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← Families · Counseling home

Counseling · Getting help now

Get help now

In danger right now, or someone is hurt?

Call 911

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police (NYS OCFS).

You matter. Hard feelings can change, and help works. Reaching out is a strong thing to do.

Free help lines

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988

Call or text 988, or chat. Available 24/7/365. Free and confidential. For anyone feeling very upset, thinking about suicide, worried about drugs or alcohol, or worried about someone else. Spanish: press 2 when you call, or text AYUDA to 988.

📞 Call 988💬 Text 988💻 Chat

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741

Free, confidential, 24/7. Spanish: text HOLA to 741741. A trained volunteer usually answers within five minutes. Message and data rates may apply.

💬 Text 741741

NYS Child Abuse Hotline

1-800-342-3720

Someone is hurting you or another child, or a child is not safe at home. The Statewide Central Register takes calls 24 hours a day, every day. Deaf or hard of hearing (TDD/TTY): 1-800-638-5163.

📞 Call

NY HOPEline (alcohol, drugs, gambling)

1-877-846-7369

1-877-8-HOPENY or text 467369. Free, confidential, 24/7/365.

📞 Call💬 Text

CyberTipline (online exploitation)

1-800-843-5678

Someone online asked for sexual pictures, sent them to you, or is threatening you. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can report yourself, or a trusted adult can help.

📞 Call💻 Report online

A trusted adult at school

Today

Your school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, nurse, teacher or principal. Say: “I need help. Can we talk now?”

For you, by grade

My grade:
Grades K-2

Tell a grown-up

  • Tell a grown-up you trust: family, teacher, counselor, nurse.
  • Say: “I need help.”
  • If they do not help, tell another grown-up. Keep telling.
  • Big danger: a grown-up calls 911. You can call 911 too.
Grades 3-5

Safe, not secret

  • Some secrets are not OK to keep, like someone hurting you.
  • Tell a trusted adult today.
  • If you are not safe at home, the Child Abuse Hotline helps kids: 1-800-342-3720.
Grades 6-8

You are not alone

  • Feeling like you can’t go on? Call or text 988. You can talk, or just type.
  • A friend says they want to die? Do not keep it secret. Tell an adult now, even if they asked you not to.
  • You are not “in trouble” for asking for help.
Grades 9-12

Help for you and friends

  • 988 is for you and for worried friends. It is free and confidential.
  • Save 988 and 741741 in your phone now.
  • Seeing a friend’s worrying post? Tell an adult and share 988 with them.
  • Help works. People get through very hard times.

What to say when you call or text

While you wait: breathe

🎈 Calm-down breathing

Breathe in 4 · hold 4 · breathe out 4 · rest 4

Four rounds take about one minute. If you feel dizzy, stop and breathe the normal way.

For families

Warning signs (988 Lifeline)

Take these seriously, especially if new, getting worse, or after a loss or change:

  • Talking about wanting to die
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
  • Talking about being a burden to others
  • Using more alcohol or drugs
  • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Withdrawing or isolating
  • Rage or talk of revenge
  • Extreme mood swings

What to do

  1. Stay with your child. Stay calm and listen.
  2. Ask directly how they are feeling and whether they are thinking about suicide. Listen without judging.
  3. Call or text 988 together, or call 911 if there is immediate danger.
  4. Tell the school counselor or school psychologist so school can support your child.
  5. Make an appointment with your child's doctor or a mental health professional.

Find help near you

  • NYS OMH: children, teens and families
  • 988 in New York is answered by trained crisis counselors at New York contact centers, 24/7, at no cost.
  • SAMHSA National Helpline (treatment referral, English and Spanish): 1-800-662-4357.

For teachers

A student tells you they are not safe

  1. Stay with the student; do not leave them alone.
  2. Listen. Thank them for telling you. Do not promise to keep it secret.
  3. Use your building's crisis protocol right away (counselor, psychologist, social worker, administrator).
  4. Immediate danger: call 911.

Abuse or maltreatment

Many school staff are mandated reporters under New York law. Learn your duties in the OCFS Child Protective Services pages and the OCFS Summary Guide for Mandated Reporters, and in your district's policy. Public hotline: 1-800-342-3720.

Safe messaging

  • Include hope and help: 988 and Crisis Text Line.
  • Never share methods or details.
  • Avoid “committed suicide,” “successful” or “failed attempt.”
  • Do not present suicide as common or as a solution.

Sources

General information to help students, families and teachers. It is not medical, mental health or legal advice, and it does not replace your school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, doctor or a licensed professional. Phone numbers can change; check the official page if a number does not work.