Process page explains how care begins, and our Contact Us page reaches our team. There is no rush, and the lines above remain available whenever you need them.
Yes. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free and confidential, available around the clock by call in multiple languages and by text or chat in English and Spanish. You can reach out for yourself or on behalf of someone you are worried about.
No. Crisis counselors help with all kinds of distress, including anxiety, depression, substance use, loneliness, or simply needing someone to talk to. There is no problem too small to reach out about.
When in doubt, reach out anyway. If a life may be in danger, call 911; if you are unsure, call or text 988 and a counselor will help you work out the right next step. It is always better to ask than to wait.
Once things are stable, ongoing care can help keep them that way. When you are ready, our Admissions Process page walks through how treatment begins, at whatever pace suits you.
No. The crisis lines on this page, including 988, are free and do not ask about insurance — getting immediate support never depends on coverage. Insurance only enters the picture if you move on to ongoing treatment with us, and even then we check your benefits for free through our Insurance Verification page before anything is decided.
