Real help, in plain language.
Crisis lines that answer at 3 AM, and guides written for teenagers – and for the parents and teachers around them.
Free help, available right now
These lines are staffed 24 hours a day and free from any phone in the US. You don’t have to be in crisis to call.
Call, text, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Free and confidential.
Text with a trained volunteer counselor if talking out loud is too much.
Crisis support for LGBTQ young people under 25. Or text START to 678-678.
From the foundation
Written by the Mya’s Angels team, drawing on the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Mental Health.
Common mental health diagnoses
Mental health conditions are clinically significant disturbances in thinking, emotional regulation, behavior, or mood that can cause distress or interfere with daily functioning. Common diagnoses include depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and eating disorders. Depression is characterized primarily by persistent low mood or loss of interest or pleasure, while anxiety disorders involve excessive fear or worry that is difficult to control. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression alternating with periods of mania or hypomania. PTSD may develop following exposure to a traumatic event, and schizophrenia can significantly affect perception, thinking, behavior, and a person’s connection with reality.
Symptoms and warning signs
Symptoms vary considerably by diagnosis and by individual. Depression may involve persistent sadness or irritability, loss of interest, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, hopelessness, or thoughts of death or suicide. Anxiety disorders may cause excessive worry, fear, physical tension, restlessness, and difficulty controlling anxious thoughts. Bipolar disorder can involve periods of unusually elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, reduced need for sleep, rapid thoughts or speech, impulsive behavior, and depressive symptoms. PTSD may involve intrusive memories or nightmares, avoidance of reminders of trauma, heightened alertness, and changes in mood or thinking. Schizophrenia may involve hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking or behavior, and difficulties with cognitive functioning. Experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not by itself establish a diagnosis; a qualified mental health professional should evaluate their severity, duration, and impact on functioning.
Treatment and support
Effective treatment is available for many mental health conditions, and treatment plans should be individualized according to a person’s diagnosis, symptoms, preferences, and circumstances. Psychotherapy, including approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Medications may also be appropriate, particularly for conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder; in many cases, psychotherapy and medication are used together. Additional support can include psychoeducation, family or social support, lifestyle and stress-management strategies, and specialized psychosocial interventions. For conditions such as schizophrenia, treatment may include medication, psychotherapy, family interventions, and psychosocial rehabilitation. Early professional evaluation and ongoing care can improve functioning and quality of life.
Sources
World Health Organization – Mental Disorders
National Institute of Mental Health – Psychotherapies
National Institute of Mental Health – Bipolar Disorder
National Institute of Mental Health – Schizophrenia
National Institute of Mental Health – PTSD
If you are worried about someone, ask them directly.
Asking a young person whether they’re thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head. It tells them someone finally noticed.
What to say Client content
The foundation’s plain-language guide goes here: opening lines that work, warning signs that matter most, and how to stay with someone until help arrives.
Warning signs Client content
The foundation’s checklist goes here: the changes in sleep, talk, and behavior that deserve a direct, calm question.
After you ask Client content
What to do with a yes: staying with them, who to call, and how to make a plan for the next 24 hours.