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Suicide Prevention
Find support and resources while you travel or live abroad.
If you or someone you are traveling with is experiencing emotional distress or having thoughts of suicide, seek help immediately.
You don’t have to face this alone. Local crisis services may offer free and confidential emotional support. Find emergency phone numbers and contact information on the Destination Information Page for where you are. Keep in mind that services and who can use them are different in each destination.
Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, or Overseas Citizens Services:
- Dial 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. or Canada.
- Dial +1-202-501-4444 from overseas.
U.S. crisis lines:
- The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Calls and chat usually won’t connect from abroad.
- The Veterans Crisis Line. International options are available for veterans and service members.
The U.S. embassy can:
- Give you contact information for nearby medical or mental health services, where possible
- Help you find health care professionals in case of a medical emergency
- Communicate with your relatives and friends
The U.S. embassy cannot:
- Send you medication from the United States
- Make decisions about your medical care
- Interfere in your medical care
- Provide medical or legal advice
- Post bail, pay legal fees or medical costs
- Get you out of prison
If you are concerned about the mental wellbeing of a U.S. citizen who is abroad, you may reach out to the U.S. embassy or consulate in that destination and request a welfare and whereabouts check.
The U.S. embassy can:
- Try to find and contact the person
- Share lists of local doctors and facilities
- Help reach family members, with the person’s consent
- Explain how to send emergency funds
The U.S. embassy cannot:
- Force someone into treatment
- Pay medical bills
- Override local law
Veteran’s Affairs services and support
If you or someone you are traveling with is a U.S. service member, veteran, or eligible family member experiencing mental health challenges or a crisis while abroad, resources are available to help.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides mental health services and crisis support to eligible veterans and service members, including those living or traveling outside the United States. For immediate help, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or access the VA’s international and VA’s and crisis-support resources.
Mental health abroad resources
- Review our information on Mental Health Abroad.
- Review CDC travel guidance for travel and mental health needs.
- Review the health resources and information for your destination in our Travel Guidance for destinations abroad.