I'm looking for mental health help for someone else
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please seek help immediately.
Below are some options for immediate support.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor from Crisis Text Line.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you are in need of support, but not in crisis, consider reaching out to a warmline. Warmlines offer a place to call when you just need to talk to someone. Speaking to someone on these calls is typically free, confidential, and run by people who understand what it’s like to struggle with mental health problems.
Find a warmline at mhanational.org/warmlines.
Mental health is a critical part of overall health. If you're feeling distressed, there is hope.
If the person you care about is still in school, our Back To School or Life On Campus materials may better fit your needs.
Which best describes the person you care about?
The person I care about doesn't have any concerns right now, but they would like to stay mentally healthy.
- Encourage them to monitor their mental health regularly by taking one of our Nine Validated Screens.
- Learn about ways to live well and stay well. Follow these tips yourself, or share with the person you care about.
- Read up on risk factors and early warning signs.
- Get tips for boosting mental health.
The person I care about is showing symptoms of a mental health condition. They are doing okay at home, work, or school, but not as easy as before. Something is “not right.”
- Encourage them to take a mental health screen, print the results out, and bring them to a doctor or a mental health provider.
- Suggest our interactive "where to get help” feature.
- Find an affiliate in your community. You can contact an affiliate as a concerned party or encourage the person you care about to do so. There may be limits to what someone else can share.
- Learn more about mental health conditions. Get informed so you can be a good caretaker.
- Read up about the different treatments.
- Find a therapist.
- Use this worksheet with a friend or loved one to think ahead and map out steps they can take to get help and feel better.
- If you are the parent of a child or teen who is showing signs of a mental health problem:
- Get tips for starting a conversation
- Learn more about what to do and where to go
The person I care about is starting to have trouble with family, friends, work, school or other areas of his or her life. Things are getting worse, and sometimes multiple problems are developing.
- Take a mental health screen, print the results out, and bring them to a doctor. Or discuss the results with a family member or close friend.
- Try out our interactive “where to get help” feature.
- Look up your local MHA affiliate.
- Find a therapist.
- Find a support group.
- Learn more about mental health conditions.
- Find strategies to support a friend or loved one who is dealing with a mental illness.
Things are getting bad for the person I care about. He or she appears to be losing control of his or her life and ability to work, go to school, or be there for friends and family.
- Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org or text MHA to 741741 if you are in crisis.
- Look up your local MHA affiliate for services in your area.
- Find a therapist.
- Find a support group.
- Plan for crisis by setting up a Psychiatric Advance Directive.
- Is hospitalization necessary?
- Read more about inpatient options.
- Learn about how you can support a friend or loved one who is dealing with a mental illness.
- Tips for being an effective caregiver
The person I care about is in crisis.
- Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach a 24-hour crisis center, text MHA to 741741, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Find a local MHA affiliate who can provide services.
- Find a therapist.
- Find support groups.
- Find a hospital.
- Learn about rights and resources as a caregiver of a person with a mental illness