Ask Dr. Penny is an outpatient counseling practice. We are not a crisis service and cannot provide emergency care. If you or someone else is in danger, please do not email us, use our website forms, or wait for a call back. Use the resources below.
Get emergency help right now
Please do not wait for a reply from us. If you are thinking about suicide, are in emotional distress, or are worried about someone else, free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also chat with the 988 Lifeline online at 988lifeline.org. If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, you can text 988, use the online chat, or call through your preferred relay service.
When to call 911
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if:
- someone has attempted suicide, has taken an overdose, or is seriously hurt;
- you or someone else is in immediate danger;
- you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe right now;
- there is a medical emergency, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, or loss of consciousness.
When you call, tell the dispatcher that it is a mental health emergency so they can send the right kind of help.
24/7 support lines
These free, confidential services are available across the United States, around the clock.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Press 2 for Spanish.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741.
The Trevor Project
For LGBTQ+ young people. Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
Childhelp Child Abuse Hotline
Call 1-800-422-4453 to talk with a counselor or report a concern about a child.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Treatment referrals for mental health and substance use. Call 1-800-662-4357.
Poison Control
Possible poisoning or overdose, when the person is awake and breathing: 1-800-222-1222. Otherwise call 911.
What our practice can and cannot do
Ask Dr. Penny is an outpatient counseling practice, not a crisis service.
- Our phone line, email, website forms, and social media are not monitored around the clock.
- We usually reply within one business day, during regular office hours.
- We cannot provide crisis counseling by message, and we cannot respond to emergencies sent through email or our website forms.
If you are a current client
At intake, Dr. Penny will talk with you about what to do if things get harder between sessions. Many clients find it helpful to write down their own warning signs, the steps that help them cope, and the people and numbers they can call.
- Between sessions, use the 24/7 lines above if you need support right away.
- For non-urgent concerns, leave a message and we will get back to you.
- If you visit an emergency room or are admitted to a hospital, please let us know when you can, so we can help coordinate your care with your permission.
During a video session
Before telehealth sessions begin, Dr. Penny will confirm where you will usually be and a backup way to reach you. If the connection drops, she will try to reach you by phone. If she believes you are in immediate danger during a session, she may contact emergency services near your location.
If you are worried about someone else
- Ask directly. Asking someone whether they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head, and it can open the door to help.
- Be there. Stay with them, or stay on the phone, and listen without judging.
- Help keep them safe. If you can do so safely, remove or lock away anything they could use to hurt themselves.
- Help them connect. Call or text 988 together, or call 911 if they are in immediate danger.
- Follow up in the days afterward.
Outside the United States
The numbers on this page work in the United States. If you are somewhere else, call your local emergency number, or find a crisis line in your country at findahelpline.com.
Questions about this notice?
For non-urgent questions only. In an emergency, call or text 988, or call 911.