If your child or teen may be in a mental health crisis, get clear next-step support fast. This page helps parents understand when to call an emergency mental health hotline, what to say, and how to find immediate help for urgent safety concerns.
Answer a few questions about what is happening right now so you can get personalized guidance on whether to call a mental health crisis hotline, seek emergency care, or take the next safest step for your family.
An emergency mental health hotline can help when a child or teen is talking about suicide, self-harm, severe panic, psychosis, threats of violence, or behavior that feels suddenly unsafe or out of control. Parents often search for a 24 hour mental health hotline for parents because they need immediate direction, not general advice. If you are unsure whether the situation is urgent, it is still appropriate to reach out for crisis support. A trained responder can help you decide whether to stay with your child, remove access to dangerous items, contact emergency services, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Call now if your child says they want to die, talks about a plan, has attempted self-harm, or you found messages, notes, or online searches that suggest imminent risk.
Urgent support may be needed if your teen is extremely agitated, cannot calm down, is hearing or seeing things, is disconnected from reality, or is behaving in a way that creates immediate safety concerns.
If supervision is not enough, your child is trying to leave during a crisis, access to medications or weapons is a concern, or you feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do next, call for emergency mental health hotline help.
A crisis responder can help you sort out whether this is immediate danger, a likely emergency within hours, or a serious concern that still needs prompt follow-up.
You may get guidance on staying with your child, reducing access to harmful items, contacting mobile crisis services, going to the ER, or calling 911 if there is immediate danger.
Parents often need calm, direct coaching in the moment. Hotline support can help you know what to say, what information to gather, and how to respond without escalating the situation.
Before you call, stay with your child or teen if it is safe to do so. Move medications, sharp objects, cords, firearms, car keys, and other dangerous items out of reach if possible. Be ready to describe what you are seeing, what your child has said, whether there is a suicide plan or recent self-harm, any substance use, and whether they can be supervised. If there is immediate danger, a weapon, loss of consciousness, or a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Use direct language such as, "My teen said they want to die," or "My child is threatening to hurt themselves tonight." Clear details help responders assess risk quickly.
Explain whether the danger is happening now, may happen within hours, or feels uncertain. Mention access to pills, sharp objects, firearms, ropes, or other means.
Tell the responder what you need most: whether to call emergency services, how to keep your child safe at home right now, and what urgent support options are available for families.
The best option depends on the level of danger and where you live. If your child or teen may be suicidal or in a mental health crisis, a crisis hotline can help assess urgency and direct you to the safest next step. If there is immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Yes. Parents do not need certainty before calling. If your child is talking about death, self-harm, hopelessness, or acting in a way that feels unsafe, a mental health crisis hotline can help you evaluate the risk and decide what to do next.
Yes. Parents can call for guidance even if the child or teen will not speak on the phone or does not want support. The responder can help you think through safety, supervision, and whether emergency evaluation is needed.
Try to have your child's age, current behavior, exact statements about self-harm or suicide, any known plan or means, recent stressors, medications, substance use, and whether you can supervise them continuously. If you do not have all of this, call anyway.
Answer a few questions to better understand the level of urgency and the safest next step. If you are deciding whether to call a mental health emergency hotline number right now, this assessment can help you move quickly with more clarity.
Answer a Few QuestionsExplore more assessments in this topic group.
See related assessments across this category.
Find more parenting assessments by category and topic.
Crisis Hotline Support
Crisis Hotline Support
Crisis Hotline Support
Crisis Hotline Support