Samaritans Suicide Prevention Hotline
When You Need Someone to Talk To
(212) 673-3000
Free, immediately accessible
24/7 emotional support
Anonymous and confidential.

Samaritans is a ‘Safe Place’ to Turn
Samaritans free, non-religious, 24-hour emotional support and crisis response hotline is available on an immediate and ongoing basis for people who are dealing with every kind of problem, situation, illness, trauma or loss and need someone to talk to.

The hotline is completely confidential and anonymous and, unlike some other hotline services, Samaritans does not utilize caller ID or any form of call-tracing, making Samaritans a safe place to turn during a time of distress or crisis.

Why People Call Samaritans Hotline
Samaritans responds to people trying to cope with every kind of problem.  This includes  being overwhelmed or isolated, experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, a dramatic loss, chronic or terminal illness, alcohol and substance abuse, being a victim of violence, sexual assault,  bullying, dealing with issues tied to sexual identity, unemployment, breakup of a relationship, etc.

What To Expect When You Call
When you call Samaritans you will be greeted by a caring volunteer trained in active listening and suicide risk assessments who is there to provide emotional support as you are trying to cope with your present situation.

We will explore the reason for your call, what is going on “now” and the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing tied to your present situation as well as whatever challenges or difficulties you are facing without giving advice or expressing personal judgments

Every caller to Samaritans–no matter what they say is the reason for their call–is taken through a communications/risk assessment protocol to determine their current state of mind and their degree of suicidal risk. When you call Samaritans, we ask if you are feeling suicidal.

 Samaritans Is Just One Aspect of Getting Help
At Samaritans we say, “You don’t solve other people’s problems for them, it is hard enough to handle your own.  You help that person get through the moment they are living in.”  Samaritans is just one aspect of what it means to “get help,” and is meant to complement family, friends, clinical and medical services and other forms of support.

Please note: Calls from people who are violent, threatening or abusive, who are consistently unwilling or resistant to talk about their thoughts or feelings or allow us to follow our procedures will be terminated.