Are you depressed? Do you need someone to talk to? Do you wish there was someone you could reach out to for help?
TW/CW: Mention of suicidal ideation. (If you want to read more about depression, and what it means to different people, check out this blog post I wrote about depression.)
I have been there. I started suffering from depression when I was 9 years old. For personal reasons, I have never spoken about this on my blog in great detail, but in 1995 my cousin was killed. It was very public and on the news. It was highly traumatic for my family and I. Since then, I have struggled with depression in varying form.
My depression peaked in 2009 when I was going through a hard time at work. I was having a lot of interpersonal conflict, and truthfully, I was afraid I would lose my job. It peaked again in 2015 after the birth of our first child. That was the darkest period of my life, and I was suicidal.
I eventually got help, but I was very lucky. It did not reach the point where I made an attempt on my life or needed to be hospitalized. But that is not the case for everyone in my situation. There are so many out there struggling with a darkness that they cannot understand or make their way through.
Thankfully, there are a lot of mental health resources available for somebody in that position.
10 Mental Health Services
Emergency rooms
If you feel that you are in danger of hurting yourself or someone else, you can drive yourself (or have a friend take you) to the nearest emergency room. Some hospitals even have emergency rooms specifically for those who need mental health services.
Hospital inpatient
This is another great option for someone who is at risk of hurting themselves. It is a safe, contained place for you to receive treatment, away from temptations of self-harm or suicide. You can be administered medication that can help alleviate some of the symptoms you are feeling.
Residential centers
This is sort of a step up from the care you would receive from an stay in a hospital. It is a longer term solution for those in crisis. You would live in a mental health facility for a pre-determined length of time, and you would receive regular therapy and mediation.
Telepsychiatry
Telepsychiatry is a remote version of therapy. It is therapy that can be done over the phone, by email, messenger, or video chat. This is a really great option for those whose depression prevents them from leaving the house. I have definitely been there, where even the simplest of errands seems impossible. Let alone going to a therapy appointment.
Referral line
If you are unsure about where to find support, there is a number you can call that will help you find assistance. That number is 1-800-662-HELP (4357). They will direct you to local mental health services.
National helpline
Another number you can call is 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727). This number will connect you to a live person, and is available Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 8 PM EST. It will point you toward resources based on your situation and location.
National Institute of Mental Health
NIMH, or the National Institute of Mental health, has an excellent website that will connect you to numerous mental health services. You can look up information about specific conditions, or find treatment resources.
Mental Health America
Mental Health America is another great online resource. You can search for mental health services in your area. You can also find ways to volunteer, and take a mental health screening.
Online support groups
There are a lot of great online support groups you can take advantage of. A website I found recently is HealthfulChat and it gives you a wide variety of chat rooms for those with mental illness.
Suicide hotline
Lastly, I wanted to provide one more number you can call. This number is geared toward those having suicidal thoughts. If you are in crisis, call: 1-800-273-8255
Additional resources
https://www.columbusrecoverycenter.com/treatment-programs/co-occurring-disorders/
https://www.drugrehab.com/co-occurring-disorder/
You are not alone.
It is important to remember that you are not alone in this journey. There are so many others out there who are feeling the pain of depression and suicidal thoughts. Approximately 1 in 5 people suffer from a mental health condition. Remember that you are loved, you can be well, you can be strong, and, most of all, you are not alone.
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Mental health awareness is very important and should be talked about and shared as much as possible. The more it is talked about openly hopefully encourages others to seek help.
Exactly! Feel free to share the post wherever you see fit!
This is a wonderful source of resources! I’ve personally used crisis hotlines and they helped tremendously. Great post!
Thank you so much! I hope you’re doing well now. ?
Many thanks for sharing this resource! Our society needs all the positive mental health support that we can muster! Too many are suffering needlessly.
I agree. It is really sad! Thanks for reading! ?
Thank you so much for this post! I find crisis lines really helpful when I’m distressed x
They are so very necessary. Thanks for reading, and I hope you’re doing well.
This post is wonderful! Such helpful resources for those in need
Thank you! I hope lots of people find it helpful
Such an important blog post and I hope it finds the right people who need help. I love that you use the blogging platform to help out and, hopefully, save lives. Have a great day, Jen!
Thank you so much! I am hoping people share it as much as possible!
I love this! I hope more people see this post and realize there is more than one way to get help. I’m going to check out that one where you found the chat group. An online support group, or the like, sounds like something so great. I’ve also done “online therapy” through TalkSpace. It was a great stop gap in between seeing a regular therapist (which I can’t currently afford), but it was free through my work. Otherwise, that too would have been too expensive! So it’s great to have some other options.
Ooh i’ve heard good things about talk space! Hope you’re doing well and thanks for reading
Sometimes getting mental service providers can be challenging, this list will help so many people out there struggling with mental illness. Thanks for compiling it.
You are very welcome! I hope a lot of people find it helpful
What interesting timing, I’ve just completed my first draft of a new page for my website that lists crisis lines, hotlines, text lines, email support, web chat services, and the like for as many countries as I could find.
It’s nice to see that other people have had a similar idea. You never know who it might help
Cool! Let me know when it is finished and I will check it out. I totally agree. You never know who could benefit.
Amazing list of resources. You could really help somebody by creating a post like this, I think this is a post a lot more people should think about creating and featuring on their blog! You never know who could be out there, suffering.
Carly // http://www.prettystyleofliving.wordpress.com
Exactly! That’s why I recommend everyone share the post. It could benefit someone without you even knowing!
This list could be a lifesaver for someone – thank you from all of us for putting it together!
No problem at all! Happy to help!
This is a great list of resources. It can definitely be hard to reach out for help and I know some people are hesitate to go to places like the emergency room. This is a good list of some other options. Thanks for sharing!
You are very welcome! Thanks for reading ?
I have my cupboards stocked with Rescue Remedy and GABA to help my anxiety and irritability….
I’ve heard good things about GABA! Not familiar with Rescue Remedy
Bach’s Rescue Remedy 😉
I will have to look into it!
I did not have a good time at the emergency room when I went for a severe panic attack – I couldn’t catch my breath or slow my heart rate and I truly thought I was dying. The on-call staff that night were really rude to me, sadly. It didn’t feel like a safe place while in crisis … so I think maybe this one can be really hit or miss depending on your location (I was very rural at the time) or how well the staff is trained.
But these are great resources – I especially love that there are so many online support groups and resources now!
That is so sad! I’m sorry! This is unfortunately too often the case. I hope you are doing well now