10 Mental Health Services You Need To Know About

66 Comments / Anxiety, Depression / By

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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66 thoughts on “10 Mental Health Services You Need To Know About”

  10. Morgan

    What a great time to be bringing this list back up! I see it was posted awhile ago, but with everything that’s happening I think it’s so important that people know there are many ways to receive help!

    1. DTTblog

      Hey Morgan, that’s what I figured! It is a really hard time for lots of people, myself included. The more people who see this, the better. Thanks for reading!

  11. Stephanie

    Thank you for sharing this! Mental health can be tricky if like me you haven’t dealt with it. But I do have loved ones who have dealt with some depression. These are great resources for those going through it or having loved ones that do.

    1. DTTblog

      Hey Terri, I believe it. I can’t imagine having to work in a school right now. The whole situation is terrible. I’m already seeing online about a couple of colleges shut down already. Hopefully this all can pass very very soon. Thanks for reading!

  13. Erica

    I’m so sorry to hear about your cousin and for you too! 9 yrs old is so young and I am glad you have gotten the help you need. Thank you for sharing these valuable resources. Sending virtual hugs from Canada.

  14. Carolyn

    This is absolutely fantastic. I think a huge barrier to mental health support is lack of knowledge of the different resources available, so it’s great that you’re sharing this. It’s always baffled me how difficult (and expensive) it is to get care in the US for mental health problems. Asking someone to jump through hoops is hard enough for a normal person, asking someone who may be in a mental health crisis could have devastating consequences. Thank you for sharing this, this is just what’s needed right now.

    1. DTTblog

      Hey Carolyn, I totally agree. When someone is really struggling, and their choices are to wait forever for an appointment or to pay an arm and a leg at the ER, it’s sad. Thanks so much for reading!

  15. Ben

    This is such an amazing resource. It’s so important for people to know that they’re not alone and where they can get help. I went through a very dark period in my life, and I had to do it alone. It was hard.

    1. DTTblog

      Hey Orlie, that is a very good point. On the outside, there is no reason why someone like me “should be depressed.” I have a very privileged life. You just never know unless you ask! Thanks for reading!

  18. Pam Wattenbarger

    This is a great list of resources. Also, I know several people who are doing therapy through zoom right now. That’s an option since in-person might not be possible at the present.

    1. DTTblog

      Hey Pam, yes! I have been doing teletherapy and it is such a nice option. I figure, my insurance is still covering it, so I’m sticking with it as long as possible LOL. Thanks for reading!

  25. Jessica

    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.

  27. Unwanted Life

    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

  32. マイキー Mykki (@OnTh3Cusp)

    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!

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