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Hotlines

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See also: Find a therapist, PEP and PrEP, Community Care and Self Care, and Drop in Centers

Hotlines are community or government run counseling, resource, and advice lines. Some are 24/7; others are open only certain hours of the day. You can always call to see if anyone's available to answer.

People call hotlines for many reasons: they might be supporting a friend and want advice, need emotional support and a listening ear for themselves, or are looking for advice and support from someone who won't be shocked about what's disclosed to them. Some places, like BAWAR (Bay Area Women Against Rape), can connect folks to advocates and other resources.

Hotlines are also great if you have a question and you want to talk to someone who's knowledgeable about a certain area. If the hotline you call can't offer what you need, they usually can make recommendations for other resources.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, we recommend going to the nearest emergency room or calling 911 for an ambulance.

Resource navigation[]

2-1-1[]

  • 24/7
  • You can call 2-1-1 for information about local resources. Helpfulness of information depends on who's staffing the line.

Berkeley Information Resource Collective[]

  • Sub-collective of the Berkeley Free Clinic. They can offer recommendations on local resources and are the primary folks who update this wiki. :)
  • M-F 6pm-9pm, Saturday 11am-2pm, Sunday 4-8pm
  • (510) 548-2570

Suicide prevention and crisis support[]

MH First Oakland[]

  • Friday and Saturday 2pm-2am; call or text (510) 999-9MH1 (9641)
  • Based in Oakland and Sacramento
  • "Our purpose is to interrupt and eliminate the need for law enforcement in mental health crisis first response by providing mobile peer support, de-escalation assistance, and non-punitive and life-affirming interventions, therefore decriminalizing emotional and psychological crises and decreasing the stigma around mental health, substance use, and domestic violence, while also addressing their root causes: white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism."

San Francisco Suicide Prevention Hotline[]

  • Based in San Francisco. Can call from any region.
  • Hours: 24 hours. Call 415-781-0500 or text CRISIS to (415) 200-2920
  • http://www.sfsuicide.org

9-8-8 Nationwide Mental Health Crisis and Suicide Prevention Number[]

  • 9-8-8 or 800-273-8255 is the Nationwide Mental Health Crisis and Suicide Prevention Number you can call or text -- you'll be auto-directed to a local one based on your area code. If you're queer or trans, recommend calling 415-781-0500 or an LGBTQ-focused hotline.

Crisis Support Services of Alameda County[]

Crisis Textline[]

  • Provides support addressing negative emotions and suicidal thoughts.
  • From the website: "Our goal is to help texters move from hot moments into a cool calm."
  • Text HOME to 741741 in the US to get connected to a counselor. Canada line is 686868.
  • See website for most updated information and data philosophy.
  • https://www.crisistextline.org

Blackline[]

  • Call or text 1-(800) 604-5841
  • 24-hour hotline geared towards the Black, Black LGBTQI, Brown, Native and Muslim community
  • Provides people with an anonymous and confidential avenue to report negative, physical, and inappropriate contact with police and vigilantes
  • Provide immediate crisis counseling to those who are upset, need to talk with someone immediately, or are in distress.
  • https://www.callblackline.com/

National Alliance on Mental Illness[]

  • 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org
  • Mon-Fri 10 am-6pm ET
  • Provide information, referrals, support

Contra Costa Crisis Line[]

California Warm Line[]

LGBTQ[]

Trans Lifeline[]

  • T4T trans support hotline. Do not need to be in crisis to call. Has microgrant program to cover name & gender change paperwork costs.
  • Available 7am-1am PST / 9am-3am CST / 10am-4am EST. Volunteers may be available during off hours.
  • 877-565-8860
  • https://www.translifeline.org/

Trevor Project[]

  • Support hotline for LGBTQ or GSM youth under 24. From their website: "If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the TrevorLifeline now."
  • Operates 24/7
  • Limited to 30 min, just call back after 30 min.
  • 1-866-488-7386
  • https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault[]

BAWAR - Bay Area Women Against Rape[]

A Safe Place Inc. Crisis Line[]

National Sexual Assault Hotline[]

  • 24/7 800-656-4673

HIV[]

AIDS/HIV Nightline[]

  • Hours: 5pm-5am nightly
  • 800-628-9240 (National)
  • 415-434-2437 (Bay Area)
  • 800-303-7432 (Spanish CA)

California HIV/AIDS Hotline[]

  • Refs. from CA Dept. Public Health
  • M-F 9am-4pm PST
  • 800-367-AIDS (English/Spanish)
  • 888-225-AIDS (Toll Free)
  • Clinician HIV PEP Hotline 24/7 888-448-4911

Sex and Sexual Health[]

SF Sex Information Hotline (SFSI)[]

  • Have a question about sex, gender, or sexual health? Shoot them a call.
  • (415) 989-7374
  • https://www.sfsi.org/

Call up the Center of Disease Control[]

  • Can provide guidance and support to folks who have an STD, think they may have an STD, or just have questions. Members of the media and medical professionals can also call this line.
  • (800) 232-4636
  • https://wwwn.cdc.gov/dcs/ContactUs/Form

ACCESS Women's Health Justice[]

  • Free and confidential information, referrals, advocacy and peer counseling on the full range of reproductive and sexual health issues, with a special expertise in pregnancy options and abortion services
  • 1(800) 376-4636 (English); 1(888) 442-2237 (Español)
  • https://accesswhj.org/

Hotlines for Undocumented Individuals[]

Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP)[]

  • (510) 241- 4011

San Francisco Immigrant Legal and Education Network[]

  • 1-415-200-1548

Northern/Central California Services, Immigration Rights & Education Network (SIREN)[]

  • Text only: (text ‘SIREN’) 1-201-468-6088

United We Dream[]

  • Call: (844)-363-1423
  • Text: 877877

PaseLaVoz[]

  • Call or text: 1-415-715-9990

Nurse Advice Lines[]

For when you need to talk to a medical professional. Sometimes it can be a while to get a call back. If you're experiencing a medical emergency call 911 for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency room.

Highland Hospital[]

  • Leave a message and they'll call you back.
  • M-F 8:30a-4:30pm
  • 510-437-8341

Alameda Alliance for Health (Membership Required)[]

  • 24-hour service, after hours, and weekends
  • For Alameda Alliance for Health Members:1-855-383-7873, pin #690
  • For Medi-Cal Members:1-888-433-1876

Contra Costa County[]

  • 24-hour service
  • Membership Required
  • 877-661-6230

Shelters[]

Berkeley Food and Housing Project Shelter Bed Hotline[]

  • First round opens at 12 PM and second round opens at 7pm
  • 1-866-960-2132
  • You can also call 211 in any county.

Legal aid[]

Bay Area Legal Aid - Free Legal Advice Line[]

  • From their website: "free legal hotline available to qualified low-income residents living in the Bay Area"
  • (800) 551-5554
  • https://baylegal.org/get-help/

East Bay Community Law Center[]

Elderly/Senior Adults[]

Friendship Line (Institute on Aging)[]

  • (800) 971-0016
  • 24-hour crisis line, accredited for people aged 60 years and older, and adults living with disabilities
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