Crisis Services
Boys Town National Hotline and Crisis Support
Boys Town is here to help you through difficult times, and help you see the hope of a brighter day. Kids, teens and parents can find support and online resources from trained counselors and mental health experts.
Help at the End of the Line
The Boys Town National Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is staffed by specially trained Boys Town counselors. It is accredited by the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). We take toll-free calls from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Territories and Canada.
Spanish-speaking counselors and translation services for more than 100 languages also are available 24 hours a day. The speech- and hearing-impaired can contact us by email: hotline@boystown.org.
The Hotline is proud to also provide unparalleled services to several national lines, including 988 and the National Grad Crisis Line (877-GRAD-HLP).
Increasing Outreach to Teens
Teens are more connected than ever before and the Boys Town National Hotline® is right there with them. Information to help teens and tweens with the daily challenges they face can be found at yourlifeyourvoice.org.
In addition to calling 800-448-3000, teens can now text VOICE to 20121 or email hotline@boystown.org any day, any time to speak with a trained counselor. Our Your Life Your Voice app is available to track moods and get helpful tips.
Please share this information with your teen. It could make all the difference.
Lifesaving Support for Kids in Crisis
Over 10,800 youth suicides have been prevented by the Boys Town Hotline in the last 20 years.
Expert Advice for Parents
It is often said that parenting is the toughest job there is. Thankfully, it is also a job that allows a parent to benefit from the experience of others — which is where we come in. At Boys Town, our experts have been providing care for children for decades, and they have amassed volumes of information on a wide range of mental health, parenting and behavioral health topics.
In addition to our 24/7 crisis hotline at 800-448-3000, we have a wealth of useful parenting information available on Parenting.org. Here, you'll find guides on important parenting subjects that contain articles, videos, parent Q&As and more. We also offer downloadable tools to make your parenting life easier, as well as an opportunity to sign up for several free email series to help you with specific parenting challenges.
We also suggest that parents share the YourLifeYourVoice.org website with their children. This site is part of the Boys Town National Hotline and provides kids and families the opportunity to ask questions via phone, text, chat or email. It's a great way to let kids know they're not alone and that support is always available.
Need Help? Send an Email to Our Counselors
Due to the nature of email, messages can sometimes be delayed for 24 to 48 hours. We try to ensure the least amount of time passes between your message and our response. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, having thoughts of hurting yourself or are being abused, please call 1-800-448-3000 now. These are serious issues that are best handled in one-on-one conversations with counselors.
Due to the nature of email, messages can sometimes be delayed for 24 to 48 hours. We try to ensure the least amount of time passes between your message and our response. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, having thoughts of hurting yourself or are being abused, please call 1-800-448-3000 now. These are serious issues that are best handled in one-on-one conversations with counselors.
What Are the Top Issues Kids are Facing?
These are the top reasons young people contacted us in 2024.