Telephone assistance service for crisis intervention, usually focused on topics such as alcoholic binges, suicide, drugs, and runaways.
A telephone number that can be called in times of emergency, often staffed 24 hours a day by trained counselors. Classic hotlines are special-purpose numbers, as for runaways, drug addicts, people considering suicide, or people reporting child abuse and neglect. Some hotlines are local; many others are toll-free (800) numbers that can be called long distance. Many organizations operate general information lines on a toll-free basis, sometimes for limited hours but occasionally around the clock; these are more properly called helplines.
A continuously managed telephone line for communicating with professionals who can help people experiencing crises, such as abuse or neglect, illicit drug distribution, impending suicide, intoxications and poisoning, domestic violence, or rape.