Teen Hotlines and Chat: Get Help Now

Teen suicide hotlines and teen suicide chat are available 24/7 when you need them. When you are feeling suicidal, there is no time to wait, a suicidal teen must get help now. While calling 9-1-1 is appropriate when there is an imminent risk to life (such as if a teen has ingested an overdose of medication), for suicidal feelings alone, a teen suicide hotline or teen suicide chat can be a way of getting immediate help with those feelings.

There are several teen suicide prevention lines available in the United States and other helplines designed to handle additional distress (such as in cases of abuse) that may be related to suicidal feelings.

Teenage Suicide Hotlines

The main suicide hotline for all of the United States is not teen specific but works with teens every day. It is The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Lifeline is a free and confidential 24-hour hotline for anyone experiencing emotional distress, including those thinking about suicide.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

A teen-specific suicide prevention lifeline is the one run by Boys Town National Hotline (for everyone, not just men), available 24 hours a day. You can also send this hotline an email and they will respond within 48 hours.

Youth Helpline, Your Life Your Voice: 1-800-448-3000

Another teen suicide hotline is available specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) youth. The Trevor Project is a 24-hour-a-day hotline.

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Keep in mind, there are also many suicide hotlines that serve only a local area as well. Find these teen suicide hotline numbers here.

Teen Suicide Chat – Text Messaging

Of course, many teens are used to communicating via text message and so, because of this, suicide hotlines also offer teen suicide text messaging help. This service, however, is typically not available 24 hours a day, seven days a week like the above hotlines are.

Youth Helpline, Your Life, Your Voice offers teen suicide chat via text message from 6:00 p.m.-midnight (CST) every day. Text "VOICE" to 20121 to start. Text with a counselor for free with the following carriers: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Virgin, Cricket, Nextel, Boost, MetroPCS (standard message & data rates may apply for other carriers).

The Trevor Project offers LGBTQ youth text chat from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on Fridays only. Text "Trevor" to 1-202-304-1200 to start. (Standard text messaging rates apply.)

Teen Suicide Chat – Online Chat

Teen suicide prevention lines also offer online chat services. This could be a convenient way to get help for suicidal feelings for those who may not be comfortable talking on the phone.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers Lifeline Crisis Chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Youth Hotline, Your Life, Your Voice offers teen suicide chat from Monday-Friday, 6:00 p.m.-midnight (CST).

The Trevor Project offers TrevorChat, a teenage suicide chat for LGBTQ youth, seven days a week from 3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. (EST).