Since COVID-19 broke out in spring 2020, multiple helplines have been quickly stood up for physicians who need to engage with peers and professionals as they unpack their stress and feelings. Here is a list cobbled together with a hat tip to Medcscape's original listing in June 2020.

Emotional PPE connects healthcare workers in need with licensed mental health professionals who can help. No cost. No insurance.

For the Frontlines. This 24/7 help line provides free crisis counseling for frontline workers. They can text FRONTLINE to 741741 in the United States (support is also available for residents of Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom).

Green Cross Academy of Traumatology Support Groups. These online platforms allow for healthcare workers and emergency responders to connect with each other and professionals to provide supportive and educational interventions to traumatic stress, as well as self-care strategies. There are several dozen meet-up times throughout the week provided throughout the nation.

Physician Support Line (PLS) . This free and confidential hotline was launched on March 30 by Mona Masood, DO, a Philadelphia-area psychiatrist and moderator of a Facebook forum called the COVID-19 Physicians Group. The PLS is run by more than 600 volunteer psychiatrists who take calls from US physicians 7 days a week from 8:00 AM to 3:00 AM, with no appointment necessary. The number is 1 (888)-409-0141.

Project Parachute is a University of North Carolina project aimed to provide pro-bono therapy for frontline healthcare professionals.

PeerRxMedia is a free, peer-supported program designed to help physicians and others on the care team move forward toward thriving both personally and professionally. Find a buddy to go through the PeerRx process with - you'll be given tools and prompts on a regular basis with how to build an effective and support relationship together.

General Population Helplines

National Helpline - ​1-800-662-HELP (4357) - SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. 

Disaster Distress Helpline - ​1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 - SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. 

Crisis Text Line - The Crisis Text hotline is available 24/7 throughout the United States. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information. Text HELLO to 741741.​

National Suicide Hotline 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022. ​The current Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched nationally.

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.