The Broken Cycle Resource Guide
By Kaydie Arnold
If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services in your area right away. If using your own phone or device is not safe, try a library, community center, trusted friend’s device, or another safer option.
A Note on Safety
Looking for help can be risky if someone is monitoring your phone, browser history, email, or location. Use the safest method available to you. If possible, clear your history, log out of accounts, and avoid saving sensitive information on shared devices.
United States National Hotlines
Domestic Violence: National Domestic Violence Hotline — call 800-799-7233, TTY 800-787-3224, or use chat at thehotline.org
Human Trafficking: National Human Trafficking Hotline — call 888-373-7888 or text 233733 at humantraffickinghotline.org
Sexual Assault: RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline — call 800-656-4673 at rainn.org
Child Abuse: Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline — call or text 800-422-4453 at childhelp.org
Suicide and Crisis: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 at 988lifeline.org
Runaway and Homeless Youth: National Runaway Safeline — call 800-786-2929 at 1800runaway.org
LGBTQ+ Youth Crisis Support: The Trevor Project — call 866-488-7386 or visit thetrevorproject.org/get-help
State and Local Help in the United States
For all U.S. states, the safest and most accurate way to find nearby shelters, advocates, and crisis programs is through national directories that route survivors to local support.
Domestic violence programs by state: thehotline.org
Human trafficking service providers by area: humantraffickinghotline.org/en/service-provider-search
Sexual assault providers by location: rainn.org
Runaway and youth resources: 1800runaway.org
International Support
Because hotline systems vary by country and change over time, the safest starting point for international help is a vetted global directory.
Global directory for gender-based violence support by country: lila.help
Global directory for domestic and sexual violence support: nomoredirectory.org
Country Examples
United Kingdom: Refuge — refuge.org.uk and Women’s Aid — womensaid.org.uk
Canada: Use the global directories above to locate province-specific domestic violence, assault, and crisis services.
Australia: Use the global directories above and official state-based violence support services.
Final Note
You do not have to have the perfect words to ask for help. You do not have to be ready for every next step. If you are trying to find support, that matters. Start with the safest option available to you, and let one connection lead to the next.
— Kaydie Arnold