One of the most common questions I get, whether from a new patient or from a family member sitting in on a session, is some version of: “What do I do if things get really bad?” It’s a fair question, and it deserves a clear answer.
Since my practice is based in Iowa and I work with people across the state through telehealth, I wanted to put together a straightforward list of the crisis resources available to Iowans. My hope is that you never need any of this. But if you do, I want you to know where to go.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
This is the one number I want everyone to have saved in their phone, whether you’ve ever struggled with your mental health or not. 988 is the national crisis line, and it works the same way 911 does, except it’s built specifically for mental health, suicide, and substance use crises.
Here’s how it works:
- Call, text, or chat 988, any time, day or night.
- You’ll be connected with a trained crisis counselor who will listen, help you work through what’s happening, and connect you with additional support if needed.
- It’s free and confidential.
- Iowa actually has its own 988 call centers, so when you dial in from an Iowa area code, there’s a good chance you’ll be talking to someone local who understands the resources available in your area. If local counselors are ever at capacity, your call gets routed to another center in the national network so you’re never left waiting.
I want to be clear about something, because I hear this concern a lot: reaching out to 988 does not mean police are automatically going to show up at your door.
The counselors on the other end are trained to work through de-escalation and safety planning first. Involving emergency services only happens in situations where someone’s safety is at immediate risk, and even then, the counselor stays on the line with you through that process.
Your Life Iowa
If your situation feels less like an emergency and more like “I don’t know who to talk to about this,” Your Life Iowa is a great next step. It’s a statewide resource that connects Iowans to support for mental health struggles, substance use, and problem gambling.
- Call: 855-581-8111
- Text: 855-895-8398
- Chat online: yourlifeiowa.org
It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7. Think of it as a front door to the broader system of care in Iowa, whether that means talking something through in the moment or getting pointed toward ongoing treatment.
Iowa Warm Line
Not every hard moment is a crisis, and that’s exactly what the Warm Line is for. It’s a peer support line, meaning the person on the other end has often lived through their own mental health challenges. It’s a good option when you just need to talk to another human being who gets it.
- Call: 844-775-9276
- Available 24/7
- You can also be connected to the Warm Line through Your Life Iowa or 988
Mobile Crisis Response
Sometimes a phone call isn’t enough, and someone needs support in person. Iowa’s Mobile Crisis Response teams do exactly that. Trained crisis staff, which can include social workers, nurses, therapists, and peer support specialists, come to wherever you are, whether that’s home, school, or somewhere in the community. Response times are typically under an hour, and the goal is always to de-escalate and stabilize in the least disruptive way possible, keeping people out of the hospital or the emergency room when it’s safe to do so.
You can be connected to a Mobile Crisis Response team through 988 or Your Life Iowa.
Iowa Crisis Chat
This one’s a bit different since it’s largely volunteer-driven, but that doesn’t make it any less valuable. Iowa Crisis Chat offers non-judgmental support to people going through an emotional crisis.
- Call: 1-855-325-4296
- Available daily from 9:00 AM to 2:00 AM Central Time
A Few Things I Tell Every Patient
- Save these numbers now, not later. In the middle of a crisis is the worst time to be searching your phone for a number you half-remember.
- 988 is a starting point, not a last resort. You don’t have to be in immediate danger to call. If you’re not sure whether what you’re feeling counts as a “crisis,” that uncertainty is reason enough to reach out.
- These resources are for the people around you too. If you’re worried about a friend, a partner, or a family member, you’re allowed to call on their behalf, or with them, to figure out the next step together.
- None of this replaces ongoing care. Crisis lines are built for the moment. If you find yourself reaching for one more than once, that’s usually a sign it’s time to talk about a longer-term plan, whether that’s therapy, medication management, or both.
If you’re in Iowa and looking for that longer-term plan, that’s exactly what my telehealth practice is here for. But regardless of whether we ever work together, I want you to have this list. Print it, save it, put it in your phone. Hopefully you never need it. But if you do, I want it to already be there.
If you or someone you know is currently in crisis, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline right away.