HOW TO HELP SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING

• How to Have a Conversation With Someone Who May Be at Risk: If you notice a friend, family member, or peer exhibiting the signs of someone struggling with their mental health, it is critical that you ensure their safety. Knowing how to approach the situation can be overwhelming, so here are key points for you to follow when helping someone at risk.

INFORMATIVE

• National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • Provides education, information, and advocacy for those affected by mental illness including a HelpLine for symptoms checking, treatment options, local support and services, job services, and legal issues
• Mental Health America
  • Provides education, resources, and screenings to detect mental illness and to those living with mental illness
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  • Provides resources for those affected by suicide through research, education, and advocacy
• The American Counseling Association
• The American Psychological Association
• Jed Foundation
  • Promotes suicide prevention by teaching teens and young adults the skills and support to grow into health adults
• Suicide Loss Survivors- Suicidology
  • Provides free, online resources for suicide attempt survivors, as well as those looking to help a survivor of suicide
• ULifeline
  • Provides information about mental health, college specific local resources, and advice for how to help a friend in need of support
• Know the Signs
  • Offers an interactive tool for third parties to help recognize the signs of suicidal ideation and helpful phrases for talking to someone about suicide
• MHA: Find Help for Someone Else
  • Offers options, info, and resources for someone looking to support a third party who is in crisis now or dealing with long-term issues
• Half of Us
  • Offers information on a wide variety of struggles that young people face and connects students with resources to decrease stigma and encourage healthy dialogue
• Heads Up Guys
  • Offers informative resources for men with depression and third party friends and family who want to support them
• Talking to Your Parents about Mental Health
  • Provides tips and a letter template for addressing common mental health concerns with parents
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America
  • Promotes prevention, treatment and support for anxiety, depression, stress, suicide, and co-occurring disorders
• World Health Organization
  • Promotes health and addresses health topics to inform individuals about proper care options
• Child Mind Institute
  • Offers information about children’s mental health issues for parents and educators, including a symptom checker for a wide range of disorders and info for military families
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
  • Provides information on standards of care and the ways communities can support those who are struggling
• The Black Mental Wellness Lounge
  • Run by Brandon Johnson who is nationally recognized expert on black MH and suicide prevention. This YouTube Channel is award winning and

SUPPORT & ADVOCACY

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • Provides free, 24/7 confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress through a hotline.
  • 988 or cal 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line
  • Provides free, 24/7 crisis support through SMS text messaging
  • Text HOME to 741741
• SAVE
  • Provides support groups for suicide loss survivors, as well as resources about suicide and finding help for yourself or others
• TheTribeWellness Community
  • Connects teens and adults to online peer support groups for help facing mental health challenges. Also provides a directory to find a local therapist
• LiveWell Foundation
  • Offers online video support groups moderated by trained peer volunteers
• Parental Stress Line
  • Provides a 24 hour helpline for parents who need to discuss issues related to their children
• Emotions Anonymous
  • Provides support groups for individuals who struggle with emotional problems through a 12-step program
• OK2Talk
  • A blog for teens and young adults with mental illness. Offers an online outlet for people to come forward with their own stories, find support, and discuss the diagnoses they may have received.
• Active Minds  
  • Empowers college students to speak out about mental illness and offers resources and ways to help self and others
• Our Minds Matter
  • A student-led movement designed to change school culture around mental health
• The Trevor Project
  • Provides information and advocacy for LGBTQ young people for mental health and suicide prevention

AFTER A LOSS

• What’s Your Grief?
  • Promotes grief education, exploration, and expression in both practical and creative ways including brochures, webinars, a podcast, and booklets
• The Compassionate Friends
  • Provides support for family members who have lost a child at any age. Offers local and virtual chapter meetings
• The Dougy Center
  • Provides information on grieving and ways to find local support groups, especially for children and teens and their families
• Carson’s Village
  • Supports individuals who suddenly lost a loved one with: making burial arrangements, a timeline of events, resource library, live support, a family web page, and more
• National Alliance for Grieving Children
  • Provides information on supporting children through grief, including a national database for grief support programs, camps, and community resources
• Center for Complicated Grief
  • Offers help for those who feel “stuck” in grief and provides articles, research, social support groups, and organization to connect with when healing from the loss of a loved one
• Suicide Bereavement Trained Clincians List
  • This is a list of mental health professionals who have received specialized training in working with those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Support after such as a loss can be instrumental in preventing any additional losses to suicide.  The list is maintained by AFSP

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