Looking for trauma resources? Contact the TRAUMA HELP DESK

Contact the Help Desk

Proven Trauma-Informed Implementation and Measurement Solutions

The Traumatic Stress Institute fosters the transformation of organizations and service systems to trauma-informed care (TIC) through the delivery of whole-system consultation, professional training, coaching, and research.

Help Desk and Helplines

Sidran Resource & Referral Help Desk is now part of the Traumatic Stress Institute

The Sidran Resource & Referral Help Desk was created by the Sidran Institute to provide information and resources for those who’ve experienced trauma, their friends and family, as well as for professionals and paraprofessionals. In joining with the Traumatic Stress Institute, the Help Desk can still be reached by email at [email protected]. For submission guidelines, click here.

Need Help Now? Dial 988 for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Helpline Listings A-Z by Topic

 

Child Abuse

Child Sexual Abuse

  • Stop It Now! Free, confidential, direct support and information to individuals with questions or concerns about child sexual abuse. Talk to someone by calling 1.888.PREVENT, write via email , or use the interactive Online Help Center or “Ask Now!” advice column. Available 36 hours/week during ET business hours, with a goal of becoming a national hotline in the future. Also has a training program called Circles of Safety trainingfor youth-serving organizations.
  • What’s Okay?: Text WHATSOK to 888-532-0550, chat here. Great place to ask questions about sex and boundaries; it can be hard to know what’s okay and not okay. No pressure, lectures, or judgement; everyone deserves support. 

Crime

  • Victim Connect: Call or text 1-855-4VICTIM (484-2846) or chat via their website. Available M-F from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Local and national resources by crime type, financial support, legal services, and more.

Crisis (also scroll down to see Suicide Hotlines)

  • Crisis Text Line US or Canada: Text HOME to 741741. Available 24/7 via text, chat on website, or WhatsApp. Help for any crisis, any time you need support.
  • SAMHSA National Helpline: Service available 24/7 in English and Spanish. Call or text 1–800–662–HELP (4357). For mental health or substance use, run by U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Cyberbullying/Online Harrassment

    Dating

    • love is respect: Call 1-866-331-9474, text LOVEIS to 22522, or chat via website. “Love is confusing. We’re here to help.” Website includes information about signs of abuse.

    Distaster Distress

    • Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990, service for Spanish speakers, deaf, and hard-of-hearing available. 24/7 helpline run by SAMHSA for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster.

    Domestic Violence

    • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or chat on the website. Staffed 24/7 by trained counselors who can provide crisis assistance and information about shelters, legal advocacy, health care centers, and counseling.
    • STAND for Families Free of Violence: 888-215-5555. Call 24/7 for emotional support, safety planning & assessments, screenings for STAND! services, information, and linkages to additional supportive resources.
    • StrongHearts Native Helpline: Call 844-7NATIVE (762-8483) or chat on the website. A 24/7 safe, confidential, and anonymous domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy.
    • Safe Horizon: Call 1-800-621-HOPE (4673), available 24/7 and they can assist in any language. Crisis counseling, safetly planning, assistance finding Domestic Violence Shelters.

    Eating Disorders

    Elder Abuse

    First Responders

    Officers and other first responders are often on the front lines of traumatic situations, and the effects of long-term trauma exposure can have lasting negative impacts.

    • Copline: 1-800-COPLINE (1-800-267-5463). A hotline staffed 24/7 by retired active peer listeners – former officers available to engage with callers on the daily stressors officers and their family members experience.
    • All Clear Foundation Crisis Textline: Text BADGE to 741-741. For emergency responders to reach out to trained crisis counselors.  All Clear Foundation partners with Crisis Text Line to offer this Solution designed for Responders.

    General/Mental Health

    • SAMHSA National Helpline: Service available 24/7 in English and Spanish. Call or text 1–800–662–HELP (4357). For mental health or substance use.
    • FindTreatment.gov: Confidential, anonymous resource for finding treatment facilities for mental and substance abuse disorders in the US and its territories via website.
    • Psychology Today.com: Find detailed listings for mental health providers in the US on their website.

    Human Trafficking

    • National Human Trafficking Hotline: Available 24/7, call 1-888-373-7888, text 233733, TTY 711, or chat via their website. Caller can report a tip; connect with anti-trafficking services in their area; or request training/information/technical assistance.

    Infants – Surrender Your Baby

    • National Safe Haven Alliance Crisis Hotline: Call 1-888-510-BABY if you want to surrender your baby or are pregnant and have questions about how the “Safely Surrendered Baby” laws in your state can help you. There are “safe surrender” sites in many locations—usually any hospital, fire station, lifeguard station—where you can safely hand over your baby with no questions asked. There are laws in place to protect your privacy and ensure that your baby is not abandoned in an unsafe place when you are in crisis.

    LGBTQ+

    • The Trevor Project: Call, text or email 24/7 at (212) 695-8650/[email protected] for gender-sensitive help with issues such as coming out, LGBTQ+ identity, depression, and suicide.
    • Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860 in the U.S., (877) 330-6366 in Canada. Accredited grassroots hotline for the trans/questioning community, by the trans community. Support for families and Spanish language help also available.

      Parenting

      • National Parent Helpline: 1-855- 4A PARENT • 1-855-427-2736. Their tagline is: Asking for Help is a Sign of Strength®. Being a parent is a critically important job, 24 hours a day. It’s not always easy. Get emotional support from a trained Advocate and become empowered and a stronger parent.

      Racial Trauma

      • Racial Equity Support Line: Run by an Oregon organization called Lines for Life, call 503-575-3764 weekdays from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. PT.
      • TurnSignl App: An on-demand, real-time service that provides drivers 24/7 legal guidance from an attorney (who is trained in de-escalating interactions between police, drivers, and passengers) while their camera records the interaction. While this is a paid service, they do offer free access to users who may not be able to afford the subscription fee.

      Rape/Sexual Assault

      • The National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat via the website. A 24/7 free, safe, and confidential help hotline run by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), which is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. Website in Spanish also available at www.rainn.org/es. If you are outside of the U.S. you can still chat live with RAINN (in English or Spanish).
      • Safe Helpline 877-995-5247. RAINN also operates a sexual assault support line specifically for members of the DoD (Department of Defense) community.
      • Lila.help: Growing, international online search engine to help women find trusted, local services regarding harassment, rape, sexual abuse, physical or psychological violence.
      • Take Back The Night Foundation Hotline: Available 24/7, call 567-SHATTER or fill out their online form. Provide legal assistance for survivors in every state. They also have a podcast.
      • Cyber Civil Rights Initiative Crisis Helpline: Call 844-878-2274, available 24/7. Provides information, support, referrals, and non-legal advice specific to image-based sexual abuse and harrassment, including nonconsensual pronography, recorded sexual assault, and sextortion. Click here for help outside of the U.S.
      • CyberTipline: 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678). National centralized reporting system regarding online exploitation of children – whether you are a victim, family, or bystander needing to report something you’ve observed. Also has a catalog of missing posters and a list of children still missing from AMBER Alerts.

        Runaway/Missing/Homeless Youth

        • National Runaway Safeline: 1-800-RUNAWAY ( 1-800-786-2929 ). Call, text, email, or chat via website. A national, toll-free hotline for runaway and homeless youth, teens in crisis, and concerned family/friends. Completely confidential.
        • Covenant House Nineline: 1-800-999-9999. 24/7 crisis hotline for youth and parents. Shelter, referrals, information, crisis intervention, and health clinic. Referrals throughout the U.S. and it’s bilingual, free, and confidential.
        • CyberTipline: 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678). National centralized reporting system regarding online exploitation of children – whether you are a victim, family, or bystander needing to report something you’ve observed. Also has a catalog of missing posters and a list of children still missing from AMBER Alerts.

        Self-Injury

        • S.A.F.E. (Self-Abuse Finally Ends) Alternatives: Call 1-800-DONT-CUT (366-8288). This is a treatment approach, professional network, and educational resource base devoted to helping people stop self-mutilation.
        • Boys Town: 1-800-448-3000 in the U.S. and Canada. A support service for both males and females for self-harm support and other mental health issues.

        Sports-Related Abuse

        • Courage First Athlete Helpline: Call or text to 888-279-1026 or chat via website. Specialized assistance for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone in athletic communities who are concerned about emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Hotline runs Mon-Fri, 12pm-8pm PST and calls outside of those hours are rerouted to their partner, ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline.

        Stalking

          Substance Abuse/Alcholism

          Suicide

          • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 or chat via their website 24/7. Spanish, deaf, and hard of hearing assistance is available. National network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
          • Crisis Text Line US or Canada: Text HOME to 741741. Available 24/7 via text, chat on website, or WhatsApp. Help for any crisis, any time you need support.
          • Befrienders Worldwide. Find Helplines and Textlines by country via searchbar. You can also click for resources in your language here.

            Veterans Crisis Hotlines:

            • Military Helpline: 1-888-HLP-4-VET ( 1-888-457-4838). Anonymous, free help and hope for all military-connected community members.
            • National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1.877.4AID.VET (424.3838). 24/7 for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, their family members, friends, and supporters.
            • Safe Helpline: 877-995-5247 or chat via the website. A sexual assault support line specifically for members of the DoD (Department of Defense) community, operated by RAINN.
            • VA National Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274 (M-F 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET, Sat 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET). For caregivers, family members, friends, Veterans, and community partners to contact for information related to caregiving and available supports and services.
            • Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or  Confidential Veterans Chat with a counselor. For all service members, including members of the National Guard National Reserves, and Veterans.

            Youth/Teen Crisis Intervention Hotlines:

            • Boys Town: 1-800-448-3000 in the U.S. and Canada 24/7 (dial same humber for TTY/hard-of-hearing). A support service for both males and females for self-harm support and other mental health issues. Includes help for family and friends.
            • TeenLine: Call 800-852-8336 Nationwide from 6 PM – 10 p.m. PT Every Night, Text TEEN 839863 Daily from 6pm-9pm PT, or email here. Help for any teen who is struggling for any reason.
            • Youthline: Call at 1-877-968-8491, text teen2teen to 839863, chat or email via their website. 24/7 line, with teen peer support available 4-10 p.m. PT. No judgement, talk about anything you want.

            Warmlines

            • Warmline Directory: Warmlines are for when you need someone to talk to but are not in crisis. This directory shows warmlines by U.S. state.
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