Mental Health Helplines and Hotlines in Texas: Who to Call

The main mental health helplines in the United States start with 988: call, text or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time for emotional distress or thoughts of suicide. Call 911 for immediate danger. In Texas, county crisis lines, 2-1-1 Texas and national helplines from SAMHSA and HRSA cover other needs, from treatment referrals to postpartum support.

This article is for Texans who want to know who to call, for themselves or for someone they care about, before a crisis and during one. It also explains what happens on a call and how helplines connect to ongoing care. Save the numbers that apply to you in your phone today.

Which number should you call first?

Call 911 for immediate danger and 988 for emotional distress, thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis. As of October 2026, the 988 Lifeline states that conversations are free and confidential and that it is available 24/7/365 by call, text or chat.

• Call 911 if someone has a weapon and may use it, has taken an overdose, is unresponsive, or has a medical emergency.
• Call, text or chat 988 if you or someone else is in emotional distress, thinking about suicide, or unsure what to do next.
• Call your county crisis line if you want local mobile crisis help or an urgent local assessment.
• Use referral helplines such as SAMHSA or 2-1-1 when you need help finding treatment or services, not immediate crisis support.

If you are unsure, start with 988. Our guide on what to do in a mental health crisis right now walks through the next steps.

What national mental health helplines are available?

Several national lines serve different needs, and each is free. The numbers below come from each organization's own website, read in October 2026.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, or chat online. The site states that text and chat are available in Spanish.
• SAMHSA National Helpline: the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes 1-800-662-HELP (4357) as a free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service in English and Spanish.
• Disaster Distress Helpline: SAMHSA lists 1-800-985-5990, call or text, 24/7, for anyone in the U.S. with distress related to a disaster.
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) lists 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), free, confidential and 24/7 in English and Spanish for pregnant and postpartum people.

To search for treatment programs yourself, SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov is a confidential, anonymous locator for mental health and substance use treatment across the U.S.

Which Texas crisis lines serve Dallas–Fort Worth?

In Texas, local mental health authorities run 24/7 crisis lines by county. As of October 2026, Texas Health and Human Services lists the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority crisis line for the Dallas area at 866-260-8000 and MHMR of Tarrant County at 800-866-2465.

Other counties have their own lines, listed on the same Texas Health and Human Services page. Local authorities can often send a mobile crisis team or arrange an urgent assessment, though services differ by area. Confirm what your county offers.

For non-crisis help, 2-1-1 Texas connects people to services such as mental health clinics and counseling. Dial 2-1-1, or 877-541-7905, or chat online in English or Spanish.

What happens when you call or text a helpline?

A trained counselor answers, listens, and helps you sort out what is happening and what to do next. The 988 Lifeline describes its service as support during difficult moments for a friend, a loved one or yourself.

1. Connection. You may hear a short greeting or menu before a counselor answers.
2. Listening. The counselor asks what is going on and lets you talk.
3. Safety check. They may ask directly about thoughts of suicide. This is routine and does not mean you are in trouble.
4. Coping and planning. Together you work out what could help in the next few hours.
5. Resources. The counselor may share local services or follow-up options.
6. Emergency help if needed. If there is immediate danger, the counselor may work with you to connect to emergency services.

What should you say when you call? A checklist

You do not need the right words; starting with one honest sentence is enough. The 988 Lifeline says it is for everyone, so you do not have to prove you are "bad enough" to reach out.

• "I am not doing well and I do not know what to do."
• "I am having thoughts of suicide." Saying it plainly helps the counselor help you.
• "I am worried about my friend. Can you help me figure out how to check on them?"
• "I would prefer to talk in Spanish."
• Where you are, if you might need local help.
• Whether you have taken anything or have access to anything you could use to hurt yourself.

Writing a short plan ahead of time makes calling easier. Our mental health safety plan template shows how.

Red flags: when to call right away

Call or text 988 right away, or 911 for immediate danger, if you notice suicide warning signs in yourself or someone else. The 988 Lifeline notes that warning signs are more concerning when they are new, have increased, or seem linked to a painful event, loss or change.

• Talking about wanting to die or being a burden to others.
• Looking for ways to end one's life.
• Feeling trapped, hopeless or in unbearable pain.
• Withdrawing from people, or saying goodbye and giving things away.
• Increased drinking or drug use.
• Extreme mood swings, rage or reckless behavior.

Are crisis calls confidential?

Yes, crisis conversations are confidential in most situations. The 988 Lifeline states that conversations are free and confidential. The main exception is immediate danger: if a counselor believes a life is at risk right now and you cannot stay safe, they may work to get emergency help to you.

Many people worry that calling will automatically bring police or a hospital stay. In most calls, the conversation itself is the help. If that worry is keeping you from reaching out, you can ask the counselor at the start how they handle safety concerns. Being honest about what is happening helps them help you in the least disruptive way.

How can you help someone else reach a helpline?

You can help by staying with the person, offering to make the call or text together, and following up afterward. The 988 Lifeline encourages people who are worried about a friend or loved one to contact it for guidance.

• Ask directly and calmly: "Are you thinking about suicide?" Then listen without arguing or judging.
• Offer the phone: "Want to call 988 together? I will sit with you."
• Remove or lock up anything they could use to hurt themselves, if it is safe to do so.
• Check in again the next day and the next week.

For specific situations, see our guides on checking in on a struggling coworker and what to do when a college student will not answer texts.

How do helplines connect to ongoing care?

Helplines are a bridge, not the whole plan; ongoing care usually means therapy, a psychiatric evaluation, or both. The SAMHSA National Helpline focuses on treatment referrals and information, which makes it a useful next step after a crisis has passed.

After a crisis call, it helps to book a follow-up with a primary care provider, therapist or psychiatric clinician within days. If cost is a barrier, our guide to free and low-cost mental health care in Dallas–Fort Worth lists options. Lyte Psychiatry can be part of ongoing outpatient care.

Lyte Psychiatry is an outpatient practice. It does not provide inpatient care, crisis or after-hours coverage, medically supervised detox, or intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization programs.

Mental health helplines for specific needs in Texas

Some needs have dedicated lines, and keeping the right number handy saves time. HRSA's maternal mental health hotline serves pregnant and postpartum people, and SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline supports people after storms, floods, wildfires or other disasters.

Example (hypothetical): after a severe storm, a family in North Texas feels on edge for weeks. They text the Disaster Distress Helpline for support and then use 2-1-1 Texas to find counseling near home.

Save 988, your county crisis line and any specialty line that fits your situation in your phone under a clear name, such as "Crisis help."

Getting support in Texas

Lyte Psychiatry offers therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication management in Texas. In-person visits are available at Lyte Psychiatry's clinic in Pantego, in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Lyte Psychiatry offers telehealth visits to patients who are physically located in Texas at the time of the visit. All Lyte Psychiatry services are available in Spanish.

Most new patients are seen within 1–2 business days. Weekend appointments are limited. Availability, insurance and clinician fit require confirmation. Learn about coordinated therapy and psychiatry or contact the practice to ask about ongoing care.

If you are in a mental-health crisis in the United States, call or text 988. Call 911 for immediate danger.

Educational information, not a diagnosis or individual treatment plan.