Help without having to speak
"Just call someone" is useless advice to a great many people, and being unable to make the call does not mean you are not serious enough to deserve help. It is one of the most common reasons people give for not reaching out at all — which makes it worth saying plainly:
Everything below is staffed by the same trained people as the phone lines. Text and chat are not a lesser option, a triage queue, or a waiting room. They are the front door.
There are all sorts of ordinary reasons a call is impossible right now:
- You are autistic, and unstructured speech with a stranger is exhausting or impossible.
- You are Deaf or hard of hearing.
- You live or work somewhere you would be overheard.
- You are at work, on a ward, in a shared house, or in a car with other people.
- You have a phone phobia, or panic when a call connects.
- Distress has simply taken your voice, which happens and is not a character flaw.
Text, chat and email services
Every one of these can be used without making a sound.
- SHOUT to 85258
Text SHOUT to 85258
Free on EE, O2, Three, Vodafone and most other UK networks. Does not appear on your bill.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
- Does not appear on an itemised bill
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Start a CALM webchat
Same hours as the phone line, and staffed by the same trained team.
Every day 17:00–00:00
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- HOPE to 88247
Text HOPE to 88247
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- pat@papyrus-uk.org
Email HopeLine 24/7
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Chat to a Childline counsellor online
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Chat to Switchboard online
Every day 10:00–22:00
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- THEMIX to 85258
Text THEMIX to 85258
A 24/7 crisis text line, run with Shout.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
- Does not appear on an itemised bill
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- 18001 0808 808 8000
Textphone Lifeline via Relay UK
For anyone Deaf, with hearing loss, or with tinnitus.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- Freephone number
Checked 25 August 2026 against an official government page
- Start a chat
Cruse support after a suicide
Hours not confirmed
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Search the SASP directory
Hours not confirmed
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- 988
Text 988
Texting reaches the same trained counselors as the phone line.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Chat with 988 online
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Connect
ASL videophone service for Deaf and hard of hearing callers
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- HOME to 741741
Text HOME to 741741
Free on most US carriers, and silent to use.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- 838255
Text 838255
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Chat with the Veterans Crisis Line
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- START to 678678
Text START to 678678
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Chat with a Trevor counselor
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- START to 88788
Text START to 88788
Quieter than a call if someone else may hear you.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Find an AFSP loss support group
Search by location. Groups are free and run by trained facilitators.
Hours not confirmed
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- 988
Text 988
Texting reaches the same trained responders as the phone line.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 26 August 2026 against their own page
- CONNECT to 686868
Text CONNECT to 686868
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 26 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Start a Hope for Wellness chat
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 26 August 2026 against their own page
- 0477 13 11 14
Text Lifeline on 0477 13 11 14
Open 24 hours, every day
- Charged at your standard rate
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Start a Lifeline crisis chat
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Chat with a Beyond Blue counsellor
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Start a Kids Helpline webchat
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Start a QLife webchat
Every day 15:00–00:00
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 25 August 2026 against their own page
- HELP to 51444
Text HELP to 51444
Standard message rates apply.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Charged at your standard rate
Checked 21 August 2026 against their own page
- HELLO to 50808
Text HELLO to 50808
Free on all Irish networks, and it does not appear on your bill.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
- Does not appear on an itemised bill
Checked 21 August 2026 against their own page
- 1737
Text 1737
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 26 August 2026 against their own page
- 4357
Text HELP to 4357
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 1 August 2026 against their own page
- 234
Text Youthline on 234
Free to text.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 21 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Search helplines in your country
Detects your country automatically, and lets you filter by phone, text or online chat.
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 27 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Browse crisis centres by country
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
Checked 27 August 2026 against their own page
- Start a chat
Find your country's child helpline
Open 24 hours, every day
- Free to call
- You do not have to give your name
Checked 27 August 2026 against their own page
If even writing feels like too much
You do not have to explain anything, or start with the worst part, or have the words ready. It is completely normal to open with something like:
"I don't really know what to say. Today has been very bad."
That is enough. The person on the other end is trained to take it from there, and they would much rather have that message than nothing.