If your child or teenager may be thinking about suicide, talking about self-harm, or showing signs of a mental health crisis, 988 can help you decide the safest next step. Get clear, parent-focused guidance on when to call 988, when to call 911, and what to do right now.
Share what is happening with your child or teen, how urgent it feels, and any warning signs you are seeing. We will help you understand when to use the 988 crisis line, when emergency services may be needed, and how to respond as a parent.
Parents often search for help in the middle of uncertainty: your child may be talking about wanting to die, hurting themselves, panicking, shutting down, or acting in ways that feel frighteningly different. In many of these situations, 988 is the right place to start. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is for suicidal thoughts, self-harm concerns, emotional crises, and urgent mental health support. If your child is in immediate physical danger, has a weapon, has taken an overdose, is unconscious, or needs urgent medical care, call 911 right away. If there is not immediate danger but you are very worried, 988 can help you assess risk, de-escalate the moment, and plan next steps.
Call 988 if your child says they want to die, talks about killing themselves, says everyone would be better off without them, or writes or posts messages that suggest suicidal thoughts.
988 can help if your teen is cutting, talking about self-harm, having intense hopelessness, severe panic, extreme agitation, or a mental health crisis that feels beyond what you can manage alone.
You do not need to wait until you are certain. If you are asking, "Should I call 988 for my teenager?" or wondering what situations require calling 988, that uncertainty itself is a good reason to reach out for guidance.
Use 988 when your child is in emotional or behavioral crisis, may be having suicidal thoughts, or needs immediate mental health support, but there is not a life-threatening medical emergency happening right now.
Use 911 if your child has already attempted suicide, has taken pills or substances, has a weapon, is violent and cannot be kept safe, is unconscious, or needs emergency medical attention.
If the situation could become dangerous within moments, call 911. If the main need is crisis counseling, suicide risk support, or help deciding what to do next, call 988. When in doubt, act on the higher level of safety.
A crisis counselor can help you sort through warning signs, what your child has said or done, and whether the situation sounds like suicidal thoughts, self-harm risk, or another mental health emergency.
988 can guide you on how to stay with your child, reduce access to dangerous items, talk calmly, involve another trusted adult, and decide whether your child needs emergency care today.
Parents often feel frozen, guilty, or afraid of overreacting. 988 is not only for the child in crisis. It is also for caregivers who need immediate guidance on how to respond safely and effectively.
Yes. Any mention of suicide should be taken seriously. Even if your teen says they would not act on it, 988 can help you understand the risk, ask the right follow-up questions, and decide what support is needed now.
988 is appropriate for self-harm concerns, suicidal thoughts, and mental health crises when there is not an immediate life-threatening medical emergency. If your child has severe injuries, has overdosed, is unconscious, or needs urgent medical treatment, call 911.
Call 988 when your child seems overwhelmed, hopeless, unsafe, or significantly different from their usual self and you are worried the situation could worsen. You do not need to wait for absolute proof of danger before getting crisis support.
Common reasons include suicidal thoughts, threats of self-harm, recent self-injury, intense emotional breakdowns, severe panic, statements about wanting to disappear, or any mental health crisis where you need immediate guidance on keeping your child safe.
Answer a few questions about what your child or teen is experiencing right now. You will get clear, parent-focused guidance on urgency, safety steps, and whether 988 or emergency services may be the best next move.
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