Find care

Mental health care

• Give an Hour provides eligible patients with free-of-charge mental health services under the care of volunteer professionals.
• HRSA Health Centers are able to see patients regardless of insurance status. Many offer mental health services.
• NeedyMeds provides a directory of free/low-cost/sliding-scale mental health clinics + substance abuse & addiction clinics.
• Psychology Today provides a directory of psychiatrists and treatment centers.

Therapy / counseling services

FOCUS provides a guide to seeking counseling.

• General: 
  • Better Help offers private online counseling with a licensed, accredited, professional therapist.
  • Psychology Today provides a directory of therapists.
  • Self explains how to find an affordable therapist.
  • Theravive provides a directory of therapists as well as a listing of therapists who provide online counseling.
  • Talkspace offers online therapy with a licensed therapist.
• Specific audiences: 
  • Catholic Therapists provides a directory of Catholic therapists.
  • iAmClinic offers in-person & online counseling to LGBT+ individuals & couples + religious loved ones.
  • The National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) provides a directory of therapists.
  • Progressive Asian American Christians (PAAC) provides a crowd-sourced list of therapists.
  • Therapists of Color provides a regional directory of therapists.

Medications

• NeedyMeds provides a directory of Patient Assistance Programs for free & low-cost medications + places to get help with Patient Assistance Program applications.

Support

Mental illness

• Fresh Hope offers Christian support groups for those struggling with a mental health diagnosis and their loved ones.
• The Mental Health Grace Alliance (MHGA) offers Christian peer support groups and family support groups.
• NAMI offers various programs, including educational classes, support groups, and advocacy training programs.
• Psychology Today provides a directory of support groups.

Recovery

• Alcoholics Anonymous offers peer support groups for recovering alcoholics. Al-Anon and Alateen offer family & friends support groups for those with loved ones recovering from alcoholism.
• Celebrate Recovery offers Christian support groups.
• Life Recovery offers Christian support groups.

Recovery plans

Develop plans to take care of yourself whilst in recovery.

• Developing Your Self-Care Plan. By the University of Buffalo School of Social Work.
• Fill Out This Daily Checklist to Avoid Neglecting Your Personal Needs. By Lifehacker.
• How to Feed Yourself When You’re Depressed. By Lifehacker.
• Self-Care Checklist. By Outsmart Your Brain.
• Self-Care Checklist. By the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
• Self-Care Inventory. By NAMI.

Develop treatment & recovery plans ahead of time to prepare for a mental health crisis and/or recovery process.

• Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD): document instructions and/or preferences for mental health treatment.
  • Advance Directives for Mental Health Treatment. By the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
  • Advance Directives in Various Countries. By Psych Rights.
  • Declaration for Mental Health Treatment. By the Mental Health Association of Portland.
  • Duke University Program on Psychiatric Advance Directives. By Duke University Medical Center.
  • PAD Template. By the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
• Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP): self-designed prevention and recovery plan.
  • My WRAP Plan. By the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.
  • The WRAP App. By Advocates for Human Potential.
  • WRAP Personal Workbook. By Working Together for Recovery.

In times of crisis

Navigating a mental health crisis:

• Crisis Toolkit. By The Icarus Project.
• Get Through an Urge to Self-Harm With These Apps. By Lifehacker.
• PTSD Coach. By the National Center for PTSD.
• U-M Depression Toolkit. By the University of Michigan Depression Center.

Self-care checklists for those who are not well:

• Everything Is Awful and I’m Not Okay: Questions to Ask Before Giving Up [Downloadable Version]. By Sinope.
• You Feel Like Shit: An Interactive Self-Care Guide. By Jace Harr.

Helplines

Contact a helpline when in need of immediate / urgent help.

Note: National crisis routing services may automatically direct you to a crisis center based on your area code. If you are not currently located in the area where your area code is based, it may be wise to directly contact a crisis center that is local to where you are.

• Crisis Text Line
  • United States:
    • SMS: 741-741 (text “Home”)
• IMAlive
  • Online: Online Chat Service
• Kids Help Phone
  • Canada:
    • Phone: +1 (800) 668-6868
• LGBT National Hotline
  • United States:
    • +1 (800) 843-4564
• LGBT National Senior Hotline
  • United States:
    • +1 (888) 234-7243
• LGBT National Youth Talkline
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (800) 246-PRIDE
• NAMI HelpLine
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (800) 950-NAMI
    • SMS: 741-741 (text “NAMI”)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (800) 273-TALK
  • Online: Lifeline Crisis Chat
• NYC Well (for New York City locals)
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (888) NYC-WELL
    • SMS: 65173 (text “Well”)
  • Online: Chat Now
• Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (800) 656-HOPE
  • Online: The National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
• Trans Lifeline (for transgender persons)
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (877) 565-8860
  • Canada:
    • Phone: +1 (877) 330-6366
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth)
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (866) 488-7386
    • SMS: +1 (202) 308-4120 (text “TREVOR”)
  • Online: Trevor Chat
• Veterans Crisis Line
  • United States:
    • Phone: +1 (800) 273-TALK (press “1”)
    • SMS: 838-255
  • Online: Veterans Chat
• Warmlines (for peer listening)
  • United States:
    • state-by-state directory