Crisis/helplines:

  • One of the most well-known online depression resources is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which you can reach by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255). To access it in Spanish, dial 1-888-628-9454. 
      • If you don’t want to call, you can also be connected with a counselor via the Lifeline Chat. The Lifeline Chat is available 24/7 across the United States. https://chat.988lifeline.org/ 
    • If you’re in a crisis, you can text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.  The Crisis Text Line website has valuable information about coping with challenges such as emotional abuse, the coronavirus, and depression, as well as a blog and a page that links to resources such as apps, websites, and hotlines that can help with your specific concerns. https://www.crisistextline.org/resources/ 
  • “988” is the three-digit, nationwide phone number to connect directly to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. By calling or texting 988, you’ll connect with mental health professionals with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline, which serves our nation’s Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. For texts, Veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline shortcode: 838255.
    • 988 Lifeline voice, text, and chat options are offered in Spanish. To call a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, dial 988 and then press “2.” To text with a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, text AYUDA to 988. To chat with a Spanish-speaking crisis counselor, visit https://988lifeline.org/es/chat/ . In addition, you can reach a specialized LGBTQI+ affirming counselor by texting “PRIDE” to 988 or by pressing “3” when calling. 
  • Lifeline Chat  - The Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Support is also available in English via live chat.
  • Veterans Crisis Line  Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text to 838255
    Use Veterans Crisis Chat on the web. The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a trained responder. The service is available to all veterans, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare.
  • Disaster Distress Helpline  Call or text 1-800-985-5990
    The disaster distress helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522 https://www.thehotline.org/ 
  • National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453 https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/ 
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat  https://rainn.org/ 

 

Online Counseling and Therapy: 

  • 7Cups provides free online therapy and emotional support to individuals who may be struggling with mental health issues and is available in 32 languages. The anonymous virtual chat is available 24/7 and connects you with a trained volunteer listener. You can also access message boards and forums that discuss mental health issues and a group support chat that allows you to connect with others. https://www.7cups.com/ 
  • BetterHelp Online Therapy - No Waiting Rooms or Driving — Professional Therapy for Anxiety. You Deserve to Be Happy. Don't Wait, Sign Up Today. Phone, Video, or Live Chat. 100% Online Therapy. Convenient, Discreet, Professional. www.betterhelp.com
  • Cerebral – Online Therapy - Most online mental health services match you with a clinician and hope you’ll stay on their plans without any goals or endpoints. Cerebral Way recognizes you as an active participant in your mental health care. We’ve developed a program with your goals and milestones at the center so you can track your progress and know what to expect. https://cerebral.com/ 
  • Charlie Health – Online therapy services that also take insurance. Evidence-based, personalized, and virtual care, focusing on outcomes-driven treatment designed to build connection and foster sustainable healing. Along the way,  Charlie Health has expanded the ability of millions to access the care they need – and deserve – from home. https://www.charliehealth.com/about-us 

 

Self-Help Tools:

  • Mental Health America - Mental Health America offers a variety of resources, such as Self-Help Tools. These include mental health screening tools and worksheets that can help ground you, help you plan for and make positive changes in your lifestyle, and take control of risky behaviors. 
    • They also have resources that break down the process of getting professional help for mental illnesses. They cover topics such as insurance policies and paying for treatment, as well as the types of mental health treatment that are out there and what they entail. https://www.mhanational.org/self-help-tools 
  • The Trevor Project caters to LGBTQ youth. You can reach out by texting START to 678-678, calling 1-866-488-7386, or just chat with them online. 
    • TrevorSpace is an international community for queer youth ages 13-24 where you can connect with and make new LGBTQ friends. You can also read about various LGBTQ topics, such as gender identity and sexuality, on their resource center page. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/
  • Moodfit is a free app that helps you track your mood and provides resources on managing negative emotions you may be experiencing. You can download it on the App Store and Google Play. This app aims to follow the structure of a fitness app, but instead of focusing on improving your physical health, it targets your mental health and well-being. 
    • The app even has a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) portion that can teach you valuable skills such as gratitude and mindfulness. It provides insight into what impacts your mood, such as your diet and activity levels, and what you can do to improve it in the future. You can also get information about different forms of treatment and their effectiveness, such as medications or therapy.
  • Happify is a free app available on the App Store and Google Play. It offers a variety of science-based activities that can help alleviate symptoms of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. The activities can help with coping with stress and negative thoughts, practicing mindfulness through meditation, or setting career goals to track your progress and fulfillment. The app incorporates CBT techniques into the games and activities and is rooted in psychological research and evidence about what works best for mental health and mood issues.
  • Kent State University: Self-help tools—Learning how to manage your mental health is important in maintaining your overall well-being, and self-help tools can help guide the process. Resources available come in various methods—whether you’re exploring an app, watching a video, or completing a guided meditation, you get to choose your own path and tailor these options specifically to your needs and interests.
    • When considering which resources to interact with, ask yourself what you need to gain. How do you best learn? How do you like to cope? CAPS has compiled a comprehensive collection of self-directed resources on common mental health concerns for you to explore. https://www.kent.edu/caps/self-help-tools 

 

Helping Others with Mental Illness:

  • 5 Action Steps to Help Someone Having Thoughts of Suicide - NIMH 5 action steps for helping someone in emotional pain - infographic to see how you can help those in distress. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/5-action-steps-to-help-someone-having-thoughts-of-suicide 
  • Erika's Lighthouse - Erika’s Light House is dedicated to creating a community of empathy and education. We create upper elementary, middle school, and high school mental health, depression, and suicide awareness programs so educators, families, and teens can create safe spaces to learn about mental health, letting students know they are never alone and there is somewhere to turn—free resources for mental health education in classrooms. https://erikaslighthouse.org/resources/ 
  • Social Media Mental Health Protection - Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency.  https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-someone-else/support-on-social-media/ 
  • Retrieving Freedom Puppy Fostering Program - Retrieving Freedom fosters give our puppies a head start in training proper house manners and basic obedience and introducing them to experiences that will give them confidence in the world during the first stage of their journey to become a Service Dog for a Veteran with a disability or child with autism. https://www.retrievingfreedom.org/give-support/become-an-rfi-foster 

 

Federal Resources:

Some federal agencies offer resources for identifying healthcare providers and help find low-cost health services. These include:

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): For general information on mental health and to locate treatment services in your area, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).  https://www.samhsa.gov/ 
  • Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator - This website can search by location to help you find local resources. https://findtreatment.gov/ 
  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): HRSA works to improve access to health care. The HRSA website has information on affordable healthcare, including health centers offering care on a sliding fee scale. https://www.hrsa.gov/ 
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS has information on its website about benefits and eligibility for mental health programs and how to enroll. https://www.cms.gov/ 
  • The National Library of Medicine (NLM) MedlinePlus: NLM’s website has directories and lists of organizations that can help identify a health practitioner. https://medlineplus.gov/ 

 

Abuse/Assault/Violence:

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522 https://www.thehotline.org/ 
  • National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453 https://www.childhelp.org/hotline/ 
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat  https://rainn.org/ 
  • Technology Safety/Abuse: Safety Net focuses on the intersection of technology and abuse, and we work to address how that abuse impacts the safety and privacy of survivors. Our team provides expert training and technical assistance, creates and disseminates resources, and influences conversations on technology abuse and safety globally. Safety Net is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. https://www.techsafety.org/ 
  • Power and Control Wheels - The Power and Control Wheel is a powerful tool designed to explain the various ways abusers use manipulation, dominance, and violence to control their partners in relationships. Developed as part of the Duluth Model, this wheel illustrates the patterns of behavior that define abusive relationships, such as emotional abuse, isolation, financial control, and physical violence. https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/the-power-and-control-wheel-the-duluth-model/#google_vignette 
  • Wheel Gallery for Abuse Victims - This page includes the original wheels developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Program (DAIP) and images that have undergone DAIP’s formal adaptation approval process. Adaptations are credited to their creators. Contact information is listed with each image. https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheel-gallery/ 
  • Creating Your Personal Safety Plan - A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan to improve your safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or after you leave. Follow the steps below to create your personal safety plan. https://www.thehotline.org/plan-for-safety/create-your-personal-safety-plan/ 
  • Love is Respect - Education on healthy relationships, setting boundaries, and dating. https://www.loveisrespect.org/ 
  • National Coalition Against Domestic Violence - The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) mission is to lead, mobilize, and raise our voices to support efforts that demand a change of conditions that lead to domestic violence, such as patriarchy, privilege, racism, sexism, and classism. We are dedicated to supporting survivors, holding offenders accountable, and supporting advocates. https://ncadv.org/ 
  • Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence - The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence unites Missourians with a shared value that rape and abuse must end and advances this through education, alliance, research, and public policy.  https://www.mocadsv.org/ 
  • CASA Sedalia (Citizens Against Spousal Abuse) - Their mission is to empower domestic and sexual violence survivors to regain control of their lives through education, advocacy, and coordination of community resources. https://www.casa-sedalia.org/ 

 

 LGBTQ+:

  • Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 (para español presiona el 2) Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. https://translifeline.org/ 
  • The Trevor Project caters to LGBTQ youth. You can reach out by texting START to 678-678, calling 1-866-488-7386, or just chat with them online. 
    • TrevorSpace is an international community for queer youth ages 13-24 where you can connect with and make new LGBTQ friends. You can also read about various LGBTQ topics, such as gender identity and sexuality, on their resource center page. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/

 

Elderly Mental Health:

 

Veterans/Active-duty Military:

 

Substance Abuse Treatment:

  • Substance Abuse Crisis Line - If you or someone close to you needs help for a substance use disorder, talk to your doctor or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP 

  • Locate Treatment Near You: The confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories. https://findtreatment.gov/ 

  • Local Health Centers for Substance Abuse Services - Health centers are local clinics. They treat people’s medical, dental, mental health, substance use, and other health care needs. https://bphc.hrsa.gov/ 
  • Buprenorphine Treatment Practitioner Locator - Find practitioners authorized to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine by state. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/find-treatment/buprenorphine-practitioner-locator 
  • Opioid Treatment Program Directory by State - Providing methadone. https://dpt2.samhsa.gov/treatment/directory.aspx 
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) - Substance Use Disorder Treatment Options. The use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, provides a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Medicines used are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are clinically driven and tailored to meet each patient’s needs. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/options 

If you have questions about medicines, call the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poison Help Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. 

 

First Responders Mental Health Resources:

  • Emergency Responder Crisis Text Line - Text BADGE to 741741 to chat with a trained crisis counselor. This free service is available 24/7 for all emergency responders. https://www.globalmedicalresponse.com/ 
  • BLUE  H.E.L.P.  1st Help - Police-focused suicide hotline. https://1sthelp.net/ 
  • Fire/EMS Helpline - 1-888-731-FIRE (3473) - This free, confidential helpline is available 24/7 for Firefighters and EMS Personnel.
  • Copline - 1-800-267-5463 - A confidential helpline for members of US law enforcement. https://www.copline.org/ 
  • Frontline Helpline - 1-866-676-7500 - Run by Frontline Responder Services. Offer 24/7 coverage with first responder call-takers. https://frontlinerehab.com/helpline/ 
  • Everyone Goes Home Resources - From the NFFF for firefighters and their families, including the “Fire Service Behavioral Health Management Guide,” a behavioral health podcast, and rapid response procedures for member suicide, mass violence incidents, and on-duty fatality, injury, or close call. https://everyonegoeshome.com/16-initiatives/13-psychological-support/ 
  • Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance - Provides workshops to fire and EMS departments and dispatch organizations focusing on behavioral health awareness. The workshops place a strong emphasis on suicide prevention and promoting available resources, such as a directory of behavioral health professionals, a self-assessment tool, and a confidential way to report suicide for fire/EMS responders and their families. https://www.ffbha.org/ 
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs - “Surviving the Job: Emotional Self Care for First Responders” is a prerecorded IAFC webinar that details the challenges of stress, secondhand trauma and burnout in fire/EMS responders and how these can take a toll on physical health, mental health and relationships. It also explores concrete, manageable steps that fire and EMS workers can take to protect themselves and their families. https://www.iafc.org/events/event/2020/12/31/self-paced/surviving-the-job-emotional-self-care-for-first-responders 
  • The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Training for Mental Health - Offers behavioral health awareness, peer support, and personal resiliency training for departments and personnel. The IAFF also offers a members-only program that provides treatment for successful recovery from substance abuse, PTSD, and other behavioral health issues. https://my.iaff.org/Web/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=LMS_064&WebsiteKey=7403ace1-c45e-4dbc-b9cd-d5803a7d91da 
  • National Volunteer Fire Council - The National Volunteer Fire Council's Share the Load Program can assist individuals seeking help for a behavioral health issue and fire departments looking to implement or enhance a behavioral health program. It includes a directory of behavioral health professionals vetted by the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, an implementation toolkit, and virtual training on several topics, including coping with stress, suicide prevention, and emergency responder resilience. https://www.nvfc.org/programs/share-the-load-program/ 
  • First Responders and Disaster Responders Resource Portal - Learn more about signs of stress and stress management, including additional resources and online training. The First Responders and Disaster Responders Resource Portal offers tips and online training to help fire/EMS responders learn about the signs of stress and how to manage it. https://www.samhsa.gov/technical-assistance/dtac/disaster-responders 
  • USFA/National Fire Academy - The National Fire Academy's “Departmental Wellness Program” training course provides the outline and resources for a fire/EMS department to implement and maintain a wellness program in coordination with the department's health and safety program. Contact your state fire training agency for information on course availability in your state. https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/10572 

 

Support Groups: 

  • Whole Parent Foundation - At Whole Parent Foundation, we believe every parent should have access to free basic community support before and after having a baby—regardless of status or need. We are working toward equal access to compassionate, accessible mental health care and support for all caregivers. And we work hard, knowing strong mental health support for parents will strengthen relationships, decrease intergenerational trauma, build healthy attachment systems, and fortify local economies. https://www.wholeparentfoundation.org/about 
  • NAMI Support Groups - NAMI Support Groups are peer-led and offer participants an opportunity to share their experiences and gain support from other attendees. Los Grupos de Apoyo están disponibles en Español. Por favor comuníquese con su organización NAMI estatal para obtener más información. https://www.nami.org/support-education/support-groups/ 
  • Depression and Bipolar Disorder Support Groups - DBSA online support groups give people living with depression and bipolar disorder a safe, welcoming place to share experiences, discuss coping skills, and offer each other hope. All DBSA online support groups are free of charge. https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/chapters-and-support-groups/online-support-groups/ 
  • HeyPeers - HeyPeers offers peer support groups, one-to-one coaching, and private chatrooms where you can find meetings and conversations to help you on your journey. https://www.heypeers.com/