Every line below is free. The ones in the first two sections answer 24 hours a day.
In danger right now? Call 911.
It works across Canada and the United States. Nunavut has no 911 service: call 1-867-979-1111 there.
Call or text, any hour
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
988
Call or text, in English or French. It connects you with a crisis centre in your area. Calls are free from any phone.
Hope for Wellness Help Line
1-855-242-3310
For Indigenous people anywhere in Canada, by phone or online chat. English and French, with Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut by phone on request.
Call, text or chat, any hour
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
988
Call, text or chat online. LGBTQ+ young people: call and press 3. En español: call and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
For anyone who’d rather type than talk. A trained volunteer texts back.
Veterans Crisis Line
988, then press 1
For veterans, service members and the people who care about them. You can also text 838255.
The Trevor Project
1-866-488-7386
For LGBTQ+ young people. Call, text START to 678678, or chat online.
Other support
Safe for now, but today is heavy
These aren’t emergency lines, and some keep set hours. They’re good for talking things through, or finding support close to home.
211
211
Canada and the United States. It connects you with local services and community supports where you live.
LGBT National Hotline
1-888-843-4564
United States. Peer support by phone or online chat for LGBTQ+ people. Open weekday evenings and Saturday afternoons, Eastern time.
Trans Lifeline
1-877-330-6366 Canada
1-877-565-8860 US
Peer support run by and for trans people. Weekdays 1 to 9 pm Eastern.
About this page
What I can and can’t do
Loops + Levels is an education company. I can’t help in an emergency, and an email to evan@loopsandlevels.com can take a day or two to reach me. The people on these lines are trained for exactly this, and the lines at the top of this page pick up at any hour.
Loops + Levels isn’t connected to any of these services.
Outside Canada and the United States? Find a Helpline lists free lines in other countries.
Numbers last checked October 2026.