Support when things feel heavy, urgent, or unclear.
This page brings together crisis numbers, Chicago-based services, national support lines, and educational resources so clients and leads can quickly find the right kind of help.
If this is an emergency
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you or someone else is in immediate danger, has attempted suicide, has a plan or intent to self-harm, may harm someone else, or cannot stay safe.
JL Family Services is an outpatient mental health practice and is not a crisis response provider.
When to reach out
Not every hard moment is an emergency, but support should not wait until things become unmanageable.
Call 911
Use emergency services when there is a serious or immediate risk of harm.
- Suicide attempt or active plan
- Threats to harm others
- Weapon involved
- Medical emergency
Call/Text 988
Use 988 when you need urgent emotional support, suicide prevention support, or crisis help.
- Suicidal thoughts
- Emotional distress
- Substance-use crisis
- Worried about someone else
Reach out for care
Use therapy, warm lines, and education when you need support but are not in immediate danger.
- Anxiety or depression
- Relationship stress
- Burnout or grief
- Need help finding resources
National crisis numbers
Keep these numbers easy to access. They are designed for fast support during emotionally intense moments.
988 Lifeline
Call or Text 988Free, confidential support by phone, text, or chat for mental health, substance use, and emotional distress.
Visit 988 LifelineCrisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741Free, 24/7 confidential crisis support by text in English and Spanish.
Visit Crisis Text LineSAMHSA Helpline
1-800-662-HELPConfidential treatment referral and information service for mental health and substance use concerns.
Visit SAMHSAVeterans Crisis Line
988, then Press 1Immediate support for veterans, service members, National Guard, Reserve members, and loved ones.
Visit Veterans Crisis LineNAMI HelpLine
800-950-NAMIA peer-support information and referral line for individuals, families, caregivers, and providers. Not a crisis line.
Visit NAMI HelpLineRAINN Hotline
800-656-HOPEConfidential support for survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones.
Visit RAINNChicago & Illinois crisis services
Use this section for local support options, especially when a client is in Chicago or Illinois and needs more than general information.
911 + Crisis Intervention
Call 911For imminent harm in Chicago, call 911. The City notes that asking for a Crisis Intervention Trained officer may be helpful.
Chicago Crisis ResourcesCARES Crisis Line
1-800-345-9049Illinois mobile crisis response access for children and adults experiencing a mental health crisis.
Illinois Crisis ServicesIllinois Warm Line
866-359-7953Non-crisis emotional support from trained peer specialists. Good for support before things escalate.
Illinois Warm LineChicago Behavioral Health
Access city mental health resources, referrals, and community-based behavioral health information.
Chicago Behavioral Health
Support should be easy to find.
Clear resources help people take the next step without having to sort through the internet while overwhelmed.
Save this page.
Share it with clients, loved ones, and referral partners who need crisis and wellness support in one place.
Support for specific needs
These resources may be useful when someone needs more targeted support.
The Trevor Project
866-488-7386Free, confidential 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people by phone, text, or chat.
Visit Trevor ProjectNational DV Hotline
800-799-SAFESupport, safety planning, and resources for people experiencing domestic violence or relationship abuse.
Visit The HotlineAFSP
Education, prevention resources, survivor support, and advocacy for suicide prevention.
Visit AFSPChild Mind Institute
Helpful guides and articles for child and adolescent mental health, parenting, school stress, anxiety, and behavior concerns.
Visit Child Mind InstituteFindTreatment.gov
A SAMHSA-supported treatment locator for mental health and substance use services.
Find TreatmentEducational resource libraries
Use these when clients or families want to understand symptoms, coping tools, relationships, stress, or mental wellness in plain language.
Self-help & wellness tools
These options are for emotional support, skill-building, and education. They are not a replacement for emergency care.
Grounding & regulation
Try breathing exercises, grounding skills, journaling prompts, and anxiety education when your body feels on high alert.
Anxiety ResourcesSupport between sessions
Use simple, realistic steps like reaching out, reducing isolation, creating routine, and getting crisis support when needed.
Depression ResourcesCommunication support
Learn about boundaries, repair, stress responses, and healthier communication patterns.
Relationship ResourcesImportant reminder
This page is for general support and resource sharing. It is not a substitute for therapy, medical care, emergency services, or crisis intervention. If you are in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, call 911, call or text 988, or go to the nearest emergency room.
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