Support directory
Every entry here is manually verified, with the verification date shown. Entries that stop working are delisted with an explanation — never silently removed. In immediate danger, call your local emergency number.
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Mainland China
12356 — China national psychological support hotline
Nationwide; 24h or at least 18h/day depending on province
Run under the National Health Commission. Not LGBTQ+-specific, but reachable nationwide and free. If other mainland numbers fail, use this one.
Last verified: 2026-07-20
Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center hotline
24 hours
Not LGBTQ+-specific; from landlines 800-810-1117 also works.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
Taiwan
Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association
LGBTQ+-specificEvenings roughly 19:00–22:00 Taiwan time (closed Tue & Wed); separate line for parents
The most established tongzhi hotline in the Chinese-speaking world. Note: the widely circulated 02-2392-1969 is an old/office number — trust the official site.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
Taiwan MOHW “1925” safe line
24 hours
Official MOHW line, not LGBTQ+-specific. Lifeline 1995 and Teacher Chang 1980 also operate.
Last verified: 2026-07-20
Hong Kong
Japan
Yorisoi Hotline
24 hours, year-round (reachable nationwide)
A general support line. In the voice menu, press “4” to reach the specialist line for concerns about sexual orientation and gender identity (the sexual-minority line). Chat support and fax (0120-773-776) are also available. Fukushima-only line: 0120-279-226.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
TELL Lifeline (Tokyo English Lifeline)
Phone: Sat 09:00 through Mon 23:00 continuously, Tue–Thu 09:00–23:00, Fri 09:00–02:00 next day (JST). Chat starts daily at 16:00. Check the official site for current hours.
English-language general mental-health and crisis support. Not LGBTQ+-specific, but it also runs outreach for LGBTQIA+ people; useful for non-Japanese speakers and foreign residents. A freephone number, 0800-300-8355, is also available. To report a crisis for someone living in Japan from overseas: 03-3501-0110 (weekdays 8:30–17:15 JST).
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
Inochi no Denwa (Japan Federation of Inochi no Denwa)
Navi-dial 0570-783-556: daily 10:00–22:00. Freephone 0120-783-556: daily 16:00–21:00, and on the 10th of each month, 24 hours from 8:00 to 8:00 the next day.
General suicide-prevention and emotional-support phone counseling run by 53 centers nationwide; not LGBTQ+-specific. The navi-dial number is charged; the freephone number is 0120-783-556, and the IP-phone number is 03-6634-7830 (charged). Online consultation is also available via the federation’s site.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
South Korea
Suicide Prevention Counseling Line 109
24/7, year-round
General crisis counseling covering suicide prevention, depression, postpartum depression, youth crises, domestic violence and more. Not LGBTQ+-specific, but a useful first point of contact in a crisis, and confidential. On 1 January 2024, the counseling lines of eight bodies including the former 1393 were merged into 109.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
Youth Helpline 1388
24/7, year-round (phone, chat and text)
Comprehensive counseling and crisis support for young people (roughly ages 9–24). Not LGBTQ+-specific, but it responds to youth crises and mental health. Besides phone, text-based options include web chat (1388.go.kr), KakaoTalk “청소년상담1388” and LINE @cyber1388.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
DDing Dong — Youth LGBTQ+ Crisis Support Center
LGBTQ+-specificTue–Sat 11:00–21:00 (closed Sun, Mon and public holidays)
The only crisis-support center dedicated to LGBTQ+ young people, offering counseling as well as emergency help such as shelter, medical and legal referrals. Note that it does not operate 24 hours. KakaoTalk consultation and email (LGBTQ@ddingdong.kr) are also available.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
International
The Trevor Project (US)
LGBTQ+-specific24/7 by phone, text (START to 678-678) and web chat
Crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth; TrevorSpace is its globally accessible online community.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
Trans Lifeline (US/Canada)
LGBTQ+-specificOperating hours have been reduced in recent years — check the current schedule before calling
Peer support run by trans people, with a no-nonconsensual-rescue policy.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
Switchboard LGBTQIA+ (UK)
LGBTQ+-specificDaily 10:00–22:00 UK time, plus web chat and email
A good option for Chinese speakers living or studying in the UK.
Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Website
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US)
24/7
General crisis line. The former “press 3” LGBTQ+ youth option was discontinued in July 2025, so only the general service is listed.
Last verified: 2026-07-20
Delisted entries
Beijing LGBT Center ——Announced closure on 15 May 2023; its counseling services and trans hotline no longer operate. We keep this record so readers don’t wait on a dead number.
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