When Should I Call a Depression Hotline?

Depression hotlines are numbers you can call for free support when feeling depressed or suicidal. Learn about when it is time for you to call one.

January 17, 2025 · 8 min · 1601 words · Jasmine Christian

Table of Contents

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Depression?What Is a Depression Hotline?Popular Depression HotlinesWhen Should I Call a Depression Hotline?What to Expect When You Call a Depression Hotline

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Depression?

What Is a Depression Hotline?

Popular Depression Hotlines

When Should I Call a Depression Hotline?

What to Expect When You Call a Depression Hotline

Close

For this reason, mental health professionals have createddepression hotlines. These are phone numbers you can call when all starts to feel bleak.

This article will refer to these numbers interchangeably as depression hotlines,suicidehotlines, and crisis hotlines and will help you identify the instances in which you might want to call a helpline.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

I Need Help: What to Do If You Feel This Way

Depressionis an incredibly common mood disorder, with 21 million adults experiencing at least one episode of major depression in their lifetime.

Fatigue, suddenly no longer enjoying things that once satisfied you, and a consistent feeling of sadness or emptiness are all tell-tale signs of depression. Depression is an experience that is so severe it impairs your daily functioning.

Why Do People Die By Suicide?

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

As mentioned, symptoms of the various types of depression tend to overlap. Below is the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

To receive a diagnosis of MDD, you’ll have experienced most of the following symptoms, most days out of the week, for at least two weeks, if not longer.

Some may experience all of these symptoms; others may experience some of these symptoms. Seeing amental health professionalwill help clarify if you’re experiencing depression and steps towards healing.

A depression hotline is a number you call or text to chat witha trained crisis workerwhen you’re feeling mentally unwell. These hotlines serve as an intervention whenone is feeling in danger of causing harm to themselves.

Calling a hotline when feeling mentally unwell is proven to be useful, with a recent study stating 69.2% of callers feel supported with the care received during their call.

There are many types ofdepressionhotlines, though not all are referred to as depression hotlines. Scholarly journals that have researched these resources use the termdepression hotlineinterchangeably with the termscrisis hotlinesandsuicide hotlines.

Depression is often at the root of crises andsuicidal thoughts. It is safe to consider both crisis and suicide hotlines as forms of depression hotlines.

What It Means to Feel “Dead Inside”

Below are some popular depression hotlines that are available should you need them:

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline

The National Suicide Prevention Hotlinefocuses on supporting those considering taking their lives. A crisis center worker, someone who istrained to helpthose who are experiencing active suicidal ideation, will answer the phone.

They will non-judgmentally listen to what is coming up for you,provide support, and point you towards resources that can help.

How to Contact ThemYou can reach them at1-800-273-8255. You can also head to their website and use their chat function.

How to Contact Them

You can reach them at1-800-273-8255. You can also head to their website and use their chat function.

Samritans

Samaritansis a suicide prevention hotline that focuses on “befriending.” Befriending means that they believe creating a warm and non-judgmental environment fosters a space where callers can feel safe to share what they are feeling.

How to Contact ThemYou can call or text them 24/7 at (877) 870-4673 (HOPE).

You can call or text them 24/7 at (877) 870-4673 (HOPE).

Crisis Textline

If you’re questioning if you should call a depression hotline, chances are it wouldn’t be a bad idea to call. At worst, you won’t find their support helpful and will seek alicensed mental health providerinstead.

At best, they may provide the support that changes the course of your life. You can also call anonymously, meaning you don’t have to share your real name if that feels safer for you.

Err on the Side of Caution and Reach OutIf you’re feeling hopeless and even find yourselfwondering if life is worth living, it is time to reach out to a depression hotline.

Err on the Side of Caution and Reach Out

If you’re feeling hopeless and even find yourselfwondering if life is worth living, it is time to reach out to a depression hotline.

Reaching out to a depression hotline can be intimidating, but knowing what to expect can help. Below are some frequently asked questions.

What Happens When I Call the Hotline?

When calling a hotline, you can expect to talk to someone trained in handlingemotional crises. They will remain non-judgmental, work to provide you with resources, and do everything they can to help you staysafe.

The conversation will begin with being asked to share what prompted you to reach out to the hotline. From there, the counselor will help you sort through the feelings you’re experiencing.

To get a better sense of your current situation and the support you may need, you might also be asked some questions about your safety, such as:

What Happens If I Say I Am Suicidal?

Confidentiality is honored on hotline calls unless there is imminent danger andadditional support must be involved.

Anonymity under all circumstances is a crucial principle if a hotline follows the Samaritan movement.

As such, these hotlines focus more on connecting with the caller, even when there is imminent danger, before involving any additional parties for support. This is done through a focus onempowerment,active listening, and maintaining non-directive communication.

What Types of Questions Can I Ask?

Remember, the hotline is here to support you. When you call, you can ask anything from what to do if you’re having thoughts of harming yourself to where you can find mental health support.

If you’re stumped on where to begin, below are some questions that are frequently asked:

What If I’m Calling a Hotline for a Loved One?

If you’re calling for a friend or family member, they can advise you on ways you can support your loved one. This can look like developing an intervention plan where you can receive support around specific language to use, psychiatric facilities in the area that may have services you can access, and ways you can care for yourself in the midst of the crisis.

It can also look like providing education on depression and how you can be there for your loved one who is suffering while holding firm boundaries for your own emotional well-being.

If you’re concerned about a loved one who is experiencing active suicidal thoughts, they can also provide insight into how you can help keep this person safe.

A Word From Verywell

Life can present painful challenges but remember you are never alone. If you’re feeling like you’re wondering what the point of living is, please reach out for support—it could save your life. Take this article as a sign that you no longer have to suffer in silence, and it is time to get help. Your life depends on it.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Major depression statistics.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Depression.Hoffberg AS, Stearns-Yoder KA, Brenner LA.The effectiveness of crisis line services: a systematic review.Public Health Front. 2020;7:399. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00399Heinz I, Mergl R, Hegerl U, Rummel-Kluge C, Kohls E.Depression stigma and management of suicidal callers: a cross-sectional survey of crisis hotline counselors. BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):342. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2325-y

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Major depression statistics.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Depression.Hoffberg AS, Stearns-Yoder KA, Brenner LA.The effectiveness of crisis line services: a systematic review.Public Health Front. 2020;7:399. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00399Heinz I, Mergl R, Hegerl U, Rummel-Kluge C, Kohls E.Depression stigma and management of suicidal callers: a cross-sectional survey of crisis hotline counselors. BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):342. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2325-y

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Major depression statistics.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Depression.Hoffberg AS, Stearns-Yoder KA, Brenner LA.The effectiveness of crisis line services: a systematic review.Public Health Front. 2020;7:399. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00399Heinz I, Mergl R, Hegerl U, Rummel-Kluge C, Kohls E.Depression stigma and management of suicidal callers: a cross-sectional survey of crisis hotline counselors. BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):342. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2325-y

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Major depression statistics.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).Depression.

Hoffberg AS, Stearns-Yoder KA, Brenner LA.The effectiveness of crisis line services: a systematic review.Public Health Front. 2020;7:399. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00399

Heinz I, Mergl R, Hegerl U, Rummel-Kluge C, Kohls E.Depression stigma and management of suicidal callers: a cross-sectional survey of crisis hotline counselors. BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):342. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2325-y

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?