Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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Take my free quiz to see how prepared you are to handle a mental health crisis.
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1) Hotlines
a. The National Suicide Prevention Line. This hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 to people in distress across the United States. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for support.
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b. Crisis Text Line. Crisis Text Line provides free, confidential support via text message 24/7 to those in crisis situations. Text HOME to 741741 for support.
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c. The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project provides free, confidential support 24/7 to LGBTQ youth via a helpline, text and online instant messaging system. Call 1-866-488-7386 for support.
d. The Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis line provides free, confidential support 24/7 to veterans, all service members and their family and friends in times of need. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255 for support.
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You can access these numbers at any time through google or at MentalHealthFirstAid.org.
2) Warmlines.
For when support is needed, but risk of suicide is not imminent, warmlines offer support over phone and/or text. Typically, warmlines are best if you need someone to talk to about what is going on in your life. They can transfer to hotlines if needed, and some can help refer to other resources.
Mental Health America (MHA) has a list of warmlines, including the areas they serve, here.
3) Healthcare providers.
Schedule a visit with your primary care provider, or send them a message, for a referral to a mental health professional.
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If you're in college, your campus likely has a psychological service center you can contact for an initial appointment.
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Otherwise, search for a therapist (by insurance type! and concern!) on Psychology Today. Contact them and try a visit with them. The first person you see may not be the best fit, as with any potential doctor, so feel free to try another if you didn't connect.
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I personally recommend seeing a therapist/counselor first. If needed, they can recommend you see a psychiatrist. For many common disorders, therapy is actually more effective than medication (with less side effects; APA Div 12, 2017).
4) Support groups and self-help.
Support groups are helpful for connecting with others experiencing similar mental health struggles, as well as for those supporting individuals with mental illness. NAMI has a list of both here.
I would highly recommend seeing a therapist if possible, but if that is not feasible, self-help can be better than nothing. A variety of workbooks are available by illness type, as well as lots of resources online.
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To get you started, MHA has screening tools and worksheets for learning coping skills.
Similarly, CCI has a list of illness-specific worksheets.
5) Locating resources.
The SAMHSA Helpline. SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential information service that provides treatment and support referrals 24/7 to people facing mental illness and addictions. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for support.
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Every state has confidential and free 2-1-1 Information and Referral line. Call 2-1-1 for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more.
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For those without insurance, HRSA Health Centers offer mental health, substance abuse, oral health, and/or vision services with rates based on income. Locate centers near you.
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