Self-help and Crisis Resources

Free or low-cost resources available online and in the greater NYC community.

24/7 support for urgent concerns

Mental health: call CPS at 212-854-2878.

Sexual or gender-based violence, crisis intervention, or advocacy: call the SVR Helpline at 212-854-4357 (HELP).

Crisis Help

What: Available 24/7. Speak with a professional or peer counselor for confidential, non-judgmental emotional support, suicide prevention, crisis support, and help accessing mental health and substance abuse care.

Chat online: https://nyc988.cityofnewyork.us/en/ or https://988lifeline.org/chat/

Call: 988

Text: 988

Languages:

  • English: 988
  • Español: 988, aprete 2
  • Interpreters are available for 200+ languages. Stay on the line, and you will be connected with a counselor who can connect you to translator services.
  • NYC 988 Counselors are trained to accept calls from deaf and hard of hearing individuals using video relay services.

What: Provides crisis intervention for students age 25 and under identifying as LGBTQ. Support on a variety of issues affecting emotional well-being, whether or not concerns are directly related to identifying as LGBTQ.

Call: 1-866-488-7386. Available 24/7.

Chat online: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now. Available 7 days/ week from 3pm-10pm EST.

Text: TREVOR to 202-304-1200. Available Monday-Friday, 3:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. EST.

What: Connect with a Crisis Counselor, a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem solving. Available 24/7.

Text: Text HOME to 741741

Website: https://www.crisistextline.org/

What: Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Available 24/7.

Call or text: 988

TTY: use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988

Chat online: 988lifeline.org/chat

What: SAHMSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Resources) Disaster Distress Helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, pandemic (including COVID-19) etc. Available 24/7/365.

Call: 1-800-985-5990 (English and español)

TTY: 1-800-846-8517

Text:

(English) Text TalkWithUs to 66746

(español) SMS Hablanos al 66746

What: Speak with someone for high quality, responsive information, and referral throughout New York State for individuals experiencing substance abuse and problems with gambling. Offered through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Toll-free and confidential. Available 24/7/365.

Call: 1-877-8-HOPENY or 1-877-8-467369

Text: Text HOPENY to 467369

Languages:

  • English
  • Spanish
  • Bengali
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Haitian-Creole
  • Korean
  • Russian

New York City

New York City Domestic Violence Hotline

What: For safety planning, referrals, and access to emergency housing for survivors of stalking and domestic violence. Available 24/7. 

Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/domestic-violence-support.page

Call: 1-800-621-HOPE (4673), or 311 to get connected. For TDD, call 1-866-604-5350.   

Safe Horizon

What: Provides support and advocacy for safety planning, resources, and connection to Domestic Violence Shelters. Available 24/7.

Website: https://www.safehorizon.org

Call:

Sanctuary for Families

Safety Plan 

What: A safety plan (a set of steps one can take to reduce the risk of harm in unsafe situations with an abuser or family member) designed with changes in the current environments due to coronavirus in mind.

Website: https://sanctuaryforfamilies.org/safety-planning-covid19/

Languages:

  • English
  • Spanish

Helpline

What: To request services including shelter, counseling, legal representation or economic empowerment. Available Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. 

For crisis intervention, shelter, and counseling:

For legal services including orders of protection, divorce, immigration, and child custody, visitation and support:

New York City Family Justice Centers

What: Provides walk-in service for comprehensive civil legal assistance, counseling, and supportive services to victims of domestic and gender-based violence. Available Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. 

Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page

Locations:

  • Bronx
  • Brooklyn
  • Queens
  • Manhattan
  • Staten Island

New York City Coordinated Approach to Preventing Stalking (CAPS)

What : An initiative of the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, in collaboration with the New York City Police Department and local District Attorney's offices, to increase the identification and reporting of intimate partner stalking cases, enhance both stalking arrests and prosecutions and link victims to critical services.

Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/initiatives.page

Call: 212-788-3156

The New York City Hope Online Resource Directory  

What: Resource directory includes information about community-based organizations that work with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence in all five boroughs.

Website: https://www.nyc.gov/content/nychope/pages/

New York State

NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline

What: Advocacy and 24/7 online chat and phone support. Available 24/7. 

Website: https://opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims

Call: 1-800-942-6906

Text: 1-844-997-2121

Chat: https://www.resourceconnect.com/nysdvsachat/chat

National

National Domestic Violence Hotline

What: Highly-trained advocates are available to talk/chat confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. Available 24/7, confidential and free.

Website: https://www.thehotline.org/

Call: 1-800-799-7233

Text: LOVEIS to 22522

Chat: https://www.thehotline.org/

Languages:

  • English
  • Spanish

National Sexual Assault Hotline

What: Phone and online chat for survivors and their loved ones. Available 24/7, confidential and free. 

Website: https://rainn.org/

Call: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) 

Chat: https://hotline.rainn.org/online

Languages: 

  • English
  • Spanish

The StrongHearts Native Helpline

What: A safe domestic violence and dating violence helpline for American Indians and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy. Available daily, 7:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m. CT.

Website: https://www.strongheartshelpline.org/

Call: 1-844-762-8483

Trans Lifeline

What: A peer support service run by trans people, for trans and questioning callers. This hotline is staffed exclusively by trans operators is the only crisis line with a policy against non-consensual active rescue. Available 24/7. 

Website: https://www.translifeline.org/

Call: 1-877-565-8860

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

What: Connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe. Available 24/7. 

Website: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

Call: 1-888-373-7888

Text: 233733

Chat: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/chat

Languages:

  • English
  • Spanish
  • 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter

See also:

What: Get emotional support from a trained advocate and become empowered and a stronger parent. Available Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. PST.

Website: http://www.nationalparenthelpline.org/

Call: 1-855-4A-PARENT (1-855-427-2736)

Specific Concerns and Life Skills

CBT-i Coach

Website: https://mobile.va.gov/app/cbt-i-coach

What: Provides tools to improve sleep habits and prevent future insomnia, as well as access to educational materials about proper sleep hygiene.

Note: This app is not meant to be used as a substitute for psychological services but rather as an additional resource to augment ongoing treatment.

Mobile apps:

 

PTSD Coach

Website: https://mobile.va.gov/app/ptsd-coach

What: Provides support to people struggling with the aftereffects of trauma by educating users about trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also provides tools to identity, track, and manage trauma symptoms.

Although some information specifically addresses veterans specifically, educational information and tools for tracking and managing PTSD symptoms are suitable for many people who have experienced a wide range of traumatic events.

Note: This app is not a substitute for psychological services but rather as an additional resource to augment ongoing treatment. While the app suggests some people may wish to wait to see if their trauma symptoms improve before seeking professional help, we believe that in the aftermath of trauma, it is best to reach out to a mental health professional.

Sexual Violence Response offers 24/7 support 365 days a year via the SVR Helpline at 212-854-4357 (HELP)

Mobile apps:

SMART Recovery Toolbox

Website: http://www.smartrecovery.org/smart-recovery-toolbox/

What: Part of the SMART self-help program for substance abuse with influences from the 12 step model.

Pomodoro Timer: Stay Focused

Website: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pomodoro-timer-stay-focused/id830466924

What: Uses the Pomodoro Method to help students who have trouble organizing their tasks, sustaining attention and/or managing work-related anxiety.

Mobile apps:

Eating Recovery Center

Website: Eating Recovery

What: Resources that can provide valuable connection and support for those struggling with and recovering from eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders.

A Guide to Coping with Loss and Grief (PDF)

Columbia Health developed a bereavement guide for students mourning the loss of a loved one, due to the loss of your social and academic life on campus, or due to the loss of a sense of certainty about the future in the wake of the global pandemic.

Mindfulness

Video link: https://youtu.be/uQv01WkwHvo

What: Self-compassion has been shown to be a powerful tool for improving coping and enhancing emotional well-being. This self-compassion workshop was facilitated by Aisha Holder, PhD., Staff Psychologist and the Assistant Clinical Director for Outreach and Community Clinical Services for Counseling and Psychological Services.

During this in-person workshop, hosted in January 2023, she discussed the building blocks of self-compassion—mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity, explored myths about self-compassion, and led experimental exercises to practice incorporating the principles of self-compassion into daily lives.

Website: https://chrisgermer.com/meditations/

What: A website with free audio and written meditations that average 10-15 minutes in length. Examples include: Affectionate Breathing, Loving-Kindness for Ourselves, Giving and Receiving Compassion, Working with Difficult Emotions, Labeling Emotions, and Forgiving Ourselves.

Website: https://quietkit.com/

What: A website that presents a very simple, direct type of guided meditation for beginners, perfect for anyone getting started: focusing your attention on your breath, and nothing else, as you sit quietly.

The website provides free 2, 4, 6, 8 minute guided and 10 minute unguided meditations.

Insight Timer

Website: https://insighttimer.com/

What: Offers over 8,000 free guided meditations, 1,000 music tracks, polyphonic bells and ambient sounds, and stats/journaling to track progress.

Mobile apps: