What Crisis and Helpline Numbers Does the New York State OMH Website List?
Updated
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) website lists several crisis and helpline numbers on its homepage. For immediate medical emergencies, it directs people to dial 911. For mental health crises, it points to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, reachable by call, text, or online chat. It also lists the New York State Domestic Violence Hotline, the New York HOPEline, and the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ crisis support.
Crisis and Helpline Contacts Listed on omh.ny.gov
| Service | How to reach it | Who it serves |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical assistance | Dial 911 | Anyone needing immediate medical help |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | Call or text 988; chat at 988lifeline.org/chat | People in suicidal or mental health crisis |
| New York State Domestic Violence Hotline | 1-800-942-6906 | People affected by domestic violence |
| New York HOPEline | 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY (467369) | New Yorkers seeking help with mental health or substance use concerns |
| The Trevor Project | 1-866-488-7386 | LGBTQ+ people needing 24/7 crisis services |
How to Use These Contacts
The OMH page frames these numbers as the first step when someone is in crisis. The guidance is straightforward:
- If someone needs immediate medical assistance, call 911. The OMH page places this instruction first, before the mental health-specific lines.
- If the concern is a mental health crisis, call or text 988, or open the chat at 988lifeline.org/chat. The 988 line is the main national crisis entry point the page highlights.
- If the situation involves domestic violence, call the New York State Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-942-6906.
- If you are unsure where to start or want ongoing help, the New York HOPEline accepts calls at 1-877-8-HOPENY or texts to HOPENY (467369).
- If you are an LGBTQ+ person in crisis, the Trevor Project offers 24/7 services at 1-866-488-7386.
A practical way to use the page: save the number that matches your most likely need in your phone contacts now, so you are not searching for it during a crisis. For example, a parent supporting a LGBTQ+ teenager might save the Trevor Project line alongside 988.
What Else the OMH Site Offers Beyond the Numbers
The crisis section sits within a broader set of mental wellness resources. The page also links to:
- Coping tips and resiliency resources for everyday mental wellness
- Guidance on how to start a conversation about mental health
- Information on mental health challenges faced by different populations
- A program directory that lets you search mental health programs by county, program category, or subcategory, and view program names, addresses, and phone numbers
These resources are for planning and ongoing support rather than acute crisis response. The crisis numbers above remain the right starting point when someone needs help immediately.
Key Points to Remember
- The OMH site does not present these lines as a substitute for emergency services; 911 remains the instruction for immediate medical assistance.
- The 988 line is reachable in three ways (call, text, chat), which matters if talking on the phone is difficult.
- The HOPEline offers both a call and a text option, so it can be used discreetly.
- All numbers listed here come directly from the OMH homepage; confirm current details on omh.ny.gov before relying on them, since contact information can change.