Stressed? Anxious? Just Want to Chat? Call a Warmline!

If you need help or you’re just feeling lonely, a warmline can be a tremendous source of strength, support and help. There are many different numbers you can call, as listed below.

What is a Warmline?

A warmline is a more accessible and approachable version of a hotline. Hotlines are typically used in emergencies or crisis situations, but warmlines offer emotional support, early intervention, and friendly help before the crisis strikes.

Basically, a warmline is a number you can call when you need some support but aren’t in a crisis situation. It gives you a kind and nonjudgmental person to talk to about your situation.

What’s the difference between a warmline and a hotline?

Both hotlines and warmlines are direct phone lines set up for a specific purpose. There are a lot of similarities between the two. It’s their purposes that are different.

Hotlines typically deal with emergencies or coordinating government benefits. When you call a crisis line, you’ll typically end up talking to a trained crisis worker who will try to deescalate the situation. Crisis lines are busy and chaotic, and they can seem very intimidating. If you’re just having a hard time but you aren’t actually a danger to yourself, calling a crisis line can seem overwhelming and unproductive.

Warmlines are there to help people who are not in a crisis but who need some extra support. If you’re struggling with a difficult situation, they can give you someone supportive to talk to. Chaya Grossberg at Mad in America wrote about her experience. She said that warmline operators are typically peers who have had their own traumatic experiences. They aren’t as likely to label you or involve the authorities. They are just there to offer support.

Who can use a warmline?

Anyone can use a warmline! Everyone needs someone to talk to sometimes and that’s why these things exist. They are there to help.

Some of the lines are focused on helping people in specific situations, like substance abuse recovery, single adults, or people struggling with depression. You may benefit from calling one that aligns with your needs, so it may be helpful to look at the details of the specific details before you call.

However, many of the warmlines are open to anyone who wants to call.

What happens when you call a warmline?

When you call a warmline, you’ll be connected with a trained Peer Support Specialist who understands what it’s like to struggle.

They might ask you some questions, but you can remain anonymous. They won’t document any of your personal information. Warmlines take your privacy very seriously.

As you talk, they will listen to your concerns. They’ll give you undivided attention for the duration of your call. It’s a conversation, after all.

Some busy lines may limit the amount of time for each call so that they can serve more people, but it just depends. For example, the Solari Hotline in Arizona has a 10 minute limit per call and a limit of one call per person per hour. They’ll let you know when time is almost up. At the end of the call, you can choose to call back in an hour if you need more time.

It can be intimidating the first time but calling a warmline is like calling a friend you haven’t met yet. They’re there to listen and support you.

You can reach a warmline 24/7!

There are many 24/7 warmlines across the country that are ready and available to offer support when you need it. We’ve organized our list into nationwide warmlines and local ones. It’s typically best to call a local one if you can.

Nationwide Warmlines

You can call these numbers no matter where you live. They’re available to support anyone in the United States.

• The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling 998 or through their online chat at 988lifeline.org.
• Friendship Line at (800) 971-0016 provides emotional support and medication reminders (if needed).
• NAMI Line at (800) 950-6264 provides reassurance and help for those who are affected by mental health conditions.
• Teen Line at (800) 852-8336 provides an anonymous, nonjudgmental warmline for teenagers. You can also reach them by texting TEEN to 839863.
• Hero First at (844) 833-4376 provides support for first responders and their families. They accept calls daily between 8am and midnight.

Local Warmlines

These numbers prioritize calls from local callers. In some cases, the organization will also accept nationwide calls when there is enough staff available to answer the phones.

I’ve noted the organizations that accept calls from other areas in green for your convenience.

Alabama

Wings Across Alabama provides free and confidential support 24/7. The line is staffed by Certified Peer Specialists who rely on their own personal experiences with mental health challenges, homelessness, substance abuse, loneliness and more to support callers. You can reach them at 1-844-99-WINGS.

Arizona

Solari Warmline serves central Arizona, especially Maricopa County. They are open 24/7 and welcome calls from anyone. They’re happy to listen to your exciting news, your worries, or just to have a conversation. Call them at 602-347-1100.

Tucson Warmline provides support to people in southern Arizona. You can call them between 8am and midnight, any day of the week. Their number is 520-770-9909 or 877-770-9912.

California

CalHOPE is a peer-run line that also offers a live chat function! The team is available on weekdays between 7am and 11pm for COVID-specific non-emergency support. It’s expected that your call will be somehow related to COVID-19. You can call them at 833-317-4673 or chat on their website.

California Peer-Run Warmline offers assistance to anyone in California. You can interact over the phone or through web chat. Their service is available 24/7 but they limit callers to three calls per day. You can call 855-845-7415 to reach them.

Kings County Behavior Health operates a free warmline for Kings County residents. It is available 24/7 at 877-306-2413.

Project Return Peer Support Network serves Los Angeles with a warmline and other essential services, including support groups, workshops, and more. Their hotline serves English and Spanish callers at 888-448-9777. The line is open on weekdays between 2:30 PM and 10pm, and on weekends between 10am and 6pm.

San Diego Warmline serves local residents in the San Diego area. If you are lonely, depressed, anxious, or just need someone to talk to, you can call 619-295-1055 between 3:30pm and 11pm any day of the week. The line is not staffed on major holidays.

Colorado

The Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners line provides free phone and messaging support to residents of Colorado. As their website states, “There is no wrong door for help.” Call them at 1-844-493-8255.

Connecticut

The state of Connecticut maintains a list of helplines in this area. You can find their list on the Connecticut Portal website.

Florida

Clear Warm Line can be reached at (800) 945-1355 every night, including holidays.

The SETH Line provides reassurance, information and referrals to all callers. You can reach them at (954) 578-5640. This line is operated by Mental Health America of Southeast Florida.

Georgia

Georgia’s Crisis & Access Line at (800) 715-4225 is available 24/7. This hotline serves those who are feeling hopeless, angry, trapped, or who are struggling with mental health, substance abuse or developmental disabilities.

Hawaii

You can reach Hawaii CARES at (808) 832-3100 if you would like some support in Hawaii.

Illinois

The Illinois Warm Line can be reached at (866) 359-7953. The lines are staffed by professions who have personal experience with mental health and substance abuse recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid use, the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and other substances can be reached at (833) 234-6343.

Indiana

KEY Consumer Organization offers a warmline at (800) 933-5397. The line is available between 8am and 4:30pm every day.

Kansas

You can call (316) 260-2340 to reach the warmline offered by the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas. This line provides confidential, nonjudgmental listening.

You can also call (866) 927-6327 to reach the Compassionate Ear Warmline by the Mental Health America of the Heartland. This line serves callers from Missouri as well.

Kentucky

Call (877) 870-5167 to reach Participation Station, a peer-operated call center sponsored by a partnership between NAMI Lexington and New Vista.

Louisiana

All Louisiana residents have access to a warmline over text! All you need to do is text REACHOUT to 741741. This makes mental health services much more accessible to everyone in Louisiana.

If you prefer to talk over the phone, you can call (866) 310-7977 for support. This program is provided by the State of Louisiana’s Crisis Counseling Program.

Maine

The Intentional Warm Line is available to all Maine residents! You can reach it by calling (866) 771-9276. The line is specifically for those ages 18 and over. The line is managed by Sweetser.

Maryland

Marylanders can choose between two helpful warmlines: the Maryland Peer Warmline at (877) 794-7337 and the NAMI Maryland warmline at (877) 878-2371.

Massachusetts

The Peer Support line can be reached at (877) 733-7563. The operators have lived experience with mental health issues, so they provide supportive listening to those who are going through their own experiences.

The Kiva Centers Peer Support Line is available at (508) 688-5898. This line is open until midnight every night! They are closed between 12:01am and 8am, though.

The Wildflower Alliance also operates a peer support line. The people who answer the phones have had personal experience with trauma, addiction, mental health challenges and other struggles. They do not collect personal information or perform assessments. They also do not call crisis or the police.

Minnesota

Mental Health Minnesota offers a peer-support warmline for teens and adults. You can call them at (651) 288-0400. If you prefer to text, you can text the word SUPPORT to 85511 to connect with them as well.

Wellness in the Woods also hosts some warmlines that can help. The Peer Support Connection warmline is available at 844-739-6369. If you prefer to speak with an African American peer, you can call 855-244-5050 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Missouri

You can also call (866) 927-6327 to reach the Compassionate Ear Warmline by the Mental Health America of the Heartland. This line serves callers from Kansas as well.

The Friendship Line at (314) 652-6105 is managed by DMDA of St. Louis. This line is available on weekdays between 9am and 4pm, and until 9pm on weekends and holidays.

Montana

Since many Montanans live in rural areas without adequate access to mental health care, the state has created several virtual and phone services to help reach people in all areas of the state.

If you are recovering from a mental illness, you can call the Recovery Line at (877) 688-3377 to talk to someone who is also recovering from their own mental illness. This gives you a friendly and understanding person to speak with.

Nebraska

The Keya House provides a 24/7 warmline at (402) 261-5959.

Keya House also welcomes people who are struggling with mental health, substance abuse or addiction issues to stay for free for up to five days. They house provides 24/7 peer support and other services on-site.

New Hampshire

Connections Peer Support provides a warmline and other supportive services. You can reach them at (603) 427-6966.

Nevada

There are two hotlines you can call in Nevada, depending on where you live within the state. These numbers are (702) 890-9729 for Southern Nevada and (775) 241-4212 for Western Nevada.

New Jersey

NJ Mental Health Cares provides a supportive warmline at (866) 202-4357. You can also reach them via email at [email protected]. This line is available 7 days a week, between 8am to 8pm.

New Mexico

Have you ever just wanted someone to talk to? The New Mexico Peer-to-Peer Warmline is a great choice! Whether you’re worried about something specific or you just feel a little lonely, the specialists that staff this warmline can help you. You can reach them at (855) 466-7100.

New York

People USA operates warmlines in several New York counties. You can reach their service at (845) 452-2728.

Ohio

Cincinnati Warmline is available at (513) 931-927. Calls to this number typically last 10-20 minutes, and are designed to help you with your daily activities and peer support.

The Peer Center also offers a warmline that you can call. The line opens at 5pm each evening and closes at 3am the next morning. It’s available every day during those hours. Just call (614) 358-8255 to reach them.

Oregon

Life is hard. That’s why Community Counseling Solutions created their no-appointment-needed warmline. Just call (800) 698-2392 for assistance.

Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, you can reach The Grapevine Center‘s warm line at (724) 431-2488 between 6pm and 9pm every evening. They invite anyone who is feeling lonely, overwhelmed, frustrated, confused, or desperate to call in and chat. They specialize in providing judgment-free listening.

Texas

In Texas, you can reach the peer support warmline at Recovery Texas by calling (833) 922-2557. Their warmline helps people who are struggling with mental health, recovery, or substance abuse issues. They are also a LGBTQ-friendly line.

If you prefer, you can chat with them online using the widget on their website.

Utah

The Utah warmline provides supportive listening to those who are going through difficult times. You can call them at (801) 587-1055.

Alternatively, if you prefer to talk to the SafeUT Crisis Chat and Tip Line, you can call them at (833) 372-3388.

Vermont

All Vermonters can call (833) 888-2557 to speak to the support line at Pathways Vermont. They invite you to call if you’re having a bad day, or if you’re just thinking about making changes to your life, or if you feel like you don’t have anyone who will understand or support you.

Virginia

Alive RVA provides an addiction recovery support warmline that can help support your recovery. You can reach them at (833) 473-3782.

Alternatively, you can call (866) 400-6428 to reach the mental health warmline by Mental Health America of Virginia. This organization also offers text support, if you prefer. You can text them at (866) 400-6428 to reach the text line.

West Virginia

Help 4 WV is a warmline for all West Virginians. You can reach them at (844) 435-7498. You can also text them or chat online via their website. They have access to over 1,000 resources to help you through your struggles with depression, anxiety, developmental disorders, addiction or other challenges!

Washington

Call (360) 903-2853 to reach the warmline by CVAB. The people who answer the phones for this line are happy to discuss your daily life, your worries for the future, frustrations, addictions, medication challenges, grief or whatever else is on your mind.

You can also call (877) 500-9276 to reach the WA Warm Line by Crisis Connections. This line helps anyone who is struggling with anxiety, loneliness, depression, family problems, friendship problems, or other emotional or mental health challenges. They have interpretation services for more than 155 languages!

Wisconsin

Solstice House also operates a warmline for any adults in Wisconsin who are at least 18 years old. The warmline can be reached at (608) 244-5077. They offer support but not action. They do not collect your name, location or other information so you know that whatever you say will stay private.

NAMI of Fox Valley also offers a warmline. You can reach them at (920) 815-3217. You can also consider a short-term stay in their supportive housing called Iris Place if you’re interested.

Summary

This article explores how low income Americans can benefit from using warmlines —non-emergency mental health hotlines— across the United States. As an alternative to crisis hotlines, warmlines provide a preventative approach, offering supportive conversations and resources before a crisis develops. The article outlines the function of warmlines, their benefits to callers, and highlights several prominent warmlines operating nationwide.

Nicole Thelin

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.