Hotlines
If you are experiencing a medical emergency,
are in danger, or are feeling suicidal, call
911 immediately.
U.S. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 |
Teen Health & Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers is for educational purposes only. If you have a question on a health or wellness issue, we strongly encourage you to call one of the hotlines below to speak to a qualified professional or speak to a trusted adult, such as a parent, teacher, or school counselor.
Listed below are hotlines, help lines, and information lines, organized by subject. These national organizations can also refer you to state/provincial and local services in your community.
AIDS and HIV
AIDS and HIV
U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Call 1-800-232-4636 to talk to an information specialist about HIV/AIDS or HIV testing sites
http://www.cdc.gov
HIVinfo
1-800-448-0440
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST
https://hivinfo.nih.gov/home-page
HIV/AIDS Hotlines by State
https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/hiv-care/hotlines
The Trevor Lifeline
1-866-488-7386
Or text START to 678-678
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.thetrevorproject.org
Canada
Canadian AIDS Society
HIV Information Hotlines:
https://www.cdnaids.ca
Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol and Drugs
U.S.
Al-Anon/Alateen
1-888-425-2666
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday to Friday
https://al-anon.org/newcomers/teen-corner-alateen
https://al-anon.org/newcomers/teen-corner-alateen/alateen-electronic-meeting
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
1-800-662-4357
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
1-800-662-4357
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support
Canada
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
1-833-235-4048
https://www.ccsa.ca/alcohol
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
1-800-463-2338
https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/alcohol
Bullying and Cyberbullying
Bullying and Cyberbullying
U.S.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988lifeline.org
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
Call or text 1-800-422-4453
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://childhelphotline.org
Canada
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988.ca
BullyingCanada
1-877-352-4497
https://www.bullyingcanada.ca
Depression
Depression
U.S.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988lifeline.org
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
1-800-826-3632
Or text DBSA to 741-741
http://www.dbsalliance.org
Canada
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988.ca
Crisis Services Canada
Find local resources and support
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/looking-for-local-resources-support
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
U.S.
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
Helpline: 1-888-375-7767
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST, Monday to Friday
http://www.anad.org
Canada
National Eating Disorder Information Centre
Helpline: 1-866-633-4220
Toronto: 416-340-4156
https://nedic.ca
Grief and Loss
Grief and Loss
U.S.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988lifeline.org
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 anytime, about any type of crisis.
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://www.crisistextline.org
Teen Line
1-800-852-8336, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST
Or text TEEN to 839863, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PST
https://www.teenline.org
Tragedy Assistance Program for Military Survivors (TAPS)
1-800-959-8277
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.taps.org
Canada
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988.ca
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Or text CONNECT to 686868
https://kidshelpphone.ca
Teen Line
1-800-852-8336, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST
Or text TEEN to 839863, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PST
https://www.teenline.org
Homelessness and Runaways
Homelessness and Runaways
U.S.
Boys Town National Hotline
1-800-448-3000
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
Or text VOICE to 20121
http://www.boystown.org/hotline
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733 to get help or submit a tip
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://humantraffickinghotline.org
National Runaway Safeline
1-800-786-2929
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.1800runaway.org
Canada
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-833-900-1010 to get help or submit a tip
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Or text CONNECT to 686868
https://kidshelpphone.ca
Mental Health
Mental Health
U.S.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988lifeline.org
Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Helpline: Call 1-800-950-6264 or text HELPLINE to 62640
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. EST
https://nami.org/Home
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Canada
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988.ca
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
Find CMHA in your area: https://cmha.ca/find-help/find-cmha-in-your-area
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Or text CONNECT to 686868
https://kidshelpphone.ca
Rape, Sexual Violence, and Domestic Violence
Rape, Sexual Violence, and Domestic Violence
U.S.
love is respect: National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
1-866-331-9474
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
Or text LOVEIS to 22522
http://www.loveisrespect.org
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
Or text START to 88788
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.ndvh.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 to get help or submit a tip
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://humantraffickinghotline.org
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)
1-800-656-4673
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.rainn.org
Canada
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-833-900-1010 to get help or submit a tip
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://www.canadianhumantraffickinghotline.ca
Ending Violence Association of Canada
Find help across Canada:
https://endingviolencecanada.org/getting-help
Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Treatment Centres
https://www.sadvtreatmentcentres.ca/other-services.html
ShelterSafe
Find a local shelter or crisis line
https://sheltersafe.ca/get-help
School Violence
School Violence
U.S.
Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
Canada
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Or text CONNECT to 686868
https://kidshelpphone.ca
Sexuality and Sexual Health
Sexuality and Sexual Health
U.S.
LGBT National Youth Talkline
1-800-246-7743
https://www.lgbthotline.org/youth-talkline
Planned Parenthood
1-800-230-7526
Sexual Health Counseling & Referral Hotline: 1-800-258-4448 Option #4
http://www.plannedparenthood.org
The Trevor Lifeline
1-866-488-7386
Or text START to 678-678
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.thetrevorproject.org
Trans Lifeline
1-877-565-8860
This hotline is staffed by volunteers who are all trans identified and educated in the range of difficulties transgender people experience. Operators are generally available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
http://www.translifeline.org
Canada
Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights
1-888-642-2725 or text 613-800-6757
Seven days a week, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. EST
https://www.actioncanadashr.org
LGBT Youth Line
1-800-268-9688
Or text 647-694-4275
Sunday to Friday, 4 p.m.–9:30 p.m. EST
http://www.youthline.ca
Trans Lifeline
1-877-330-6366
This hotline is staffed by volunteers who are all trans identified and educated in the range of difficulties transgender people experience. Operators are generally available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
http://www.translifeline.org
Stress and Anxiety
Stress and Anxiety
U.S.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 anytime, about any type of crisis.
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://www.crisistextline.org
Teen Line
1-800-852-8336, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST
Or text TEEN to 839863, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. PST
https://www.teenline.org
Canada
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Or text CONNECT to 686868
http://www.kidshelpphone.ca
Suicide
Suicide
U.S.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988lifeline.org
Canada
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Call or text 988
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
https://988.ca
Teen Parenting
Teen Parenting
U.S.
National Safe Haven Alliance
Call or text 1-888-510-2229
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
Safe Haven Infant Protection Laws enable a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously. As long as the baby has not been abused, the person may do so without fear of arrest or prosecution.
State finder map: https://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/general-8-1
Postpartum Support International
Call or text “Help” to 1-800-944-4773
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/locations
Canada
Nobody’s Perfect
Nobody’s Perfect is a facilitated, community-based parenting program for parents of children from birth to age five. The program is designed to meet the needs of parents who are young, single, socially or geographically isolated, or who have low income or limited formal education.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/childhood-adolescence/parent/nobody-perfect.html
Postpartum Support International
Call or text “Help” to 1-800-944-4773
https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/locations
Teen Pregnancy
Teen Pregnancy
U.S.
Birthright International
Helpline: 1-800-550-4900
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.birthright.org
National Safe Haven Alliance
Call or text 1-888-510-2229
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
Safe Haven Infant Protection Laws enable a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously. As long as the baby has not been abused, the person may do so without fear of arrest or prosecution.
State finder map: https://www.nationalsafehavenalliance.org/general-8-1
Planned Parenthood
1-800-230-7526
http://www.plannedparenthood.org
Canada
Birthright International
Helpline: 1-800-550-4900
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week
http://www.birthright.org
Nobody’s Perfect
Nobody’s Perfect is a facilitated, community-based parenting program for parents of children from birth to age five. The program is designed to meet the needs of parents who are young, single, socially or geographically isolated, or who have low income or limited formal education.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/childhood-adolescence/parent/nobody-perfect.html
“Resources Recommended by Teen Health & Wellness” Last Updated: October 2024