RESOURCES LIST FOR READERS

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If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide and/or self-harm, help is available. Please call the suicide hotline available in your country.

United States: (800) 273-8255

Canada: (833) 456-4566

United Kingdom: 0800 689 5652

Ireland: +4408457909090

Australia: 131114

If your country is not listed above, find your suicide hotline on this list. You can also search for specific hotlines here.

If you are not comfortable speaking or are unable to speak, text HOME to 741741 if you are in the US or click here for international resources. 

Further reading for suicidal thoughts:

International Association for Suicide Prevention

American Association of Suicidology

The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook (print and e-book available)

What to Do When You’re Thinking About Suicide

FAQ on Suicide Hotlines

For LGBTQ+ lifelines, check the “LGBTQIA+ Resources” section below.

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Major Organizations

International:

World Federation for Mental Health

United for Global Mental Health

World Health Organization (Mental Health Section)

International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression

United States: 

National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Institute of Mental Health

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

Canada:

Canadian Mental Health Association

Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Mood Disorders Society of Canada

United Kingdom:

Depression UK

Mental Health Foundation 

Mind/Depression Alliance

Rethink Mental Illness

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

YoungMinds

Ireland:

Mental Health Commission

Mental Health Ireland

Aware

Grow

A Lust for Life

Shine

Australia:

Mental Health Australia

Mind Australia

Beyond Blue

Black Dog Institute

SANE Australia

Headspace

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Finding a Counselor

Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. Article by the American Psychological Association addressing the fundamentals of therapy, and an excellent starting point for anyone looking to start treatment for their mental illness. Covers how the process works, how to find a therapist, and what to expect when you see a therapist.

Think Going to Therapy Makes You Weak or Weird or Wrong? Unfortunately, this is a notion many people live with, and it prevents people from getting potentially life-saving treatment. Read this article to find out why going to therapy makes you strong, not weak. 

Types of Psychotherapy for Depression. There are many different types of therapy that can treat depression. Use this list, which is based on clinical research, to help you determine which type of therapy is best for you. If you’re still not sure after reading this list, ask your psychiatrist what they think.

A List of Tips for Finding the Right Therapist. Finding the right therapist can be a long process, so let these tips guide you. 

APA’s Psychologist Locator. American Psychological Association’s search tool for finding a psychologist within the United States. 

Psychology Today’s Find A Therapist Tool. Search tool for people in the US to find a therapist, psychiatrist, treatment center, or support group in their area. 

GoodTherapy’s Find A Therapist Tool. Search tool for finding a therapist, telehealth counselor, or treatment center. For people outside the US and Canada, check out the international search tool. 

Don’t have healthcare? Struggling financially? Here are some affordable ways to receive counseling. 

Are you a student? You may have access to free mental health services. Check your on-campus guidance office or health center for information on counseling services.

Employed? See if your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program. EAPs provide a wide range of services, including mental health services.

Article on affordable counseling options. Info on how to find sliding scale therapists, support groups, and other affordable mental health services.

Open Path Psychotherapy Collective. Serving the US and Canada, this non-profit provides therapy at a reduced cost. Open Path therapists can only charge between $30-$50 per session, compared to $80-$200 for current market rates. Online and in-person therapy is available.

Your Local 2-1-1. In the US and Canada, dialing 2-1-1 can connect you with local mental health and social services of all types, including affordable ones.

Woebot and Wysa. Free, AI-supported therapy bots for iOS and Android devices. While not a better option than a live therapist, these are clinically safe resources for mental health support that are at your disposal daily. (Note: For Woebot, use access code cfgen for access.)

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Medication

Antidepressants: Selecting One That’s Right for You. Page on the Mayo Clinic (top academic medical center in the United States) website providing insight on finding the right antidepressant for you. 

How SSRIs Work. Mayo Clinic page overviewing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common type of medication prescribed to those with depression. 

Fears and Facts About Antidepressants. Many people are skeptical about antidepressants and whether or not they are a good treatment option. This article addresses common fears associated with antidepressants.

8 Things You May Not Know About Antidepressants. Article from the University of North Carolina with facts about antidepressants and what to expect when taking them.

Zocdoc.com. To get a prescription, you need to talk to your doctor. If you don’t have a doctor, Zocdoc has a search engine that helps you find the right doctor for you based on your condition, zip code, and insurance. You can even specifically look for a psychiatrist. 

Alternative & Supplementary Treatment Options

Science says that some combination of therapy and medication are the best ways to combat depression. Not sold on the idea? Waiting on that appointment to get the process started and need help in the meantime? Already receiving treatment but want to do all you possibly can to work on yourself? Here are some other treatment options. 

Cleveland Clinic’s list of alternative treatment options for depression. Not only does this article have a variety of ideas, but it’s approved by one of the top hospitals in the United States.

A Complete Guide to Mindfulness by Blinkist Magazine. Some people swear by practicing mindfulness as a mental health godsend. Read this article to learn all about it and see if it’s right for you. 

A list of herbs and supplements to help fight depression. List of herbs and supplements that can help with depression with descriptions of how they work.

A list of the best apps for managing depression. From online communities to mood journals to even a game designed to help improve your mood, this list has a variety of accessible tech solutions. 

Woebot and Wysa. Free, AI-supported therapy bots for iOS and Android devices. While not a better option than a live therapist, these are clinically safe and anonymous resources for mental health support that are at your disposal daily. (Note: For Woebot, use access code cfgen for access.)

Info on emotional support animals and how to get one. Furry friends can help boost dopamine and put us on a schedule. Check out this article to see if an ESA is a good option for you. 

Info on using CBD to treat depression. CBD, or cannabidiol, is a chemical derived from cannabis that has been used to treat depression.

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LGBTQIA+ Resources

The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ+ young people in the United States. Text START to 678678 or call (866) 488-7386. You can also chat via the Trevor Project website.

The LGBT National Hotline provides a confidential safe space for LGBTQ+ people of all ages in the United States. Adults can call at (888) 843-4564. People ages 25 and younger can call (800) 246-7743. You can also email help@LGBThotline.org. For more info and resources, check out the LGBT National Help Center website.

Trans Lifeline is a crisis hotline run by and for trans people, serving the US and Canada. For the US hotline, call (877) 565-8860. For the Canada hotline, call (877) 330-6366. For more info and resources, visit the Trans Lifeline website.

NAMI’s LGBTQI Section. Provides information on why LGBTQIA+ people can have unique difficulties with mental health and provides links to LGBTQIA+-friendly resources.

CMHA’s LGBTQ Section. Information and resources for LGBTQ people in Canada struggling with their mental health.

MindOut LGBTQ Mental Health Service. An LGBTQ+ mental health charity serving the UK.

LGBT Ireland’s Mental Health page. Information and resources for LGBTQ people in Ireland struggling with their mental health.

LGBTQ+ Health Australia Mental Health & Suicide Prevention page. Information and resources for LGBTQ people in Australia struggling with their mental health. 

Find a Helpline can connect you to helplines of all sorts, including LGBTQ+  support, regardless of where you live. 

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Resources for People of Color

NAMI’s Black/African American Resource Page. Includes information specific to the Black experience with mental health and provides links to resources for Black individuals.

The Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) is an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health of Black people and their communities. Also has a “Find A Therapist” tool.

Black Mental Wellness works to decrease mental health stigma in the Black community, train Black mental health professionals, and provide more mental health resources to the Black community. 

NAMI’s Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Page. Includes information specific to the AAPI experience with mental health and provides links to resources for AAPI individuals.

The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) works to promote the mental health and well-being of AAPI communities. 

South Asian Mental Health Initiative & Network is an organization that serves the South Asian community in the United States by removing stigma, providing support groups, doing research, and more. 

Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health is a collaborative effort to provide adequate mental health services for immigrants.

Brown Girl Therapy is a mental health community on Instagram for children of immigrants.

NAMI’s Indigenous Resource Page. Includes information specific to the Indigenous experience with mental health and provides links to resources for Indigenous peoples.

WeRNative provides a variety of resources for Indigenous youth in America, including mental health resources. 

NAMI’s Hispanic/Latinx Resource Page. Includes information specific to the Latinx experience with mental health and provides links to resources for Latinx individuals. 

Therapy for Latinx is a resource that helps Latinx people find a therapist. 

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Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Support International (PSI) is an organization dedicated to education and support for people facing mental health challenges related to birth. 

Moms’ Mental Health Matters. Information on depression and anxiety surrounding pregnancy.

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

NIMH’s page on Seasonal Affective Disorder. Provides information on SAD and what those affected can do to improve their condition.

14 Ways to Ease Seasonal Depression. A list of ideas on how to combat seasonal depression. 

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For People in Rural Areas

The National Association for Rural Mental Health. Studies show major mental health disparities between urban and rural people. Among other causes, this is often due to a lack of mental health resources in rural areas.

Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in Rural Areas. An overview of the challenges rural people face when seeking mental health treatment. 

List of free and affordable online therapy services for rural people with a lack of access to mental health services, transportation, or other factors that make in-person therapy difficult. 

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For Parents of Depressed Children

WebMD Article on Depression in Children. If you think your child might be depressed but you’re not sure, check this article out. 

Balanced Mind Parent Network is an online support group for parents of children with mood disorders by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. 

Erika’s Lighthouse is an organization dedicated to bringing mental health education to middle and high schools. If there is a need for mental health education in your child’s school, find out how you can get involved.

NAMI Ending the Silence is a 50-minute mental health presentation that can be brought to middle or high schools in the United States, free of charge. 

Child Mind Institute Depression & Mood Disorders page. Page provides advice for parents of children with depression. 

Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression. Information about teen depression and how you can help your teen. 

YoungMinds is a mental health charity with resources for young people living in the UK. 

Mental Health Literacy’s Youth Advisory Council. If you live in Canada, you or your child may be able to get involved in the YAC, where work is done to improve mental health literacy in communities. 

KidsHealth - What to Do When You Feel Sad. Self-help document for young children to learn about sadness, depression, and how to combat it. 

Meet Little Monster. Link leads to a downloadable PDF (in both English and Spanish!) of a coloring book for children to learn about mental health and emotions and how to deal with them.

133 Mental Health Resources for Kids and Teens. I could not possibly list all the resources that are out there on this list. Check out this link for 133 of them!

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Mental Health Education

Mental Health Literacy is a project dedicated to providing accurate information on mental health to the masses.

NAMI’s Mental Health Education page provides several classes in mental health management, including those designed for military families, religious people, middle and high school aged children, and more. 

Mental Health America’s Legislative Priorities page provides information on current mental health legislation in the United States. 

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Did I miss something? Any of the links no longer working? Have an idea on how I can improve this list? Recommend resources or give me feedback by emailing me (cooklin) at anhecomics@gmail.com or DMing me on Instagram at @anhecomics.