These are some “non - carceral” community resources. “Non-carceral means avoiding the use of prisons, jails, and police contact, and instead focusing on prevention and community-based solutions.” This means that these resources do not report to police.
Note: It is always good to review an organization’s specific policies before disclosing any information that could lead to an involuntary intervention or forced hospitalization.
Crisis Lines
THRIVE Lifeline:
Text “THRIVE” to +1.313.662.8209 from anywhere, 24/7
24/7 text-based support for mental health and/or identity, by and for multiply marginalized individuals
THRIVE Lifeline is a 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to changing the landscape of mental health support for people with intersecting marginalized identities. We’ve witnessed and experienced the dismissive, unsupportive, and sometimes dangerous interactions that traditional mental health avenues often provide. We run a 24/7 non-carceral text-based crisis line to help those within our communities feel heard, find affirming support, and stay alive. Our responders all hold marginalized identities ourselves, and have lived experience with surviving suicide and trauma, familial rejection due to our identities, food and housing insecurity, poverty, lack of access to education, immigration, and more. We are majority LGBTQ2S+, POC, and disabled (and often live at the intersections of these identities).
Our line is open to anyone, anytime, who’s over the age of 18. We can support people through escalated crisis, and are also happy to hold conversations about identity, marginalization, or other less acute experiences that someone may want to talk about. Text “THRIVE” to +1.313.662.8209.
U.S.: (877) 565-8860
Canada: (877) 330-6366
Mon-Fri 10a-6p PT
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
Call BlackLine:
Call or text 1.800.604.5841 in US,
Mon-Fri 6a-8p, Sat-Sun 5p-9p PT
24/7 crisis support with a Black, LGBTQ+, and Black Femme lens, plus a confidential avenue to report negative and inappropriate contact with police and vigilantes
LGBT National Hotline:
Call 888.843.4564 in the US; Mon-Fri 1p-9p PT, Sat 9a-2p PT
Confidential safe space where callers of any age can speak about sexual orientation or gender identity / expression issues
Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line:
Call 888.407.4515 in the US,
Open 4-6p PT Mon - Thurs, and 4-7p PT Fri - Sun
Share lived experience with psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, addiction, etc.
Helplines / Warmlines
Fireside Project:
Text or call 623.473.7433 in the US,
open 11a - 11p PT daily
Support line providing emotional support during + after psychedelic experiences. Can match with a volunteer with shared identity for people who are BIPOC, transgender, and/or military veterans
Warmline.org:
Offers a list of local warmlines in each state
StrongHearts Native Helpline:
Call 1.844.762.8483 in the US, 24/7
Confidential and anonymous culturally-appropriate domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans
The SQSH:
Call 844.785.7774 in the US;
Fri - Mon, 11a - 5p PT
Free, confidential, and identity-affirming emotional support and resource referrals by and for the LGBTQIA+ community
Project LETS:
Text 401.400.2905 for urgent support with psychiatric incarceration / involuntary hospitalization in the US
A Call for Change Helpline:
Call 877.898.3411 in the US; 7a - 7p PT daily
Anonymous, confidential helpline for people who use or risk using abuse / control in their intimate partnerships
Other Peer Support
Stronger U:
Non-carceral and alternative wellness services for the multiply marginalized Peer support discord server and meetings:
https://tinyurl.com/strongeru-peers
Monthly free support meetings for chronic suicidality, and plurality / DID
Alternatives to Suicide Groups:
Peer-led support groups that allow for speaking about, sitting with, understanding, and moving through thoughts of wanting to die; grown out of work from Wildflower Alliance
Held by various organizations, for example:
https://www.mhawisconsin.org/alt2su
https://wildfloweralliance.org/online-support-groups/
https://www.yarrowcollective.org/peer-support-groups
Kiva Centers:
Peer-led organization committed to advancing the self-healing and wellness of individuals impacted by trauma, emotional distress, and substance use experiences
Daily virtual support groups:
https://kivacenters.org/online-peer-support/
Wildflower Alliance:
Peer support and alternative healing practices for people who impacted by psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, extreme states, homelessness, substance use, etc.
Daily virtual support groups, including alternatives to suicide:
https://wildfloweralliance.org/online-support-groups/
Discord channel for peer support:
Neuromancers:
Abolitionist community organisation for and by neurodivergents who have been harmed by psychiatry and the medical industrial complex
Discord and peer support groups:
Peer Support Space:
Peer-led organization which uses lived experience to support, educate, and guide each other
Daily support groups, virtual options:
https://linktr.ee/peersupportspace
Other Resources
Peer Respite Centers:
Voluntary, short-term, overnight programs that provide community-based, non- clinical crisis support
Only available in some US states. View directory: https://thriv.life/PeerRespite
Abolition Centered Care Provider Database:
Collective resource of abolition-centered, non-carceral care providers (therapists, social workers, peer supporters, healers, etc.) dedicated to providing care outside of the system, created by Dandelion Hill View database:
https://thriv.life/AbolCareDB (US and CA)
Don’t Call The Police:
Database of local and national community-based alternatives to calling the police or 911, broken down by major US city
View database at: https://thriv.life/DontCall
Self Help Skills / Tools
Safety Plan workbook-zine (by Call Bubbie):
Interactive self care guide:
https://thriv.life/IntSelfCare
Self harm alternatives / distractions (by Project LETS):
https://thriv.life/SH-Distract
THRIVE resource database:
https://thrivelifeline.org/resources
Please note that some of the hotlines and crisis lines below do work with the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) and law enforcement.
I understand that historically Black and Brown communities have been brutalized and continue to experience violence from Police forces, and therefore, may feel unsafe and may not have the desire to engage or collaborate in any capacity with law enforcement. I just want to be transparent so that you feel informed before accessing services or support.
What happens if I call a hotline or crisis line and say that I have the intent to hurt myself or others?
If an individual calls certain hotlines or crisis lines, and during the conversation, the individual reports the “intent” to harm themselves or someone else (I.e. clear desire to carry out their intention), the hotline/crisis line staff is required to contact and involve PERT and/or law enforcement. If there is clear “intent” being expressed by an individual making a call, PERT and/or law enforcement would most likely be dispatched to the address location of the individual making the call to further assess if the there are current safety concerns. If there are safety concerns for Danger to Harm Self or Others, the individual may be transported and placed in a psychiatric hospitalization.
2-1-1 San Diego:
Phone: 2-1-1
This hotline connects people with community, health and disaster services through a free, 24/7 stigma-free phone service and searchable online database. 2-1-1 serves the entire population of San Diego County as the only free, confidential, dialing code service in San Diego.
Crisis Text Line
24 hours a day/ 7 days a week
Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
San Diego Access and Crisis Line:
Phone: (888) 724-7240
24 hours a day/ 7 days a week
Service is available in multiple languages.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis, please call the Access and Crisis Line. Trained and experienced counselors are available to provide support, referrals, and crisis intervention. You can also call the Access and Crisis Line if you are concerned about someone, just need to talk, have questions about how to offer support, or if you are looking for information about community resources, mental health referrals, and alcohol and drug support services. If emergency medical care is needed, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital
National Suicide Prevention lines:
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Trans Lifeline:
U.S.: (877) 565-8860
Canada: (877) 330-6366
24 hours a day/ 7 days a week
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
The Trevor Project:
Call: U.S.: 1-866-488-7386
Text “START” to 678-678
24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people.
Domestic Violence Hotline & Resources:
Phone: (888) DV-LINKS/ (888) 385-4657
This 24/7 countywide bilingual domestic violence hotline provides confidential support, safety planning and referrals. Call 2-1-1 for referrals to local domestic violence shelters.