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I'm looking for mental health help for someone else
Mental health is a critical part of overall health. It can be hard to support someone who is having problems with his or her mental health.
If the person you care about is in crisis, please encourage them to seek help immediately. Direct them to call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, text MHA to 741741, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also call these numbers if you fear for someone's safety or life.
Click the button that best describes how the person you care about feels:
If the person you care about is still in school, our Back To School or Life On Campus materials may better fit your needs.
The person I care about doesn't have any concerns right now, but they would like to stay mentally healthy.
- Encourage them to monitor their mental health regularly by taking one of our eight validated screens.
- Learn about ways to live well and stay well. Follow these tips yourself, or share with the person you care about.
- Read up on risk factors and early warning signs.
- Get tips for boosting mental health.
The person I care about is showing symptoms of a mental health condition. They are doing okay at home, work, or school, but not as easy as before. Something is “not right.”
- Encourage them to take a mental health screen, print the results out, and bring them to a doctor or a mental health provider.
- Suggest our interactive "where to get help” feature.
- Find an affiliate in your community. You can contact an affiliate as a concerned party or encourage the person you care about to do so. There may be limits to what someone else can share.
- Learn more about mental health conditions. Get informed so you can be a good caretaker.
- Read up about the different treatments.
- Find a therapist.
- Use this worksheet with a friend or loved one to think ahead and map out steps they can take to get help and feel better.
- If you are the parent of a child or teen who is showing signs of a mental health problem:
- Get tips for starting a conversation
- Learn more about what to do and where to go
The person I care about is starting to have trouble with family, friends, work, school or other areas of his or her life. Things are getting worse, and sometimes multiple problems are developing.
- Take a mental health screen, print the results out, and bring them to a doctor. Or discuss the results with a family member or close friend.
- Try out our interactive “where to get help” feature.
- Look up your local MHA affiliate.
- Find a therapist.
- Find a support group.
- Learn more about mental health conditions.
- Find strategies to support a friend or loved one who is dealing with a mental illness.
Things are getting bad for the person I care about. He or she appears to be losing control of his or her life and ability to work, go to school, or be there for friends and family.
- Call 1-800-273-TALK or text MHA to 741741 if you are in crisis.
- Look up your local MHA affiliate for services in your area.
- Find a therapist.
- Find a support group.
- Plan for crisis by setting up a Psychiatric Advance Directive.
- Is hospitalization necessary?
- Read more about inpatient options.
- Learn about how you can support a friend or loved one who is dealing with a mental illness.
- Tips for being an effective caregiver
The person I care about is in crisis.
- Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, text MHA to 741741, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Find a local MHA affiliate who can provide services.
- Find a therapist.
- Find support groups.
- Find a hospital.
- Learn about rights and resources as a caregiver of a person with a mental illness
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