Helplines and mental health charities
If things feel hard, you don’t have to cope alone. The services at the top of this page can help right now, and most answer day or night. Below them are US nonprofits that support people with their mental health, from large national organisations to small specialist groups. Sabotages is a wellbeing tracker, not a medical or crisis service.
Need help right now?
If your life, or someone else’s, is at risk, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988Free, 24 hours a day, every day of the year
You can also chat at 988lifeline.org. En español: call 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741Free, 24/7
En español: text HOLA to 741741.
Veterans Crisis Line
Call 988, then press 124/7, every day of the year
Or text 838255. For veterans, service members and the people who support them, with or without VA benefits.
The Trevor Project
Call 1-866-488-7386Free, 24/7
For LGBTQ+ young people. Or text START to 678-678.
Trans Lifeline
Call 877-565-8860Monday to Friday, 1pm to 9pm Eastern (10am to 6pm Pacific)
Peer support from trans and nonbinary operators.
Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 1-800-985-599024 hours a day
For distress after a natural or human-caused disaster.
Warmlines
Find a warmline in your statePeer-run lines for when you want to talk and it isn’t a crisis
Across the US
Support and education
NAMI
The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers education, advocacy and peer support for people affected by mental illness and their families, through local affiliates across the country.
- NAMI HelpLine (not a crisis line): Number and hours on their website
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 43-1201653
Screening and education
Mental Health America
Free online mental health screening, plain information and community programs, with affiliates in many states. Not a crisis service.
- Free online screening: Take a screen
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 13-1614906
Suicide prevention
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Funds suicide prevention research and education, supports people who have lost someone to suicide, and campaigns for better policy, with local chapters. It doesn’t run a helpline.
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 13-3393329
Teens and young adults
The Jed Foundation
Works with high schools and colleges to protect emotional health and prevent suicide among teens and young adults. It doesn’t run a helpline.
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 13-4131139
Young people
Active Minds
Helps young people change how mental health is talked about, through chapters in high schools and on college campuses. It doesn’t run a helpline.
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 20-0587172
Depression and bipolar
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Run by and for people living with depression or bipolar, with free support groups in person and online, and tools for staying well.
- Online support groups: Find a group
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 36-3379124
Anxiety and depression
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Free, science-backed information about anxiety, depression, OCD and PTSD for the public, alongside its work with researchers and clinicians.
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 52-1248820
Specific experiences and communities
OCD
International OCD Foundation
Funds OCD research and training, and runs a directory for finding OCD therapists, clinics and support groups.
- Resource directory: Find help
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 22-2894564
Eating disorders
ANAD
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders offers free peer support for anyone affected by an eating disorder: a helpline, support groups and recovery mentors.
- Helpline (not a crisis line): 1-888-375-7767 (9am to 9pm Central, Monday to Friday)
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 36-2938021
Pregnancy and after birth
Postpartum Support International
Support for anyone struggling with their mental health during pregnancy or after a birth, and for their families. You leave a message and a trained volunteer gets back to you.
- HelpLine (not a crisis line): 1-800-944-4773 (press 1 for Spanish, 2 for English. Messages are returned every day, 8am to 11pm Eastern)
- Text: HELP to 800-944-4773
- Text in Spanish: 971-203-7773
US and Canada · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 77-0196208
Young people of color
The Steve Fund
Works for the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people of color, with colleges, employers and mental health experts.
- Text (answered by Crisis Text Line): STEVE to 741741 (free, 24/7)
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 47-4730275, as the Stephen C Rose Legacy Foundation
Black communities
BEAM
The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective trains healers, funds grassroots wellness projects and helps Black communities find therapists and practitioners.
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 81-3138233
Veterans and military families
Vets4Warriors
Confidential peer support for veterans, service members and their families, answered around the clock by veterans. For a crisis, use the Veterans Crisis Line above.
- Peer support line: 1-855-838-8255 (24/7)
Nationwide · A program of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care
Bereavement, peer support and loneliness
After a suicide
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors
An online community, forum and resources for people grieving a death by suicide, run by people who have been through it themselves.
Online, nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 27-0450906
After the death of a child
The Compassionate Friends
Support chapters across the country for families grieving the death of a child, a sibling or a grandchild, at any age and from any cause.
- National office (not a crisis line): 877-969-0010
Nationwide · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 37-1537798
Grieving children
Dougy Center
Peer support groups and resources for grieving children, teens and their families, based in Portland, Oregon, with a directory of similar programs elsewhere.
Portland, Oregon, with resources for everyone · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 93-0833241
Older adults and loneliness
Friendship Line
An emotional support line for older adults, adults with disabilities and caregivers who feel isolated, overwhelmed or alone. Run by the Institute on Aging.
- Friendship Line: 888-670-1360 (24/7, toll-free in California)
California · 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 94-2978977, as the Institute on Aging
If you’d like to support one of these charities, please donate directly on its own website. Sabotages doesn’t collect donations, doesn’t take a share and isn’t paid for these links.
This is an independent list put together by Sabotages. We’re not affiliated with, partnered with or endorsed by any of these charities or services, and they haven’t reviewed this page. We use their names only to help you find them. Details were checked on 21 September 2026, so please check each one’s own website for the latest opening hours before you get in touch.