Why You Should Call
We understand why you may feel nervous about calling or unsure about what will happen when you do.
If you found this page because you’re thinking about hurting someone, you may have already spent a lot of time keeping those thoughts to yourself. Maybe you don’t want anyone to see you as dangerous. Maybe you’ve tried talking about your anger, pain, or frustration before and didn’t feel heard. Or maybe these thoughts have been there for so long that you’re starting to wonder whether they’ll ever go away.
We want you to call before these thoughts or feelings turn into action.
You don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what you need. You don’t have to explain everything at once. You can simply start by telling us what’s going on.
Misconceptions about calling the National Violence Prevention Hotline AND THEIR TRUTHS.
MISCONCEPTION NO.1: Calling the hotline automatically results in law enforcement being notified
MISCONCEPTION NO.2: Calling the hotline only helps the person at risk of being violent
MISCONCEPTION NO.3: Violence can't be prevented
MISCONCEPTION NO.4: Asking for help means admitting your a bad person
MISCONCEPTION NO.5: If you're just feeling angry, it's not serious enough to call
Is the urge always there?
Does it come and go? Has it been getting stronger lately? Do certain people, situations, memories, or feelings make it worse? Do you find yourself returning to violent thoughts even though part of you knows you don’t want things to end that way? Are you starting to worry that someday you might actually act on them?
Those are things you can talk to us about. You don’t have to organize everything in your head before you call. You don’t even have to understand why you’re feeling this way yet.
Maybe you're afraid to tell anyone what you're really thinking.
You might be thinking:
“If I tell someone the truth, will they think I’m a monster?”
“Will they immediately see me as a threat and call the police?”
“Can I actually tell them how bad the thoughts have gotten?”
“What if part of me really does want to hurt someone?”
“What if I don’t know whether I can control the urge?”
Those fears can make staying silent feel safer. But silence also leaves you alone with thoughts that already feel overwhelming.
The National Violence Prevention Hotline exists specifically so that people experiencing thoughts or urges toward violence have somewhere to turn before violence happens.
You don’t have to downplay what you’re thinking or feeling when you call. We want to understand what you’re really going through so we can help.
Are you worried we'll call the police?
You may be afraid that the moment you tell us you’re thinking about hurting someone, we’ll automatically call the police.
We understand why that fear could keep you from calling—or keep you from telling us what you’re really thinking.
The purpose of this Hotline is prevention. We want to talk with you, understand what’s happening, help you slow the situation down, and work with you toward a safe next step.
Having a violent thought or urge and reaching out to talk about it is not the same thing as committing an act of violence.
We want you to be able to tell us things like:
“I’m having thoughts about hurting someone.”
“The urge is getting stronger.”
“I’m scared I might lose control.”
“I’m angry enough that violence feels justified.”
“I’m afraid to tell you everything because I don’t want the police involved.”
You can even start the call by telling us that last one.Our goal is to help prevent violence, not to punish you for asking for help.
But fear of being judged or of what might happen if you’re honest shouldn’t leave you alone with thoughts that are becoming harder to control.
Call us. Tell us what you’re thinking. Tell us what you’re afraid will happen if you tell someone. We can start there.
Maybe you feel like nobody cares until something goes wrong.
Sometimes anger is sitting on top of something else.
Feeling ignored.
Feeling powerless.
Feeling mistreated.
Feeling humiliated.
Feeling like nobody understands how much you’re struggling.
Feeling furious about something you believe is deeply unfair.
Feeling like you’ve tried everything else and nothing changes.
We can listen to what brought you to this point without telling you that hurting someone is the answer.
Your pain can be real without violence having to be the outcome.
Maybe violence feels like the only way to make someone understand.
When anger becomes overwhelming, violence can start to feel like justice, control, revenge, relief, or finally being heard.
Maybe you believe someone has done something wrong and deserves consequences. Maybe you feel like nobody else is holding them accountable—or that it’s up to you to make them pay for what they’ve done. You can tell us that, too.
You don’t have to convince us that violence is justified for us to understand that something has brought you to a place where it feels justified to you.
Your anger may be real. The injustice you feel may be real. But you don’t have to become the person who delivers the punishment.
Before you act on that feeling, call us. Let’s talk about what’s happening and find another way forward that doesn’t end with you or someone else getting hurt.
Maybe the thoughts aren't new.
Some people struggle with violent thoughts for weeks, months, or even years.
You might already be in therapy or receiving other support and still have these thoughts.
You might think: “I’ve felt this way for so long. What could one phone call possibly change?”
The call doesn’t have to solve everything. The goal right now can simply be getting through this moment without anyone getting hurt and figuring out the next safe steps with a compassionate crisis worker beside you.
Maybe you're thinking about hurting yourself too.
Sometimes thoughts about hurting other people exist alongside feeling hopeless about your own life. You may feel exhausted, trapped, angry, alone, or convinced that nothing in your future can get better.
Tell us. You don’t have to choose which part of your pain is “the real problem” before reaching out.
What if you're getting closer to actually doing it?
Then call now. If you’ve moved beyond thoughts and feel like you may actually hurt someone, don’t stay alone with that decision.
Put distance between yourself and the person you’re thinking about hurting.
Put distance between yourself and anything you could use to hurt someone.
Don’t go to their home, workplace, school, or wherever you expect to find them.
And call for help now. You can start with one sentence: “I’m afraid I might hurt someone and I need help stopping myself.”
You don’t have to explain everything at once. Start there.
You don't have to know whether your situation is “bad enough.”
If you’re searching for help because your thoughts or urges toward violence are frightening you, affecting your life, becoming more frequent, becoming more specific, or becoming harder to control, that’s enough reason to call.
If you’re wondering whether you should call, call. If part of you wants someone to stop you from doing something you may regret, listen to that part of yourself.
Making the call is not committing yourself to violence. It’s giving yourself a place to heal instead of harm.
Anger is temporary. Actions are forever. Before you do something you can't undo, talk to one of our crisis workers.
You found us for a reason. Now let us hear from you.
Call the National Violence Prevention Hotline: 888-664-6652
*We do not yet have 24/7 coverage. If you call and we do not answer, please leave your name and phone number and a crisis worker from our hotline will get back to you ASAP*
*If you believe you may hurt someone imminently, violence is already occurring, or someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. If you are also experiencing suicidal thoughts or a suicidal crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you are in a position where you cannot call, we can call you.
Please fill out the form below.
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You are Not Alone
We know that anger can feel heavy, confusing, and even isolating. But you don’t have to carry it alone. Sharing what’s on your mind can help you find new ways to cope, build healthier relationships, and move forward in a positive direction.
Whether you’re frustrated, hurting, or just don’t know what else to do, we’re here to listen without judgment. We’re ready to hear you.
Your decision to reach out shows courage. Let’s take the next step together.