--- title: "Where to Get Help" description: "This site is about understanding the system. If something here has touched a nerve — your wellbeing, a child's safety, money lost to a scam — here is where to turn." url: https://attentionmachine.org/en/educate/get-help/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-23 license: "CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)" --- # Where to Get Help Most of this site is about understanding the system. But if something here has touched a nerve — your own wellbeing, a child's safety, money lost to a scam — this page is where to turn. These are starting points, not a replacement for a doctor, the police, or someone you trust. If you are in immediate danger, contact your local emergency number first. A note on countries: this is a global site, so the links below lean on international directories that route you to services where you live. As each language edition is localised, it will carry its own country's services. ## If you feel overwhelmed, low, or unsafe in yourself You do not have to work through it alone, and talking to a doctor or someone you trust is a good first step. These are support lines and directories, most of them free — each entry says what it costs where that is stated: - [Befrienders Worldwide](https://www.befrienders.org) Global — A worldwide network of emotional-support centres. - [Find A Helpline](https://findahelpline.com) Global — Search free helplines by country and topic. - [112](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/112) EU — The emergency number in every EU country, free from any phone. Call it first if someone is in immediate danger. - [CVV — Centro de Valorização da Vida](https://cvv.org.br/) BR — Emotional support and suicide prevention in Brazil: call 188 free, 24 hours a day, or chat; volunteers, confidential (Portuguese). - [SAMU 192](https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/composicao/saes/samu-192) BR — Brazil’s emergency medical service: call 192, free. For the police, call 190. Call first if someone is in immediate danger. - [Ministry of Health and Population — 16328 (الخط الساخن للصحة النفسية)](https://www.mohp.gov.eg/NewsDetails.aspx?subject_id=5901) EG — Egypt’s Ministry of Health mental-health line: call 16328, 24 hours a day, to talk to a doctor, psychologist or social worker (Arabic). - [خط نجدة الطفل 16000 (المجلس القومي للطفولة والأمومة)](https://egcert.eg/news/child-helpline-for-reporting/) EG — Egypt’s child helpline: call 16000 free, 24 hours a day, or WhatsApp 01102121600 — for any child up to 18 at risk, including bullying and exploitation online (Arabic). - [119 — Allô Enfance en danger](https://www.allo119.gouv.fr/) FR — For a child or teen in danger, or an adult worried about one: call 119 free, day and night, from any phone in France; the call does not appear on the phone bill. There is also a chat for young people. A public service (French). - [15 · 17 · 18 · 114 (France)](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F33954) FR — France’s emergency numbers, free and day and night: 15 for a medical emergency (SAMU), 17 for the police, 18 for the fire brigade. If you have difficulty speaking or hearing, text 114. Call first if someone is in immediate danger (French). - [3018 — e-Enfance](https://e-enfance.org/besoin-daide/) FR — France’s national number for young people facing bullying, cyberbullying or other online abuse, and for their parents: call 3018 or chat in the 3018 app, free and anonymous, every day 9:00–23:00. It can have harmful posts and accounts removed within hours (French). - [3114 — Numéro national de prévention du suicide](https://3114.fr/) FR — Thinking about suicide, or worried about someone? Call 3114 free, day and night, anywhere in France, to talk to a healthcare professional trained in suicide prevention. Run under the Ministry of Health (French). - [Fil Santé Jeunes](https://www.filsantejeunes.com/) FR — For 12–25-year-olds in France: call 0800 235 236 (every day 9:00–23:00) or chat (every day 9:00–22:00), free and anonymous, with psychologists, doctors and other professionals. Funded by Santé publique France (French). - [SOS Amitié](https://www.sosamitie.org/) FR — Someone to talk to when things are hard: call 09 72 39 40 50 day and night for the price of a local call, chat from 13:00 to 03:00, or write and get a reply within 48 hours. Trained volunteers (French). - [112 India](https://www.mha.gov.in/emergency-response-support-system-erss) IN — India’s single emergency number for police, fire, ambulance and help for women and children. Call it first if someone is in immediate danger. - [Child Helpline 1098](https://wcd.gov.in/child/child-helpline) IN — For children in India, or an adult calling for a child: call 1098 free, 24 hours a day; emergency calls can be forwarded to 112. It runs under the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Mission Vatsalya, with the States. - [iCALL (TISS)](https://icallhelpline.org/) IN — Free counselling by phone (9152987821, Monday to Saturday 8:00–21:00) or e-mail from trained professionals at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, India. - [Tele-MANAS 14416](https://telemanas.mohfw.gov.in/) IN — India’s national mental-health helpline: call 14416 free, 24 hours a day, and choose your language — about 20 Indian languages, run by the Ministry of Health. - [112 (Moldova)](https://112.md/) MD — Moldova’s single emergency number, free from any phone, day and night — also by SMS. Call it first if someone is in immediate danger. - [Pentruviata.md](https://pentruviata.md/) MD — Moldova’s suicide-prevention service: write in the chat or to ajutor\@pentruviata.md at any hour, day or night — volunteers, in Romanian, Russian and English. No phone line. - [Telefonul Copilului 116 111 (Moldova)](https://telefonulcopilului.md/) MD — For children and teens in Moldova: call 116 111 free, day and night, about anything — run for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (Romanian, Russian). - [YK Support Line — 080080022](https://neovita.md/servicii/suna-la-linia-fierbinte/) MD — Moldova’s confidential support line for teens and young people up to 24: call 0 800 800 22 free, day and night, from any network (Romanian). - [Línea de la Vida (CONASAMA)](https://www.gob.mx/conasama/articulos/linea-de-la-vida-800-911-2000) MX — Mexico’s national mental-health line: call 800 911 2000 free, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, about suicidal thoughts, substance use, gender violence or other mental-health problems — for yourself or someone close (Spanish). - [SAPTEL](https://www.saptel.org.mx/) MX — A Mexican crisis and psychological-support line, free and staffed by psychologists: call (55) 5259-8121, 24 hours a day (Spanish). - [113 Zelfmoordpreventie](https://www.113.nl) NL — Thinking about suicide? Call 113 free or chat, anonymously, day and night (Dutch). - [De Kindertelefoon](https://www.kindertelefoon.nl) NL — For children and teens in the Netherlands: call free on 0800-0432 or chat, every day from 11:00 to 21:00 (Dutch). - [De Luisterlijn](https://www.deluisterlijn.nl/) NL — Need to talk? Call 088 0767 000 day and night (standard call rate), or chat free 10:00–22:00, anonymously, with a trained volunteer (Dutch). - [Alianța Română de Prevenție a Suicidului](https://www.antisuicid.ro/) RO — Romanian suicide-prevention helpline: call free on 0800 801 200, Friday to Sunday from 19:00 to 07:00 (Romanian). - [Telefonul Copilului](https://telefonulcopilului.ro/) RO — For children and teens in Romania: call free on 116 111, Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 20:00 (Romanian). - [Ministry of Health — 937](https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/About/Pages/ContactUs.aspx) SA — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health line: call 937, day and night, for medical or psychological advice (Arabic). ## Body image and eating If your relationship with food, exercise, or how you look has started to feel like it is running you, that is worth taking seriously and help works. - [F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders)](https://feast-ed.org/) Global — Free peer support for families facing an eating disorder — forums, support groups and family guides — from a global non-profit run by carers, with its worldwide list of eating-disorder organisations (mainly English). - [Find A Helpline](https://findahelpline.com) Global — Search free helplines by country and topic. - [Anorexie Boulimie Info Écoute (FFAB)](https://www.ffab.fr/trouver-de-l-aide/permanence-telephonique) FR — Questions about an eating disorder, for yourself or someone close? Call 09 69 325 900 (normal call rate) on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, 16:00–18:00, to reach psychologists, doctors and eating-disorder associations (French). - [Hulplijn eetstoornissen (WEET en Stichting JIJ)](https://eetstoornissen.nl/lotgenoten/hulplijn/) NL — Phone line of the Dutch eating-disorder patient association WEET and Stichting JIJ: call 010-7370847 for a listening ear, information and advice, on set evenings (Dutch). - [Proud2Bme](https://www.proud2bme.nl) NL — Free, anonymous online help for anyone with an eating disorder: community, peer experts, psychologists and dietitians. Chat every evening 19:00–21:00 (Dutch). - [Beat](https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk) UK — Eating-disorder helplines and support. - [National Alliance for Eating Disorders](https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com) US — Free helpline staffed by clinicians, plus referrals — US-based, with resources useful anywhere. Related on this site: [Body Image](https://attentionmachine.org/en/symptoms/body-image/), [Mental Health](https://attentionmachine.org/en/symptoms/mental-health/). ## If a child is being targeted or exploited online If you believe a child is being groomed, coerced, or exploited, contact your local police. To report online child exploitation specifically: - [INHOPE](https://www.inhope.org) Global — A network of national hotlines for reporting illegal content involving children. - [NCMEC CyberTipline](https://report.cybertip.org) US Global — Report child sexual exploitation — US-based, takes international reports. - [Better Internet for Kids](https://better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/) EU — The European Commission’s portal — includes the directory of national Safer Internet Centres with helplines per EU country. - [Disque 100](https://www.gov.br/mdh/pt-br/acesso-a-informacao/disque-100/disque-100) BR — Brazil’s human-rights line: report violence against children and teenagers, including online, by calling 100 free, 24 hours a day; anonymous reports accepted (Portuguese). - [SaferNet Brasil](https://new.safernet.org.br/) BR — Brazil’s online-safety NGO and INHOPE hotline: free chat or e-mail help for children, teens and parents, and anonymous reporting of child sexual abuse material and other online crimes (Portuguese). - [خط نجدة الطفل 16000 (المجلس القومي للطفولة والأمومة)](https://egcert.eg/news/child-helpline-for-reporting/) EG — Egypt’s child helpline: call 16000 free, 24 hours a day, or WhatsApp 01102121600 — for any child up to 18 at risk, including bullying and exploitation online (Arabic). - [119 — Allô Enfance en danger](https://www.allo119.gouv.fr/) FR — For a child or teen in danger, or an adult worried about one: call 119 free, day and night, from any phone in France; the call does not appear on the phone bill. There is also a chat for young people. A public service (French). - [3018 — e-Enfance](https://e-enfance.org/besoin-daide/) FR — France’s national number for young people facing bullying, cyberbullying or other online abuse, and for their parents: call 3018 or chat in the 3018 app, free and anonymous, every day 9:00–23:00. It can have harmful posts and accounts removed within hours (French). - [Internet Sans Crainte](https://www.internetsanscrainte.fr/) FR — France’s national programme for helping young people use the internet well: hundreds of free resources for 3–18-year-olds, their parents and teachers. Part of the French Safer Internet Centre, run by Tralalere (French). - [PHAROS — internet-signalement.gouv.fr](https://www.internet-signalement.gouv.fr/) FR — The French government’s platform for reporting illegal content online to the police and gendarmerie, open to adults and minors. Not for emergencies: call 17 (French). - [Point de Contact](https://www.pointdecontact.net/) FR — France’s hotline for reporting illegal content online — child sexual abuse material, hate speech, terrorist content — anonymously and free, through its website or app. A founding member of INHOPE (French). - [Child Helpline 1098](https://wcd.gov.in/child/child-helpline) IN — For children in India, or an adult calling for a child: call 1098 free, 24 hours a day; emergency calls can be forwarded to 112. It runs under the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Mission Vatsalya, with the States. - [cybercrime.gov.in · 1930](https://cybercrime.gov.in/) IN — India’s national portal for reporting cybercrime, including online fraud and crimes against women and children — a report about a woman or child can be anonymous, a financial-fraud report cannot. For money lost to fraud, call the free helpline 1930 at once. - [Meri Trustline (RATI Foundation)](https://ratifoundation.org/meri-trustline/) IN — Confidential help in India for children, women and people from marginalised identities facing online sexual abuse, cyberbullying, deepfakes or leaked photos: call or WhatsApp 6363176363, Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00, or e-mail any time. Not an emergency service: if you are in danger, call 112. - [Siguronline (La Strada)](https://siguronline.md/) MD — Moldova’s digital-safety centre, run by La Strada: confidential chat and email help for children, teens and parents about anything that goes wrong online, and anonymous reporting of child sexual abuse material (Romanian, Russian). - [Telefonul Copilului 116 111 (Moldova)](https://telefonulcopilului.md/) MD — For children and teens in Moldova: call 116 111 free, day and night, about anything — run for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (Romanian, Russian). - [Te Protejo México](https://www.teprotejomexico.org/) MX — Mexico’s INHOPE reporting hotline: report sexual violence against anyone under 18 — child sexual abuse material, sextortion, grooming — anonymously and free, online (Spanish). - [De Kindertelefoon](https://www.kindertelefoon.nl) NL — For children and teens in the Netherlands: call free on 0800-0432 or chat, every day from 11:00 to 21:00 (Dutch). - [Offlimits — Hulplijn](https://hulplijn.offlimits.nl/) NL — Help after something bad happened online, such as sextortion or shared nude images: free and anonymous chat, mail or phone — 0800-0033 — Monday to Thursday 07:00–23:00, Friday 09:00–17:00, Sunday 10:00–18:00 (Dutch). - [Ora de Net (Salvați Copiii)](https://oradenet.ro/helpline/) RO — Romania’s Safer Internet Centre: help with anything that goes wrong online on 0744 360 446, daily from 10:00 to 17:00, or report child sexual abuse material anonymously (Romanian). - [Telefonul Copilului](https://telefonulcopilului.ro/) RO — For children and teens in Romania: call free on 116 111, Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 20:00 (Romanian). - [Child Helpline 116111 (خط مساندة الطفل)](https://moe.gov.sa/ar/mediacenter/MOEnews/Pages/k-1443-2.aspx) SA — For every child in Saudi Arabia, not only children facing violence: call 116111 free for confidential advice and support; the National Family Safety Program refers emergencies directly (Arabic). Related on this site: [Recruited to Harm](https://attentionmachine.org/en/symptoms/recruited-to-harm/), [For Parents](https://attentionmachine.org/en/for-you/parents/). ## If you have lost money to a scam It is not your fault: these schemes are engineered to work, and acting quickly helps. Stop sending money, keep the messages, and tell your bank straight away — they may be able to stop or recover a payment. Then report it to your national fraud or consumer-protection body — reporting helps investigators see the pattern even when one case cannot be recovered: - [econsumer.gov (ICPEN)](https://www.econsumer.gov/) Global — Scammed by a company in another country? Report it here — the shared reporting site of ICPEN, the network of national consumer-protection authorities, created in 2001 and led by the US FTC. - [SaferNet — Delegacias de cibercrimes](https://new.safernet.org.br/content/delegacias-cibercrimes) BR — Lost money to a scam in Brazil? Tell your bank at once (for Pix, ask for the MED refund procedure), then report it to the police: some states have a specialised cybercrime unit, and this list shows them — where there is none, go to the nearest police station (Portuguese). - [17Cyber](https://17cyber.gouv.fr/) FR — Victim of a scam, hacking or other online crime in France? 17Cyber, from the police, the gendarmerie and Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr, works out what happened and what to do, day and night; in serious cases you can chat with a police officer or gendarme (French). - [Info Escroqueries — 0 805 805 817](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F1520) FR — Scammed online in France? Police officers and gendarmes give advice and point you to the next step: call 0 805 805 817, free, Monday to Friday 9:00–18:30 (French). - [Perceval — fraude à la carte bancaire](https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R46526) FR — Someone used your bank card online without you while you still have it? After blocking the card with your bank, report it free to the gendarmerie through Perceval (French). - [cybercrime.gov.in · 1930](https://cybercrime.gov.in/) IN — India’s national portal for reporting cybercrime, including online fraud and crimes against women and children — a report about a woman or child can be anonymous, a financial-fraud report cannot. For money lost to fraud, call the free helpline 1930 at once. - [Guardia Nacional — 088](https://www.gob.mx/gncertmx/articulos/en-caso-de-ser-victima-de-algun-ciberdelito-llama-al-088-atencion-ciudadana-399697) MX — Mexico’s national cybercrime line: if you have been the victim of an online crime, call 088 and you will be guided through filing a report — confidential (Spanish). - [Fraudehelpdesk](https://www.fraudehelpdesk.nl) NL — The Dutch national fraud helpdesk (Dutch). - [DNSC — 1911](https://www.dnsc.ro/) RO — Romania’s National Cyber Security Directorate: call 1911 (standard rate), day and night, if you have been scammed or attacked online (Romanian). - [Report Fraud](https://www.reportfraud.police.uk) UK — Report Fraud, formerly Action Fraud: the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report via 101. - [ReportFraud (FTC)](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov) US — The US consumer-protection regulator’s online fraud report form. Related on this site: [Get-Rich-Quick & Scams](https://attentionmachine.org/en/symptoms/get-rich-quick/). ## If you just want some distance from the feed You do not need a crisis to want the machine to take up less room in your life. The practical steps — turning off the levers, changing the defaults, reclaiming attention — are gathered here: - [What to Do](https://attentionmachine.org/en/educate/what-to-do/) — individual, social, and structural steps, from what you can do tonight to what changes the system. - [Tools](https://attentionmachine.org/en/educate/tools/) — settings, extensions, and resources that help. [What to Do →](https://attentionmachine.org/en/educate/what-to-do/)\ [For You →](https://attentionmachine.org/en/for-you/) --- Some content on this site was created with the assistance of AI tools and may contain errors. [How we use AI →](https://attentionmachine.org/en/about/how-we-use-ai/)