WARM LINES to call for emotional support
What is a warm line?
A warm line is a free service that can be reached by phone call or text messaging. You can call warm lines when you’re feeling lonely, stressed and want a supportive listener. Warm lines are confidential and most often staffed by peers who have experienced their own stressors and want to support others to prevent possible crisis situations from developing.
“A study looking at the role of warm lines in the mental health recovery process over a period of three years found that the warm line provided a useful service. Users reported improvements, including a decrease in use of crisis services and increase in community integration, such as recreation activities and social interaction. The researchers concluded that nonclinical services like peer-run warm lines can play in important role in the mental health recovery process.” Source: American Psychiatric Association. (2020, January 9).
Warm lines are not crisis lines, call 988 or 911 during an emergency
Depending on the warm lines you call, they have limited hours and some lines limit the amount of time you have on a call. It’s not suitable for crisis or emergency situations. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you should call or text 988 for support. If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, you should call 911.
How are warm lines helpful?
Reaching out to a warm line is an opportunity to be listened to openly without judgement and the confidential nature of warm lines can also help you feel more comfortable to process your thoughts. If you’re not yet working with your own mental health provider or if your provider is not available to meet with you right away, a warm line is a helpful alternative that offers space to talk through things without pressure or commitment. You may also prefer calling a warm line that avoids police intervention. Some warm lines (such as Trans Lifeline, Blackline or the Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line) avoid law enforcement or non-consensual rescue. If you’d like to learn more, there are plenty of resources about warm lines available online.
Some warm lines available to you:
LGBT National Help Center: 1-888-843-4564 – Confidential LGBTQIA+ support
Call Blackline: 1-800-604-5841 centers BIPOC & LGBTQ+, Black Femme lens
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 (US) / 1-877-330-6366 (Canada) – by & for trans folks, English & Spanish
Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: 1-888-407-4515 – trained peer supporters
Fireside Project: 1-623-473-7433 – support during & after psychedelic experiences
StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-762-8483 – centers Native Americans experiencing intimate partner or sexual violence (24/7)
View InclusiveTherapists for info about hours and additional warm lines
Maryland Warm Lines
Pro Bono Counseling WARMLine: Call 410-598-0234 (Weekdays, 10:00 AM–8:00 PM) for free, confidential mental health connection and resource referrals.
Hearts & Ears Warmline: Call 410-870-5604 for a Baltimore-based, trans-led peer wellness and recovery center supporting the LGBTQ+ community.