When so many families are experiencing record levels of stress and anxiety, there has never been a better time to take care of your mental health. However, if it appears that mental health care may cause financial strain, there are free resources available to help.
If you or a loved one has a mental illness, is emotionally struggling, or has mental health concerns, there are different ways to get help. Use these resources to find assistance for yourself or a loved one.
Immediate Help in Crisis
First things first, regardless of how scary a note this is to begin on. If you or your family member is experiencing a mental health crisis and you need urgent help, try the options listed below that appear to correspond with the nature of the difficult situation.
Crisis Text Line
Text “HOME” to 741741
The Crisis Text hotline is available throughout the United States 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Crisis Text Line connects anybody experiencing a crisis with a certified crisis counselor who can offer support and information. The crisis counselor will assist you in transitioning from a hot moment to a cool moment.
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 links veterans with a professional responder 24/7. All veterans have access to the service, regardless of whether they are enrolled with the VA or psychiatric care.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454
Use Lifeline Chat on the web
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline gives access to experienced telephone counselors who offer free and confidential emotional support to anyone in suicidal ideation or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
IMAlive
Start Chat Now on the web
During times of crisis and extreme emotional distress, people require a safe refuge. IMAlive is a free, confidential, and secure crisis chat. IMAlive responds to people in distress via instant messaging. All of its volunteers have received crisis intervention training and certification.
Disaster Distress Helpline
Call or text 1-800-985-5990
People who are experiencing emotional distress as a result of a human-caused or natural disaster can call the disaster distress helpline for immediate crisis counseling. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is free, bilingual, and confidential.
Information, Support, and Guidance on Mental Illness
There are several resources available for basic information, practical support, and guidance about mental illness. We’ve included a few resources to help you learn more about various specific mental disorders, therapies, family life, coping skills, and much more.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
At NIMH, you’ll discover health information on a wide range of mental health disorders and information on various effective treatments, clinical trials, and research. All of the information and publications are available in both English and Spanish.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is devoted to improving the lives of millions of Americans who have a mental illness. Contact NAMI for information, support, and free education programs for families and people dealing with mental health issues. Their program covers mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, PTSD, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicide, addiction, and others.
National Federation of Families
The National Federation of Families is a family-run national organization that connects over 120 state and local affiliates and national partners to address the needs of children and teens with emotional issues, behavioral problems, or mental health disorders. They have organized additional resources on certain topics and roles in the community to make it easier to find the basic information you want.
American Psychological Association (APA)
This professional association of psychologists strives to enhance the profession to provide mental health treatment for all. Their Psychology Help Center is open to the public and contains information about living a happy life. Topics covered include mental wellbeing, work and school, stress, relationships, and treatment information for conditions such as depression.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has information about child and youth psychiatry, as well as fact sheets for parents and caregivers in English and Spanish. You can get up-to-date research, practice guidelines, and information about managed care.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project assists lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth with crisis intervention and suicide prevention. The Trevor Project offers LGBTQ youth life-saving and life-affirming services. It works to build safe, welcoming, and inclusive settings for all young people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Jed Foundation
The Jed Foundation promotes emotional wellness and prevents suicide among college students. This website has resources, such as Transition Year, to assist parents in recognizing the warning signs of serious mental illness and helping their child in making the school transitions.
MentalHealth.gov
MentalHealth.gov provides centralized access to information on mental health challenges. You can get info regarding different sorts of mental health disorders. You can also find the list of resources to find help for yourself or your family members.
Mental Health America
MHA is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit organization devoted to meeting the special needs of people living with mental illness and promoting overall mental health. MHA addresses all elements of mental health conditions. Explore their online mental health resources and locate MHA affiliates in your area.
Kelty Mental Health Resource Center
This website has a variety of resources for parents and caregivers, including a resource library and a family toolkit. You can easily find information on key topics that parents and caregivers often have questions about.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Healthy Children is a family-friendly website where you can discover a plethora of information in English and Spanish regarding child’s mental health issues. This parenting website is backed by 67,000 pediatricians who are dedicated to ensuring that all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults have optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being.
MentalHelp.net
At MentalHelp.net, You’ll discover a wealth of information about particular mental diseases, mental health, wellness, and family and relationship issues and concerns. There is a particular emphasis on the link between mental health difficulties and addiction and substance abuse.
Balanced Mind Parent Network
This network assists families parenting young children with mental disorders in locating the answers, assistance, and stability they need. This family-focused network educates parents about mood disorders, therapy, school accommodations, research, and other topics. The online community provides you with groups, forums, and other tools to aid you on your journey.
Information on Specific Disorders
Looking for information and help with a specific mental condition? Check the organizations listed below that specialize in a specific substance use disorder. They provide detailed information, social support groups, and counseling on that disability–perhaps the one that concerns you.
Bipolar Disorder
- The International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF) offers mental health support, as well as education, online resources, and supportive connections for anybody affected by bipolar disorder.
- The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) aspires to help persons with mood disorders achieve well-being (depression and bipolar disorder). DBSA offers hope, assistance, practical support, and education to persons suffering from mood disorders.
Anxiety Disorders
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is a non-profit organization committed to preventing, treating, and curing anxiety, depression, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and co-occurring disorders by bringing science, therapy, and education together.
ADAA brings together mental health professionals who volunteer their time and skills to improve patient care by promoting the implementation of best practices and treatment options across disciplines and speeding up the dissemination of research into practice, through continuing education and training.
Dually Diagnosed: Mental Illness and Intellectual Disabilities
The National Association for Dually Diagnosed (NADD) addresses the concerns and challenges of people who have both mental illness and cognitive impairments or intellectual disabilities, as well as the professionals and families that care about them.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
CHADD supports individuals affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with education, advocacy, and support, including online resources for parents and caregivers.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
The International OCD Foundation is for people who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and associated disorders, as well as their families, friends, professionals, and anyone who is concerned. Find skilled therapists and other resources in your area via the foundation’s Resource Directory.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
American Academy of Child & Adult Psychiatry Has the information provided by those educated in managing children with ODD and is updated frequently.
Eating Disorder
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) strives to prevent eating disorders and refer those in need of treatment for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, and individuals who are worried about their body image and weight.
Traumatic Experiences
The Trauma Foundation‘s mission is to help individuals, families, and communities heal from unresolved traumatic events. You can also get help and advice in locating a skilled trauma therapist for yourself or a loved one.
Bullying
Stop Bullying Now Foundation, Inc. aims to diminish the bullying crisis among today’s youngsters by empowering them via therapy, life skills training, open communication, and creative outlets.
Information on Finding a Treatment
Therapy, medication, or a combination of the two are commonly used to treat serious mental illnesses. Treatment can be provided in person, over the phone, or by computer. It can be tough to know where to begin when seeking mental health treatment, but there are many options for finding a provider who will meet your needs.
Primary Care Provider
Your primary care doctor can be a valuable resource in terms of providing initial mental health tests and referrals to mental health experts. Consider bringing up your mental health concerns and asking for support if you have an appointment with your primary care practitioner.
Federal Resources
Some government agencies provide additional information for locating health care providers and assistance in finding low-cost health services. Following are some of them:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the organization under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This organization is in charge of leading public health initiatives to improve the nation’s behavioral health. The objective of SAMHSA is to lessen the impact of drug abuse and mental illness in America. SAMHSA also has a Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator on its website that can be searched by location.
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is committed to expanding access to health care. HRSA initiatives offer equitable health care to geographically isolated and economically or medically vulnerable individuals. The HRSA website provides information on locating affordable healthcare, such as health facilities with sliding fee scales.
- The objective of the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) MedlinePlus is to provide health and wellness information that is trustworthy, simple to understand, and ad-free, in both English and Spanish. The NLM’s website contains directories and lists of organizations that can assist in locating healthcare professionals.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has information regarding the advantages and eligibility for mental health services, as well as how to enroll. CMS is a trusted partner and custodian of the public’s health, committed to promoting health equity, extending coverage, and improving health outcomes.
Deciding if a Selected Mental Health Provider is Right for You
Once you’ve selected a potential provider, develop a list of questions to assist you to decide if they’re a suitable fit for you. Here are some questions you might wish to ask a potential provider:
- How much experience do you have treating patients with my condition?
- How long do you think the therapy will last?
- Do you accept my health insurance?
- How do you generally handle someone with my problem?
- How much do you charge?
Begin Your Journey with The Recovery Team
It is critical to remember that mental health problems and illnesses can be effectively treated. It is critical to connecting children and youth to resources that can assist support their mental health.
If you are your loved one has witnessed a traumatic event and has mental health problems, let The Recovery Team help. We provide non-judgmental, sympathetic peer support to boost your health, and self-esteem for a new strong start.
Dial our helpline (800)-817-1247 to learn helpful tips and strategies to manage your or your children’s mental health.
