Mental health is health. Here's how to recognize when support would help, how to find it, and how to be there for someone else.
Two weeks or more of low mood, loss of interest, sleep or appetite changes, trouble functioning at work or home, withdrawing from people, or anxiety that won't switch off. You don't need a crisis — or a diagnosis — to talk to someone.
Your PCP is a fine first stop. For therapy, filter directories by insurance and specialty; community mental health centers and sliding-scale therapists cover tight budgets.
Step-by-step therapist guide →Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — free, confidential-leaning, 24/7, for you or someone you're worried about. Text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line.
All hotlines →The strongest-evidence basics: regular exercise, consistent sleep, time outdoors, limiting alcohol, and real social contact. They're not a substitute for treatment, but they measurably support it.
Ask directly and listen without fixing: "You haven't seemed like yourself — how are you really doing?" Asking someone about suicidal thoughts does not plant the idea; it opens the door to help. Offer to sit with them while they call 988 or book an appointment.
NAMI support groups, condition-specific communities, and moderated forums help many people feel less alone between (or alongside) professional care.
Forums & support groups →