Local and National Crisis Care Options/Emergency Resources

Posted onAuthorTiffany Phillips

Updated in March 2025

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) offers a multitude of free mental health resources for all state residents on its website. Among these resources are several local crisis and warmlines. These include:

  • The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board’s Crisis Hotline, which is open 24/7: 757-788-0011
  • The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board’s Peer Warmline, which is open from 8am-11pm, 7 days a week: 757-251-2394
  • Colonial Behavioral Health’s Emergency Services Line (for James City County, Poquoson, Williamsburg, and York residents), which is open 24/7: 757-378-5555

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides a wealth of mental health resources, including the NAMI Helpline, which can be reached by calling 1-800-950-6264 or by texting “helpline” to 62640. There is also a live chat available on their website. The helpline in all of its forms is only available Monday through Friday from 10 AM – 10 PM EST.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: If you or someone you know is in crisis—whether they are considering suicide or not—call or text 988 to reach the toll-free Lifeline so you can speak directly to a trained crisis counselor. Calls are free, confidential, and available 24/7. There is also a chat function available on their website, or on Virginia’s 988 website.

Crisis Text Line: The Crisis Text Line offers free, 24/7, confidential support to people in crisis. Text HOME or HOLA to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor, or use the live chat function on their website.

The Trevor Project supports LGBTQ people under age 25 with 24/7 access to trained crisis support. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text “Start” to 678678, or use the chat function on their website.

Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support and resources they need to survive and thrive. Trans Lifeline’s peer support hotline is run by and for trans people. They’re available Monday through Friday 1PM – 9PM EST by calling or texting 877-565-8860, and support is available in English or Spanish.

The Fireweed Collective is a support network and education project by and for people who experience the world in ways that are often diagnosed as mental illness. They offer support groups and a Crisis Toolkit which includes resources that may provide perspective, comfort, and/or tools that could be of assistance to people experiencing various sorts of tough times.

Call 911. If you, or a loved one is experiencing a mental health emergency and feel at risk of hurting yourself or someone else, it may be necessary to call 911 and notify the operator that it is a psychiatric emergency. Ask for an officer trained in crisis intervention, or in psychiatric emergencies.