How this works

If it is bad right now, reach someone. UK: Samaritans 116 123 (free, 24h). Elsewhere, or prefer to text: crisis support lines.

Crisis Support

FM 98-1 / REV 1
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If it is bad right now, reach someone. These lines exist for exactly this, they are free, nobody will judge you, and the person on the other end has heard it all before. New fatherhood breaks plenty of solid men. Calling is not weakness, it is maintenance.

Immediate danger

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call your local emergency services: 999 UK, 112 EU, 10111 South Africa, 000 Australia, 911 US and Canada, 111 New Zealand.

United Kingdom
SamaritansFree, 24 hours a day, every day.Call 116 123CALMFor men. 5pm to midnight, every day.Call 0800 58 58 58SHOUTFree, confidential, 24/7 text support.Text SHOUT to 85258
South Africa
SADAG Suicide Crisis HelplineFree, 24 hours a day, every day.Call 0800 567 567SADAG by SMSA counsellor will come back to you.SMS 31393
Australia
LifelineCrisis support, 24 hours a day.Call 13 11 14MensLine AustraliaCounselling for men, 24 hours a day.Call 1300 78 99 78
United States and Canada
988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineFree, 24 hours a day. Call or text.Call or text 988
New Zealand
Need to Talk?Free, 24 hours a day. Call or text.Call or text 1737

Somewhere else? Befrienders Worldwide keeps a directory of emotional support lines by country at befrienders.org. And whatever country you are in, your doctor is a legitimate place to start. Plenty of men leave that appointment wondering why they waited so long.

Dad Reckoning — FM 00-0 / REV 1