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Crisis Hotline and Text Support for Teens: What Parents Can Do Right Now

If your child may be depressed, self-harming, or talking about suicide, quick support matters. Get clear next steps, including crisis hotline for teens and teen crisis text line options, plus guidance on what to do if your child is suicidal.

Answer a few questions to get personalized crisis support guidance

Tell us how urgent things feel right now, and we’ll help you understand whether to use emergency help, a suicide hotline for teens, mental health crisis text support, or parent support for a teen self-harm crisis.

How urgent does the situation feel right now?
Takes about 2 minutes Personalized summary Private

When to use a hotline, text line, or emergency help

If your teen is in immediate danger, has a weapon, has taken pills, cannot be kept safe, or has a suicide plan they may act on now, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If the situation is urgent but not immediately life-threatening, a 24 hour crisis hotline for parents, suicide hotline for teens, or emergency hotline for a depressed teen can help you decide the safest next step. If your child will talk more easily by message, a teen crisis text line or mental health crisis text support may feel less overwhelming and can still connect them to trained crisis counselors.

Support options parents often need most

Crisis hotline for teens

Use phone support when your teen is overwhelmed, talking about suicide, or you need immediate guidance from a live crisis counselor.

Teen crisis text line

Text support for a suicidal teen can be a good fit when they are more willing to type than talk, or need a quieter way to reach out.

24 hour crisis hotline for parents

Parents can call too. If you are unsure what to do if your child is suicidal, a hotline can help you assess risk and plan next steps.

Signs it may be time to reach out now

Talk of wanting to die or disappear

Statements about not wanting to live, feeling like a burden, or saying goodbye should be taken seriously.

Self-harm that is increasing or changing

If your teen is self-harming more often, hiding injuries, or using more dangerous methods, seek help line support for self harm right away.

You cannot confidently keep them safe

If you are not sure they can stay safe through the next few hours, use crisis support immediately rather than waiting.

What to do while you are getting support

Stay with your teen if safety is a concern. Speak calmly and directly. Ask if they are thinking about suicide, whether they have a plan, and whether they have access to pills, sharp objects, ropes, cords, firearms, or other means. Reduce access to anything they could use to hurt themselves. Do not leave them alone if risk feels high. If they refuse to talk, you can still contact a crisis hotline for teens or parent support for a teen self-harm crisis to get immediate guidance.

How this assessment helps

Clarifies urgency

We help you sort immediate danger from serious but stable situations so you can act with more confidence.

Points to the right support channel

Based on your answers, you’ll get personalized guidance on hotline, text, emergency, and parent support options.

Keeps the focus on your teen’s safety

The assessment is designed for parents dealing with depression, self-harm, or suicidal concerns right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my child says they want to die?

Take it seriously and stay with them. Ask whether they are thinking about suicide right now, whether they have a plan, and whether they have access to means. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the ER. If not, contact a crisis hotline or teen crisis text line right away for guidance.

Can I call a crisis hotline even if my teen refuses to talk?

Yes. A 24 hour crisis hotline for parents can help you assess the situation, decide how urgent it is, and plan how to keep your teen safe even if they will not speak to a counselor themselves.

Is text support for a suicidal teen really appropriate?

It can be. Mental health crisis text support is often helpful when a teen feels too overwhelmed, ashamed, or guarded to speak on the phone. If the risk is immediate or severe, emergency services may still be the safest option.

When is self-harm an emergency?

Self-harm is an emergency if injuries need medical care, bleeding will not stop, your teen used a dangerous method, they say they want to die, or you believe they may act on suicidal thoughts. In those cases, seek emergency help or crisis support immediately.

Get personalized guidance for your teen’s crisis situation

Answer a few questions to understand the urgency, explore crisis hotline and text support options, and get clear next steps for keeping your child safe.

Answer a Few Questions

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