Need Help Now?
If this is an emergency, call 911
Crisis Lines
Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-TALK (273-8255)
Español: 1-888-628-9454
TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (779-4889)
Call or chat
- California Youth Crisis Line 1-800-843-5200 (THE 5200)
- Your Life Your Voice 1-800-448-3000 (preteens, teens and young adults)
Text “voice” to 20121
Call, chat, text, email
- Crisis Text Line (anywhere in the USA) Text “youth” to 741741 to reach a trained counselor
- National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (422-4453)
- California Child Abuse Reporting Emergency Response Hotline
Find your county’s phone number
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (799-7233)
Call or chat
- Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE (656-4673)
- Love is Respect (Partner Abuse) 1-800-331-9474
Text “loveis” to 22522
TTY: 1-866-331-8453
Español
Call, chat, text
- The Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386)
Call, chat, text
- Boys Town National Hotline 1-800-448-3000
Call, chat, text, email
- National Runaway Safeline 1-800- RUN-AWAY (786-2929)
Call, chat, email, or visit the forum
Help Lines
Hours of service are limited
- Teen Line
1-800-TLC-TEEN (852-8336)
A teen-to-teen confidential helpline open from 6-10 pm every
night
Text "teen" to 839863
- NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) 1-800-950-NAMI (950-6264)
Helpline
Information, referrals and support available from M-F, 7 am
to 3 pm (West coast time)
If you are in crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helpline 1-800-831-2237
Available M-Th 6am-6pm, F 6am-2pm (West coast time)
If you are in crisis, text “NEDA” to 741741
Espanol
Online Sites and Support Communities
Your Life Your Voice It’s okay to ask for help. This is a 24/7 support community for teens. Don’t feel like talking? Check out the:
- Bulletin Board - real advice for real situations
- Tips – how to deal with challenging situations – here’s a few:
Anxiety
Depression
Self Injury
Your Safety Your Plan
99 Coping Skills
Abusive Relationships
Seeing a Counselor
- Mood Journal Mobile App – download this animated app, track your moods, journal, get tips, and access free professional counseling
To Write Love on Her Arm
At the TWLOHA blog, you will find stories of hope and help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.
SIOS - Self-Injury Outreach and Support
Information and resources about
self-injury to those who self-injure. Here you will find
guide for those who self injurecoping and recovery tools.
Trevor Project Support Center
This is an online
international peer-to-peer community for LGBTQ young people and their friends.
Ditch The Label. Your World. Prejudice Free.
Anti-bullying support hub. Ask a question -- or search
popular categories: appearance, buddies, cyberbullying, disability, gender,
lol, masculinity, mental health, parents, racism, real stores, relationships,
religion, sexuality.
You Matter Blog
Never Never Give Up. A safe space for youth to discuss and
share stories about mental health and wellness, created and administered by the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
OK2Talk.org
Tumblr community for teens and young adults struggling with
mental health problems. An open, safe space to express yourself moderated by the
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). Share poetry, inspirational quotes,
photos, videos, song lyrics and messages.
Bring Change to Mind
Ending stigma surrounding mental illness for young people.
Learn
the facts about different
types of mental illness and
share stories about your experience.
Go Ask Alice!
Q&A for young people. Answers questions about alcohol
& other drugs, emotional health, nutrition & physical activity, general
health, relationships, and sexual & reproductive health. If you've thought
about a health question, it's likely on Go Ask Alice! If you don't find the
Health Answer you're looking for, then ask Alice!
Scarleteen.org
Sex education for the real world. Advice for teens and
emerging adults on bodies, gender, sexual identity, relationships, sex &
sexuality, sexual health, pregnancy & parenting, abuse, sexual politics, in
your own words. Ask for help via
messageboards, live chat,
or text to 206-866-2279
Online Teen Legal Guide to Sex, Pregnancy, and Parenting
Let the National Center for Youth Law help you find answers to legal
questions for teens, including teens in foster care and
legal, social and health services near you.
Having A Bad Day?
An interactive self-care guide - this online tool talks you
through self-care on bad days. It's designed to take as much of the weight off
of you as possible, so each decision is very easy and doesn't require much
judgment.
Therapy Resources
Advice on Therapy
This is an article from Mental Health America on how therapy can help you, common types of therapy, what to expect, and getting the most of therapy.
Understanding Psychotherapy And How It Works
Check out this online information from the American Psychological Association and learn the ins and outs of therapy, what
it is, how to get started, different types, and assessing how effective it is.
Seeing a Therapist (for Teens)
Here you can find online advice for teens about seeing therapists from health care professionals at TeensHealth.org:
Stress & Coping Center (for Teens)
Explore this site for advice on coping with mental health conditions from health care professionals at TeensHealth.org:
MyShrink.com
This is an online interactive site about therapy -- how it works and
how to make it work for you — in plain English.
Medication Resources
Foster Youth Mental Health Bill of Rights: Questions to Ask About Medications
Your rights about taking mental health medication, questions
to ask, how to prepare for your visit to your doctor, and scripts for talking
to your doctor, pharmacist, social worker, probation officer, public health
nurse, attorney and judge.
Advice on Mental Health Medications
This is an article from Mental Health America on types of medications, making decisions about medications, getting the most out of taking medications, dealing with side effects, and what to do if you thinking of stopping your medications.
Crisis Planning Resources
Navigating Crisis
This is a simple two-page brochure that gives helpful real world advice when you or someone else is in crisis.
Personal Crisis Plan (Advance Directive)
This is a detailed form you can fill out as an “Advance Directive” to people who will care for you in the event of a crisis. It gives you a place to let people know what you are like when you are feeling well, what the signs are when you are having trouble, and who you do and don’t want to help care for you.It also includes a place to record your basic medical information. You may want to have a trusted adult help you fill it out.