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ThereIsHelp
This page is a collaborative effort of the MetaFilter community to collect links to mental health support resources and related AskMe threads.
- Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Hotlines
- Domestic Violence and Abuse Hotlines
- Rape and Sexual Assault Hotlines
- Online Harassment and Abuse Hotlines
- Health Insurance
- Health Care and Medication
- Therapy
- Grief
- Depression
- Postpartum Depression
- Alcoholism
Related resources:
- Homeless Survival Guide (food, housing, health care, public benefits)
- Get a lawyer (includes free and low-cost legal resources)
- Disaster Planning & Recovery (before/after natural disasters)
Crisis: Where to go for help
Lists of Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Hotlines, Local and National Resources
- Suicide.org: USA, by State
- Suicide.org: Countries, Non-USA
USA
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call 988
- En español, oprima el "2"
- Help also available via chat at https://988lifeline.org/chat/
- Mental Health America Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, or text MHA to 741741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor 24/7 at Crisis Text Line, or call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
- Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the USA for free, 24/7 support from a trained crisis counselor. More info: How Does Crisis Text Line Work?
- 877-838-2838 Veterans Peer Support
- 800-784-2432 En Español / Spanish-speaking
- 877-968-8454 Teen-to-Teen peer counseling
- 800-472-3457 Grad Students
- 800-773-6667 Post-partum depression
- 800-799-4TTY (4889) TTY
- American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (AAETS) Nationwide Crisis Line and Hotline Directory (50 States, DC, PR)
- IMAlive: online crisis chat line
- Virginia CrisisLink: See link for numbers by region of Virginia
- Boys Town National Hotline for youth: 800-448-3000
- Your Life Your Voice for youth: online chat, texting and email support (also through Boys Town)
- New Hope Online - online crisis chat from a Catholic counseling organization
- Disaster Distress Helpline SAMHSA provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. This crisis support service is for anyone experiencing emotional distress related to disasters such as: tornadoes and severe storms, hurricanes and tropical storms, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, drought, incidents of mass violence, infectious disease outbreaks, incidents of community unrest, and other traumatic events.
- Call 1-800-985-5990 or TTY 1-800-846-8517 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.
- En Español: Call 1-800-985-5990 and press "2" from the 50 States, or text Hablanos to 66746.
- From Puerto Rico, text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663.
- Callers to the hotline can also connect with counselors in over 100 other languages via 3rd-party interpretation services; to connect with a counselor in your primary language, simply indicate your preferred language to the responding counselor and she/he will connect to a live interpreter.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (For help finding local resources)
USA - GLBT
- The Trevor Project: 24/7 crisis & suicide prevention helpline for GLBTQ youth. 1-866-488-7386 (they also have online chat and texting lines, thru the website)
- LGBT National Hotline: telephone and text peer-counseling in the US. 1-888-843-4564 (also 1-800-246-7743 youth line and [online chat help https://lgbthotline.org/chat])
- Trans Lifeline Call the Peer Support Hotline at 877-565-8860, if you are in crisis or just need someone to talk to, even if it’s just about whether or not you’re trans, for support and resources. 7am-1am PST / 9am-3am CST / 10am-4am EST. Operators are also frequently available during off-hours - when in doubt, give a call. Services available in English and Spanish - Spanish hotline is available 24/7.
- The GLBT National Help Center provides telephone, online chat, and email peer-support, including:
- LGBT National Youth Talkline 800-246-7743 - Mondays - Fridays, 1 pm – 9 pm PST, 4 pm – midnight EST, Saturday, 9 am – 2 pm PST, noon – 5 pm EST
- LGBT National Senior Hotline 888-234-7243 - Mondays - Fridays, 1 pm – 9 pm PST, 4 pm – midnight EST, Saturday, 9 am – 2 pm PST, noon – 5 pm EST
- A searchable database https://glbtnearme.org/ of local support resources.
- SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline - Older LGBT people who want to talk can be connected with friendly responders who are ready to listen. If you are an LGBT elder or care for one, call the free SAGE Hotline, toll-free 24/7 at 877-360-LGBT (5428)
- PFLAG offers a list of crisis and support hotlines.
USA - Military
- The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for individuals who are hard of hearing or deaf is also available, including TTY service at 1-800-799-4889.
- The Military Crisis Line offers confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through the Military Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1), online chat and text (838255). In Europe call 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118. In Korea call 0808 555 118 or DSN 118. In Afghanistan call 00 1 800 273 8255 or DSN 111. In Europe, toll-free service may not be available through all carriers or in all countries.
- Military OneSource offers a Military helpline (Stateside 1-800-342-9647, Overseas 484-530-5908 (they accept collect calls)), live chat and online counseling.
Australia
- Lifeline 1300 13 11 14
- Online Chat Support: Teen Counseling
- Beyond Blue - The National Depression Initiative 1300 22 4636
Australia - GLBT
- QLife - Online chat or phone 1800 184 527 3pm-12am every day; email ask@qlife.org.au
Bangladesh
- Kaan Pete Roi - confidential suicide prevention and crisis line (open Sunday-Wednesday, 3pm-9pm, Thursday 3pm-3am local time)
- Helpline 1: +8801779554391
- Helpline 2: +8801688709966
- Helpline 3: +8801985275286
Belgium
- 02 649 95 55 (24/7)
- Web: https://www.zelfmoord1813.be/ or call 1813 (24/7) or chat or email.
Canada
- 9-8-8 is the number to call or text (available in English and French) for immediate mental health crisis and suicide prevention intervention. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and run by Crisis Services Canada and many partners, as a national network of distress, crisis and suicide prevention services.
- Kids Help Phone: (800) 668-6868 (For kids and teens.)
- Kids Help Phone text service: Text CONNECT to 686868 - free and available 24/7/365. You don’t need a data plan, Internet connection or an app to use it. All conversations you have with a volunteer Crisis Responder are confidential. And, you can text from anywhere in Canada.
- Wellness Together Canada offers immediate crisis support in English and Français
- Adults: Text WELLNESS to 741741 / Textez MIEUX au 741741
- Front Line Workers: Text FRONTLINE to 741741 / Textez FRONTLINE au 741741
- Other resources include online community of support and coaching, and free access to professional counsellors by phone, text or video.
- Hope for Wellness Helpline offers mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. You can call 1-855-242-3310, available 24/7, to talk in English or French, as well as Cree, Ojibway or Inuktitut upon request, or chat online with a counsellor in English or French.
- ONTX Ontario Online & Text Crisis Services provides a directory of local hotlines.
- Distress Centres of Greater Toronto offers a hotline at 416-408-4357 or text 45645 if you are in distress or need emotional support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Canada - GLBT
- Trans Lifeline Call the Peer Support Hotline at 877-330-6366, if you are in crisis or just need someone to talk to, even if it’s just about whether or not you’re trans, for support and resources. Available 7am-1am PST / 9am-3am CST / 10am-4am EST. Services available in English and Spanish - Spanish hotline is available 24/7.
- The Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line is available via text, chat, and email from 4:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST every day except Saturday. Text: 647-694-4275 Email: askus@youthline.ca.
European Union
- 116 123 connects to local emotional support / crisis helplines in many EU countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
France
- 01 45 39 40 00 Web: https://www.suicide-ecoute.fr
Germany
- 0800 - 111 0 111 (ev.) (protestant)
- 0800 - 111 0 222 (rk.) (roman catholic)
- 0800 - 111 0 333 (Kinder / Jugendliche) (for kids/teens)
- Web: https://www.telefonseelsorge.de
Japan
- Tokyo English LifeLine
- 03 5774 0992 (Free, anonymous telephone counseling. 9am - 11pm daily)
- 03 3498 0231 (Face to Face)
Malaysia
- Lifeline Malaysia
- 603 - 92850039 (Counseling Services)
Netherlands
- 0900-1450 (workdays, 0900-1800 local (CET))
- Web: https://www.korrelatie.nl
New Zealand
- Lifeline 24/7 New Zealand: 0800 543 354
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Lifeline Auckland: (9) 5222-999
- Outside Auckland: 0800 111-777
- Kidsline: 0800 KIDSLINE (0800 543 754)
- Online: https://www.lifeline.org.nz
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Mental Health Foundation - Directory of Helplines
Norway
- Kirkens SOS: 815 33 300
- Mental Helse: 116 123
- Røde Kors-telefonen for barn og unge (Red Cross Helpline for youth): 800 333 21
Republic of Ireland
- Samaritans: 1850 60 90 90 (Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Minicom: 08457 90 91 92)
Spain
- Línea de atención a la conducta suicida Helpline for persons with suicidal thoughts, ideation, or risk of suicidal behaviors, as well as their family and friends. Free, confidential, and available 24/7.
UK
- Mental Health UK lists numbers to call for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland if you or someone you know needs urgent support for their mental health.
- Samaritans: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Call free 116 123.
- Email support is also available within 24 hours at jo@samaritans.org.
- Callers who are d/Deaf or who have hearing or speech impairments can contact us for support by email by using jo@samaritans.org or by using the Next Generation Text (NGT) service. Next Generation Text is not specific to Samaritans and can be used on any telephone number. You can contact Samaritans via your local branch telephone number.
- Samaritan's Welsh Language Line (Llinell Cymraeg) is free at 0808 164 0123, available every day 7pm - 11pm. There is also a letter writing service in Welsh.
- Shout is an affiliate of Crisis Text Line® in the UK that provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text. Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer. Available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- If you are a child, Childline: 0800 1111
- The Mix offers a free, confidential helpline for people age 13 - 25 to talk to trained supporters about any issue. Call 0808 808 4994, 4pm to 11pm every day. Crisis text messaging support is also available 24/7, text THEMIX to 85258. The Mix aims to connect every texter to a trained volunteer in less than five minutes to provide crisis help.
- Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous online support for young people, Mon – Fri 12pm – 10pm and Sat – Sun 6pm – 10pm. The website includes links to 24/7 crisis resources.
- SANEline is a national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers. Open every day of the year from 4.30pm to 10.30pm on 0300 304 7000. The helpline is a confidential service for those aged 16 or over.
- CALM National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Nationwide call 0800 58 58 58 from 5pm - midnight, 365 days of the year. London 0808 802 58 58. Webchat is also available 5pm - midnight, 365 days a year.
- Rethink Mental Illness offers a number of helplines which offer emotional support and also a national advice service, all of which which offer support to those experiencing severe mental illness, their carers and relatives. Calls to our number are free and will not show up on your bill.
- Rethink Sahayak Asian Mental Health Helpline 0808 800 2073 Monday - Wednesday: 4.00pm - 7.00pm Tuesday - Thursday: 12.00pm - 3.00pm. Callers may speak to us in Asian languages (Gujarati, Punjabi, Hindu, and Urdu) or English.
- North East Lincs Helpline (Lincsline) 0808 800 1010 Monday - Friday: 5pm - 9am, Saturday - Sunday: 24 hours. Access for supported housing tenants out-of-hours.
- Doncaster Helpline 0808 801 0442 Offers emotional support 24/7 for people aged 16 and over, who live in Doncaster. Interpreter services are available.
- Black Country Emotional Support Helpline (Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall) 0800 008 6516 Monday - Sunday: 24 hours a day. Freephone service for those in need of support, reassurance and understanding. Trained mental health support staff are on hand to answer calls from members of the public.
- Sheffield Helpline 0808 801 0440 Offers emotional support 24/7 for people aged 16 and over, who live in Sheffield or are under the care of Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust. Interpreter services are available.
- Gloucestershire Wellbeing Helpline 0808 801 0606 Monday - Sunday: 2pm-9pm A helpline for any adult living in Gloucestershire who would like support with mild to moderate mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression and low mood. We can also provide support and information for people affected by self harm. Text support at 07537 410 022 and online chat.
- MIND Infoline (where to get help near you, treatment options, and advocacy services): 0300 123 3393 (or text: 86463). 9:00-18:00, Mon-Fri (except bank holidays)
UK - GLBT
- LGBT Foundation Helpline (phone and e-mail support for LGBT people): 03453 30 30 30. 10:00-22:00, 7 days.
- Mindline Trans + (Confidential emotional, mental health support helpline and signposting service for people who identify as Trans, A Gender, Gender Fluid, Non-binary. as well as friends and family): 0300 330 5468. Friday evenings.
Worldwide
- Samaritans offer 24/7 support to anyone in crisis through email jo@samaritans.org
- Befrienders Worldwide: international non-profit with 31,000 volunteers in over 40 countries.
AskMes About Supporting Someone Else
- What do I say to my friend? (extremely out of character statements)
- Help me help him (helping someone get help for mental health issues when they don't see it)
- Help me get my mother the help she needs (memory loss, hygiene issues, inventing/hallucinating events)
- When Your Adult Kid Won't Get Mental Health Services
- Friend in crisis – need advice (utterly destructive in general, but also completely out of character)
- Best and worst things to say to people in crisis?
Further reading: Book Spotlight: “I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help” (NAMI Los Angeles) (Find out more in the book and from this short video of Dr. Amador’s TEDx talk.)
Further reading: Speaking of Suicide (resources for suicidal individuals, their loved ones, survivors, mental health professionals, & others who care, by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW)
Additional Hotlines: Domestic Violence and Abuse
US
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. Provides highly-trained, expert advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages.
- Womenslaw.org offers an email hotline for questions about how to find help, and links to a variety of other resources, including shelter and legal assistance
- Helpful resources: Am I Being Abused? and How Can I Help a Friend or Family Member Who Is Being Abused
- The Victim Connect Helpline provides information and referrals for victims of all crime and can be reached at 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846) or offers chat online.
- Love is respect is the U.S. National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: provides teens and young adults confidential and anonymous support by phone 1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522.
- Asian Women's Shelter has a 24-hour, confidential, toll-free 1-877-751-0880 (connects callers with language advocates when needed). Also provies a female genital mutilation/cutting support line on the same number, Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm.
- Casa de Esperanza: línea de apoyo bilingüe de 24 horas / 24-hr bilingual domestic violence helpline: 651-772-1611
- Anti-Violence Project: bilingual (English/Spanish), 24/7 crisis intervention hotline for LGBTQH victims and survivors of any type of violence: 212-714-1141
- CUAV (Community United Against Violence) If you are an LGBTQ person dealing with violence or abuse, you can call/leave a message for CUAV at (415) 333-HELP (4357), or email them at counseling@cuav.org. If no one answers, leave a voicemail with a call back number and let them know if it’s okay for them to leave a message. Response may take 1-4 days.
Americans Overseas
- Pathways to Safety (Formerly Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center) empowers victims of interpersonal & gender based violence abroad. Crisis line currently closed, but provides information, support, and referral through e-mail at crisis@pathwaystosafety.org . E-mails will be responded to within 72 hours.
Australia
- 1800 Respect Free, 24 hour a day helpline to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence. 1800 737 732. Also offers online text chat, and text via 0458 737 732. Accessibility: Can be contacted through the National Relay Service and the Translating and Interpreting Service. Also offers information on sexual assault, domestic and family violence in 28 different languages.
- White Ribbon campaign is a movement engaging men and boys to see domestic violence as their problem to fix, not women’s problem to tolerate. Links in turn to a number of other helplines relating to domestic violence and mental health, including No To Violence, whose Men’s Referral Service is the national counselling, information and referral service for men who use violence and abuse to change their behaviour - call 1300 766 491.
Canada
- Shelter Safe: (Helpful resources: Get help - includes telephone helplines listed by territory/province).
- Ending Violence Association of Canada offers a directory of service providers across Canada, including sexual assault centres, crisis lines, shelters, transition houses, and support services.
Ireland
- Women's Aid: 1800-341-900. 24 hour freephone helpline. (Helpful resources: Do you need help? and Are you in immediate danger?)
- Safe Ireland works for an Ireland where women and children are free from violence and abuse. The Where to find help page links to 37 domestic abuse services located in towns right across Ireland, listed by county. Services are free, confidential* and available to all women. You can contact the service that is most convenient for you.
Mexico
- Atención a Mujeres en Situación de Violencia - Línea sin violencia 800 10 84 053 Se brinda atención a través de la línea telefónica a mujeres, sus hijas e hijos en situación de violencia familiar, de pareja y/o sexual, proporcionando intervención en crisis, atención psicoterapéutica especializada y asesoría jurídica, está dirigido: A mujeres, sus hijas e hijos en situación de violencia, en cualquiera de sus tipos y modalidades. Opera las 24 horas del día, los 365 días del año. La atención es gratuita, confidencial y de fácil acceso.
- 01-800 Hablado - Si vives en una situación de violencia, acércate y 01800 Háblalo (01800 422 52 56), la línea te ofrece un servicio integral, confidencial y gratuito, las 24 horas del día, los 365 días del año
Netherlands
- Veilig Thuis Slachtoffers, omstanders en plegers van huiselijk geweld en kindermishandeling kunnen elke dag chatten met een medewerker van Veilig Thuis. Het landelijke telefoonnummer 0800-2000 voor advies en meldingen is 24 uur per dag, 7 dagen in de week bereikbaar.
- Veilig Thuis website in English (services may require you to be able to express yourself in, and understand, Dutch) Vellig Thuis there to help anyone, young and old, who is affected by domestic violence or child abuse. 0800 2000 - 24 hour free phone line. Online chat available Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm.
- AskMe: Resources for abuse/DV in the Netherlands? - be aware this thread is from 2014.
New Zealand
- Are you OK?: Campaign to reduce family violence. 0800 456 450 - Helpline, available 24/7. Online text chat also available.
- Shine Helpline: 0508 744 633, available 24/7. Online text chat also available. For anyone who feels trapped, who is being controlled, or physically or emotionally abused by a partner, ex-partner, family member, or someone close to them. Also if you’re worried about someone else. If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, you can ring the Helpline using the NZ Relay service. Helpline operators are trained to take calls from the NZ Relay service. Shine's Helpline has access to an interpreting service, so if you have limited English, please let the Helpline worker know what language you speak when you ring and they’ll try to access an interpreter for you.
- Women's Refuge National charity that supports and helps women and children experiencing family violence. 24/7 Crisisline: 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE), live text chat also available Find your local Refuge.
- Shakti Community Council. Specialist provider of culturally-competent support services for women, children and families of Asian, African and Middle Eastern origin. A national not-for-profit community organisation for women’s development, empowerment and domestic/family violence intervention, prevention and awareness - . 24/7 multi lingual crisisline - 0800 742 584 and crisisline@shakti.org.nz.
Thailand
- Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women - English and Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women - Thai. Offers assistance to women and children who are victims of forced prostitution, rape, HIV/AIDS, abandonment, or physical/emotional abuse.
UK
- National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Victim Support
- Helpline: 08 08 16 89 111. Operates 24/7, every day of the year, including Christmas.
- If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can use Next Generation Text 18001 08 08 16 89 111.
- Supportline also has an interpretation service for people who do not speak English as a first language.
- This service is free, confidential and available to anyone in England and Wales.
- This service is independent of the police and available regardless of whether the crime has been reported or how long ago it took place.
- Women's Aid - offers support and referrals through live chat and email.
- Find local domestic abuse support services near you by region or local authority
- For full listings of services in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, please visit: Scottish Women’s Aid, Welsh Women’s Aid, Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland, Women’s Aid, Republic of Ireland
- Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
- 0808 2000 247 (National 24 hours helpline)
- 03000 110 110 (North Yorkshire and Barnsley)
- 0808 808 2241 (Sheffield)
- info@idas.org.uk
- Juno Women’s Aid is the largest domestic abuse organisation in Nottingham and works with women, children, and teens who have been affected by domestic abuse in Ashfield, Broxtowe, Gedling, Nottingham City, and Rushcliffe.
- Services include the 24 hour Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Freephone Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline, where you can speak to a specialist trained female support workers 365 days a year: 0808 800 0340 (calls are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemized bills)
- For agency enquiries and referrals please call 0115 947 6490
- Galop is a national charity providing specialist advice, support and a listening service for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people. It will also provide information about local charities that can offer face to face support. The domestic abuse helpline is available on 0300 999 5428 or 0800 9995428 and the website is: https://www.galop.org.uk
- Men’s Advice Line provides specific advice for male victims of domestic abuse. It will also provide information about local charities that work with and support male victims. The line is available on 0808 801 0327 and the web address is https://www.mensadviceline.org.uk
- Mankind Initiative For male victims of domestic abuse in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – Confidential Helpline: 01823 334244
- AskMe: Emotional support for a victim of crime (UK)?
Worldwide
- The Global Network of Women's Shelters links to Lila.help and the HotPeachPages international directory of abuse hotlines, shelters, refuges, crisis centres and women's organizations, plus domestic violence information in over 110 languages.
How to support a survivor of domestic violence or abuse
From the National Domestic Violence Hotline: How Can You Help a Friend or Family Member?
AskMe Threads:
- How do I help a battered friend out?
- What else can we do? (neighbors)
- How to deal with possible domestic violence situation next door
- A friend in another state spent the night in a domestic violence shelter. What can/should I do to help?
- How do we support our abused friend and her daughter?
- How to help a friend escape an abusive relationship...?
- Help me cope with the fact that two of my friends, victims of domestic violence, don't want help.
AskMe Threads
- teasing boyfriend just won't stop
- What to do after domestic violence?
- Should I go back?
- Resources for surviving emotional abuse
- When does cruelty become pathology?
- Need support for emotional aftermath of leaving an abusive relationship
- Why can I not get over my abusive boyfriend?
- Letting go of narcissist-ish ex
- How did you tell others you were in an abusive relationship?
- Trying to evade violent stalker, seeking feedback and advice
- Abusive Father Turned Stalker
Further Reading
- Frequent AskMe recommendations:
- Why Does He Do That: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft
- The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
- Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay by Mira Kirshenbaum
- AskMe: What are some of the best self-help books you read after leaving an abusive relationship?
- MeFi: Why s/he stays
- MeFi: Why don't they leave?
- MeFi: The first time you break tradition is the hardest time.
Additional Hotlines: Rape and Sexual Assault
USA
- RAINN: The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
- RAINN offers a National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE (4673) in partnership with 1,100 rape crisis centers across the nation, providing free, confidential support 24/7.
- RAINN also offers an anonymous and confidential National Sexual Assault Online Hotline staffed by trained support specialists available 24/7.
- The Safe Helpline provides confidential crisis intervention, support and information to members of the DoD community who have been sexually assaulted. The Safe Helpline is available 24/7, worldwide; the phone number is the same inside the U.S. or via the Defense Switched Network (DSN): 877-995-5247. DSN users can call U.S. toll-free numbers by dialing 94 + the 10-digit toll-free number. Those unable to call toll-free or DSN can call 202-540-5962. The Department of Defense has contracted with RAINN to provide independent and anonymous services for this hotline for the DoD Community.
- The Victim Connect Helpline provides information and referrals for victims of all crime and can be reached at 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846).
Australia
- Full Stop Australia supports people affected by sexual, domestic or family violence. Supports people impacted by sexual, domestic and family violence via phone, online and face to face counselling services. Contact on 1800 FULL STOP (1800 385 578), NSW Sexual Violence Helpline 1800 424 017.
- The Victorian (Australia) Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs) are non-profit, government funded organisations that provide support and intervention to women, children and men who are victim/survivors of sexual assault.
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line (Victoria) 1800 806 292
- 1800 RESPECT (Australia) 1800 737 732 Interpreter and accessibility services are available.
Canada
- Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres (CASAC)
- Français Centres contre le viol et maisons de transitions par province et territoire
- English Anti-Violence Centres by Province and Territory
- Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centers lists local crisis hotlines on the website and:
- Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 1-866-863-0511 (Ontario)
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (24/7, national support service in English and French)
- Talk4Healing, for Indigenous women: 1-855-554-HEAL (available in 14 languages in Ontario) or send a text message or use the live chat service
- Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Violence: 1-866-887-0015 (24-hour, multilingual, toll-free phone line for immediate crisis and referral services)
- Ending Violence Association of Canada offers a directory of service providers across Canada, including 24/7 crisis lines.
EU
- Rape Crisis Network Europe "RCNE is the network of European centres which support survivors of sexual violence. We aim to make sure that anyone who experiences sexual violence can get the help they need. Use this site to find out where you can get help and information. It does not matter whether the sexual violence happened recently or a long time ago."
UK
- Rape Crisis England and Wales is the umbrella body for a network of independent Rape Crisis Centres. All our member Centres provide specialist support and services for victims and survivors of sexual violence.
- Find a Rape Crisis Centre
- Helpline: 0808 802 9999. Open every day, 12:00 to 14:30 and 19:00 to 21:30
- Live Chat Helpline is a free, one-to-one confidential emotional support service for women and girls aged 16 and over who have experienced sexual violence.
- Counselling: 0209 683 3311. Open Mon-Fri 9am - 7pm.
- Support outside of England and Wales including Scotland, Ireland, and Jersey helplines.
- Support for men and boys includes:
- Safeline National Male Survivors Helpline: 0808 800 5005
- SurvivorsUK offers an Online Helpline, an SMS text chat service via 020 3322 1860 and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) Services.
- Victim Support
- Helpline: 08 08 16 89 111. Operates 24/7, every day of the year, including Christmas.
- If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can use Next Generation Text 18001 08 08 16 89 111.
- Supportline also has an interpretation service for people who do not speak English as a first language.
- This service is free, confidential and available to anyone in England and Wales.
- This service is independent of the police and available regardless of whether the crime has been reported or how long ago it took place.
- The Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service is available across the county with a helpline available 7 days a week to offer victims of sexual violence support and advice. Services are independent from all statutory agencies, including Police and criminal justice agencies. Contact an ISVA at isva@idas.org.uk or at the helpline at 03000 110 110.
International
- International Sources of Help for Survivors (RCNE)
- International helplines can also be found at Ibiblio.org
How to support a survivor of rape or sexual assault
AskMe Threads
- What can I expect if I report a rape to the police? (Asker is in United States.)
- Rape support services/books/organizations for men whose significant other has been raped?
- What can I do to cope with rape? (I was raped in a foreign country. Going home is not an option. What can I do to cope?)
- If my rapist comes after me again, is there any legal weapon (other than a gun) that will stop him?
- how to deal with unsupportive friend after rape?
- Help Me Untrigger Myself
Further Reading
Additional Hotlines: Online Harassment and Abuse
US
- The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative offers a toll-free 24/7 revenge porn crisis hotline at 844-878-CCRI (2274) for callers from within the US.
- Without My Consent is a non-profit organization seeking to combat online invasions of privacy that offers a variety of resources, including a Something Can Be Done! Guide that includes an overview of Evidence Preservation, Take Down, Copyright Registration, and Restraining Orders.
UK
- In the UK, there is a Revenge Porn Helpline that offers free, confidential advice and support by telephone at 0345 6000 459, and is open from 10:00am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. Emails can be sent to help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk or as a direct message through Whisper.
International
- The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative offers links to international victim resources.
- Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!) is a team of educators, motivators and facilitators building a world that is free of harassment. They offer a variety of online resources for individuals experiencing online harassment and a story sharing platform.
Additional Resources
- Speak Up & Stay Safe(r): A Guide to Protecting Yourself From Online Harassment (originally Feminist Frequency, now Games and Online Harassment Hotline) "The authors of the guide have all been targets of cyber attacks ourselves, so we’ve written the guide we wish had already existed when the attacks on us began."
- The Crash Override Network offers online resources for victims of online harassment, stalking, and abuse.
- The Online Harassment Field Manual (PEN America) Includes preparation and response strategies, self-care resources, and legal considerations.
- See Also: The Online Harassment and Abuse section of the Get a lawyer page.
AskMe Threads
- Readings on how to live life under permanent threat (I’m looking for readings on how to continue to live life if I *can’t* manage to neutralise the threat.)
- How to stay safe in the Twitter-verse (Are there 'best practices' to keeping harassment and personal attacks down online?)
- Harassment support group (I’m looking for an online support group for people who are being harassed online and it doesn’t ever stop, and police won’t pursue.)
- Next steps for online harassment (I'd like to document this behavior with authorities in the event that this ever does escalate beyond online communication.)
- Removing photos from Pinterest (Friend has found some compromising photos of themself posted to Pinterest without their knowledge or consent and is struggling to get the images removed, does anyone know a useful way of getting this done quickly?)
- Harrassing Emails from old acquaintance at work address (I've blocked where I can and just want to be left alone.)
- shoring up the digital ramparts against hate mobs (I'm writing about feminism and gaming on the internet.)
- I have been doxxed. Help
- What are some things you wish you'd done before you went viral?
Health Insurance
Help with Health Insurance
In the United States, according to the National Academy of State Health Policy, as states transform their health systems, many are turning to Community Health Workers (CHWs) to facilitate care coordination and enhance access to community-based services. While state definitions vary, CHWs are typically frontline workers with an understanding of the communities they serve.
To find a Community Health Worker (CHW) to help with health insurance, you can search the National Provider Identifier Database for Community Health Workers. Another option is to google the name of your state and "Community Health Worker," to help ensure access to the most updated information in your area. Links to local organizations may also be found at the National Academy of State Health Policy website by clicking on the "Organizations & Workgroup" tab.
In addition, many states offer help to consumers with health insurance problems through Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs) to assist consumers experiencing problems with their health insurance or seeking to learn about health coverage options. State CAPs offer direct assistance by phone, direct mail, email, or walk-in locations to help consumers learn how to obtain or use their insurance effectively. A listing of CAP programs are available here.
ACA
Healthcare.gov offers an online help locator that can be searched by city & state or zip code.
Medicare
Medicare Rights offers a National Helpline at 1-800-333-4114 to answer questions from people with Medicare, their family members and friends. Todos nuestros servicios están disponibles en español. Si desea hablar con un consejero en español, llame a nuestra línea de servicio al cliente (1-800-333-4114) y presione el “8” cuando oiga el mensaje del operador.
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program National Technical Assistance Center offers an online directory of State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), which provide free, local, in-depth, and objective insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers. Local SHIPs can also be found by calling 1-877-839-2675.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a health coverage program operated by states, within broad federal guidelines. Although the federal government pays a portion of the costs, Medicaid is administered and operated by states, and each state's program is a little different depending on the needs and goals of that state. Contact your state to answer questions and/or apply for Medicaid.
AskMe Threads About Health Insurance
2019
- Health Insurance & "Prior Authorization"
- I have Kaiser. How to get them to accept/cover telehealth care?
- Never got kicked out of health plan from old job. Should I do anything?
- Urgent Eye Care in Los Angeles - Retinal Detachment, who will care?
- Health insurance ended 12/31. Japan job with insurance starts 3/12. Help
- ACA auto renewal panic
2018
- Who can help me with COBRA and suspended AETNA insurance?
- Can’t figure out logical way to approach health insurance decision
- Cross-Border Medical Care, Holiday Edition
- Medicaid for Dummies
- Medicare for Dummies
- Met my max out of pocket for health insurance - now what?!
- How to health care?
- Private health cover, Australian edition
- please help me, I am a health insurance idiot
- Appeals Hearing for Healthcare Marketplace: Good Luck Hunting
- How to be COBRA commanders?
- What is pregnancy medicaid like in Maryland?
- Possibly losing Medicaid... how to proceed?
- Getting indigent 94 yr old into nursing home +Medicaid - Illnois 2018
- Please help me navigate hospice/palliative care in NYC
2017
Health Care and Medication
Low-cost / No-cost Sources of Medication and Health Care
- The NAMI HelpLine is a free service that can be reached at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org for information, referrals and support for people living with a mental health condition, family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. The NAMI website also offers information about prescription assistance with links to government and nonprofit organizations that may offer support, including:
- Needymeds offers information about low- or no-cost sources of medication/health care in the US and Clinics that are free or low cost with a sliding scale.
- GoodRx (blocked outside US) offers a searchable database to find the lowest priced prescription drugs.
- In the United States, Community Health Workers (CHWs) may be available to assist with access to health care and care coordination. To find a Community Health Worker (CHW) to help with access to health care, you can search the National Provider Identifier Database for Community Health Workers. Another option is to google the name of your state and "Community Health Worker," to help ensure access to the most updated information in your area. Links to local organizations may also be found at the National Academy of State Health Policy website by clicking on the "Organizations & Workgroup" tab.
- The SAMHSA National Helpline (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and is a confidential and free service, available 24/7 in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental health and/or substance use disorders. This service offers referrals to free and low-cost treatment facilities, support groups and community-based organizations. SAMHSA also offers a searchable mental health treatment locator and links to other helplines and treatment locators.
- A health center locator for free health care is maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
- The National Health Care for the Homeless Council maintains a searchable directory of health care resources for people experiencing homelessness.
- The Novartis Patient Assistant Program Finder help with medicines at reduced or no cost.
Abortion and Contraception
- The National Abortion Federation (NAF) offers "medically accurate and unbiased information on surgical and medical abortion and quality assurance in abortion care" and assistance with finding providers in the US, Canada, Mexico, and other countries, through online maps and "the NAF Hotline referral line 1-877-257-0012 provides referrals to member clinics in the U.S. and Canada (no funding assistance provided on this line). For information about abortion and other resources, including financial assistance, please call 1-800-772-9100."
- Planned Parenthood offers a variety of medical services for reproductive and sexual health, including contraception and abortion. Find a health center online at their website or call 1-800-230-PLAN.
- I need an A: comprehensive, regularly updated, and personalized resource for abortion seekers in the US. Find abortion clinics based on your age, location, how long you've been pregnant, and the type of abortion you hope to receive.
- The National Network of Abortion Funds - Includes a list of funding available in the United States and information about how to obtain an abortion.
- The Abortion Care Network offers an independent clinic locator.
- The Access Reproductive Care - Southeast healthline supports callers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. If you would like to request financial assistance or practical support (rides, lodging, or escorting), please call (855) 227-2475 or submit an online support request at https://www.arc-southeast.org/assistance-form
- Aid Access offers online consultations with a licensed doctor for abortion pills that can be obtained by mail. Further reading: Women in the U.S. Can Now Get Safe Abortions by Mail
- The Repro Legal Helpline offers a confidential and anonymous legal help line at (844) 868-2812 which provides free, confidential legal services for the whole reproductive life, including abortion, pregnancy loss, and birth.
Further reading: Georgia attempts to criminalize abortion (Abortion is still legal in all 50 states)
Further reading: Abortion Clinics Are Staying Open During The Coronavirus Outbreak. (information and resources for US and Canada)
Therapy
Help with Finding a Therapist
US
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers a free HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) for information, referrals and support for people living with a mental health condition, family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. The NAMI online directory can be searched for local NAMI organizations. (USA)
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers:
- Searchable mental health treatment locator
- Links to other helplines and treatment locators
- The SAMHSA National Helpline (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) 1-800-662-HELP (4357), available 24/7 in English and Spanish for referrals to free and low-cost treatment facilities, support groups and community-based organizations. (USA)
- According to the National Institute of Mental Health, national agencies and advocacy and professional organizations have information on finding a mental health professional and sometimes practitioner locators on their websites. Examples include but are not limited to: Anxiety and Depression Association of America, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and Mental Health America. In addition, university or medical school-affiliated programs may offer treatment options, and you can search the website of local university health centers for their psychiatry or psychology departments. You can also go to the website of your state or county government and search for the health services department. (USA)
- Goodtherapy.org offers information and an online directory that can be searched by location. (USA)
- Psychology Today (USA & Canada)
- HelpPro's National Social Worker Finder (USA) (The directory is searchable by location, age group, cost, approach, etc.)
- Social Work Therapy Finder (USA, Massachusetts Only)
- Polyamory-friendly Professionals (International, including USA)
- Gaylesta: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Psychotherapist Association of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, for GLBT friendly therapists (USA, San Francisco Bay Area)
- NCSF: Database of Kink-Aware Professionals (USA)
- The Secular Therapist Project (USA) (Anonymous registry of therapists who agree to keep "their religious, spiritual or supernatural beliefs from informing their therapeutic approach.")
- The e-VETS Resource Advisor assists Veterans, Service Members, and those who support them to navigate information and resources, including Benefits and Compensation, Education and Training, Employment, Family and Caregiver Support, Health, Homeless Assistance, Housing, Transportation and Travel, Other Services and Resources, and State-Specific Information and Resources. This online service integrates with the National Resource Directory (NRD), a web-based directory of more than 11,000 national, state and local services and resources for Veterans, Service Members, and their families and caregivers.
Canada
- Psychology Today (USA & Canada)
- eMentalHealth.ca offers a database of mental health programs available across Canada, for Canadians of all ages. You can search for services including counselling and therapy by location, then filter by criteria — such as age and "no fees" — to find mental health support near you.
- The Canadian Register of Health Service Psychologists offers an online Find a Psychologist directory that can be searched by name or location.
- The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) offers an online Find a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) directory that can be searched by location and specialization, as well as online counseling and telecounseling.
- The Ontario Psychological Association offers an online Find a Psychologist directory that can be searched by location, area of practice, sliding scale fees, etc.
- ConnexOntario is funded by the Government of Ontario and offers free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness and/or gambling. This service can be contacted by phone, email or webchat, and offers a searchable online directory.
- 211 Central (Serving Toronto, Durham, Peel and York Regions) offers an online directory of mental health services, and can be reached 24/7 by calling 2-1-1, by text at 211 on Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET, and by live chat online on Monday to Friday from 7am-9pm ET. Services are available in English and French.
- Le Centre francophone du Grand Toronto est la porte d’entrée pour les francophones qui vivent à Toronto ou qui viennent s’y installer. Le Centre offre des services de thérapie/counseling en santé mentale pour les individus, couples et les familles, et des groupes thérapeutiques en français pour les francophones de 18 ans et plus.
UK
- To find a counselling service across the UK visit: www.therapy-directory.org.uk or www.counselling-directory.org.uk
- How to access mental health services (NHS)
- BACP Find a Therapist Directory 01455 883300 Through the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) you can find out more about counselling services in your area.
- Mind Infoline 0300 123 3393, Email: info@mind.org.uk Text: 86463 Post: Mind Infoline, PO Box 75225, London, E15 9FS. "Mind provides confidential mental health information services. With support and understanding, Mind enables people to make informed choices. The Infoline gives information on types of mental health problems, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind works in partnership with around 140 local Minds providing local mental health services."
- Mind How can I find a therapist? overview, including NHS therapists, Charity and third sector therapists, Therapists at your place of work or education, and Private therapists.
- Rethink Advice and Information Service 0300 5000 927 Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4.00pm offers practical advice to adults living in England who are affected by mental illness, including people with a mental health problem, their friends, families, carers, as well as professionals who may want to know more about mental illness and how they can support the person they are working with. The Advice Service are expertly trained in a range of issues, including: mental health conditions, access to care and treatment, different medications and treatments, individual rights under the Mental Health Act, social care, and welfare benefits. Advice is also available to carers about their rights and how they can support the person they care for. Written advice is also available by e-mailing advice@rethink.org or writing to PO Box 17106, Birmingham WMid, B9 9LL.
- The Mental Health Foundation offers an overview "Getting help for my mental health and how to access support" that includes links to a variety of resources.
AskMe Threads About Finding A Therapist
- What's the best way to find a good therapist (or doctor)
- Get a Therapist: How?
- How do I even start to locate the therapist that I think would be right for me among so many options?
- I have a lot of questions about therapy
- Finding a therapist: I'm sure I can find one. But how do I know whether the therapist I choose is any good?
- Nuts and bolts of effective psychological therapy from a patient's point of view.
- Need help in choosing a psychologist
- Finding the Right Therapist
- What's a good way to find a qualified therapist, especially to look for help with depression?
- Reputable residential psychiatric treatment for 16-year-old
- How can I see a therapist on my parents' insurance without my parents finding out?
- Teenage niece would like therapy for DPD but parents not supportive
Specific Comments
- Advice from The Straightener, on How to Find a Therapist
- Advice from Omiewise: "Patients who want to get the most out of therapy should...."
Specific Therapist Recommendations
US
- Arizona: Tucson (Marriage/Couples Counselor / Therapist)
- California: Bay Area I, Bay Area II, Bay Area III (mindfulness for children)
- California: Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito/Richmond
- California: Los Angeles I, Los Angeles II (sliding scale), Los Angeles III, Los Angeles IV (anxiety disorders) Los Angeles V
- California: Stanford / Palo Alto-Menlo Park Area
- California: San Francisco (evening/weekend hours), San Francisco II (who also takes Kaiser insurance), San Francisco III (male survivors of sexual abuse as children)
- California: Sacramento (Japanese-speaking)
- Colorado: Denver Area
- Georgia: Atlanta
- Illinois: Chicago Area (free/sliding scale), Chicago Metro Area (CBT), Chicago Downtown/Northside, Chicago area (substance abuse)
- Maryland: Baltimore (familiar with CBT)
- Massachusetts: Boston Area
- Massachusetts: Cambridge (intelligent, takes Tufts insurance)
- Minnesota: Minneapolis -- Western Suburbs
- Minnesota: Twin Cities Area
- New York: Astoria
- New York: Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan
- New York: Manhattan I, Manhattan II, Manhattan III, Upper East Side, Manhattan IV (Gay issues), Manhattan V, Manhattan VI (transgender), Manhattan VII (CBT) Manhattan VIII (problematic drinking) Manhattan IX (career issues)
- What person can I pay to find my sister a therapist who takes medicaid? (NYC)
- New York: Nassau County (OP is minor being abused)
- North Carolina: Asheville
- North Carolina: Chapel Hill
- North Carolina: Durham
- North Dakota: Fargo / Moorehead
- Oregon: Portland Area I (queer friendly), Portland Area II, Northeast Portland Area III, (grief) Portland Area IV (abuse), Portland Area V (marriage counseling)
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Area I (sliding scale), Philadelphia Area II, Philadelphia Area III, Philadelphia Area IV (CBT)
- Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh (CBT)
- Texas: Austin
- Texas: Beaumont Area
- Texas: Dallas Area
- Texas: Waco Area (for polyamorous triad)
- Texas: Houston (couples counseling)
- Virginia: Alexandria (couples counseling)
- Virginia: Richmond I (anxiety and panic specialties), Richmond II (PTSD and depression)
- Washington: Seattle Area I, Seattle Area II (sexual issues), Seattle Area III(menschy), Seattle Area IV, Seattle Area V (Queer friendly), Seattle VI
- Washington, DC I. Washington, DC II (Metro-accessible, grief/trauma)
- Wisconsin: Milwaukee/Madison (gender therapist)
Australia
Canada
China
- Beijing (English-speaking)
Israel
Japan
UK: Scotland
Online Support, Suggested in AskMe
These resources are not suggested as a replacement for real-life therapy, but may be helpful for support, self-discovery and advice:
- Online-only CBT (ish) Courses for Bad Esteem, Intrustive Thoughts
- My Support Forums, was Psych Central Forums. Registration required, an online community of emotional and mental health support groups.
AskMe Threads about Short-Term Coping Strategies for Anxiety
- Looking for anxiety self-help strategies before pursuing therapy/meds
- How to manage my anxiety until I can get to see a therapist?
- Short-term anxiety busters?
- How do I keep my sanity and my job?
- Quick fixes for imposter syndrome
Grief Resources
Grief Counseling Resource Guide - A Field Manual (NYS Office of Mental Health) (internet archive) (pdf) (internet archive)
FPP: Each person’s grief is as unique as their fingerprint (David Kessler on the Difference Between Mourning and Grief)
AskMe Threads about Grief and Grieving
- Good grief (Help me figure out if I'm grieving or wallowing, and how to grieve well.)
- How do you bear unbearable grief?
- after all these years (Are there productive/creative ways one can process one's grief?)
- Strategies/Resources for Handling Multiple Deaths
- Next-level sympathy scripts
- Dealing with inherited possesions and letting go
- I need to stop talking about it
- How to recognize loss at New Years Eve party
- How do you grieve the self you used to be?
- How to help my parents with my mom's cancer
- Some questions for other widows or those who lost a partner
- Resources for remotely grieving a pet
- how To deal with pervasive sadness after the death of your spouse?
- Condolence gift after a sudden passing
- Help needed for mourning online companion
Depression resources
General advice about Depression
Depression creates cognitive distortions that can make getting help seem difficult or impossible. People who do a lot of thinking can often think themselves into a dangerous corner. This section may help you act, spurred on by this MeTa thread.
LobsterMitten offers this broad summary of AskMe depression advice
- Seek therapy or other one-on-one counseling for help in breaking thought patterns that keep you depressed. Make and keep therapy appointments. If you don't click with the first therapist, don't give up - try another therapist.
- Maybe seek meds; different ones work for different people
- Exercise; this doesn't have to be as hard as you might think
- Be around people (a job, housemates, a coffee shop). Online doesn't count for this
- Shower, dress and get out of the house every day for at least a little while.
- Eat a sensible amount of healthy food.
- Sleep a reasonable amount. If you are sleeping more than 10 hrs a day, make routines with help from others that will help you break out of that pattern
- Don't make up excuses for why you can't do any of 1-7. Making up excuses to stay depressed is a big part of depression.
- If these aren't helping, try again, let someone know.
AskMe Threads For Those Who Are Depressed
- When you are very depressed, it can help to just take things step by step. Here is a step by step guide to taking a shower and to doing just the essentials every day.
- Here is the most popular Ask Metafilter question about depression: What is the single best thing you have done to help control your depression?
- How exactly does one get help for depression?
- Shiny Happy People Speak Out: "Sometimes it feels like everyone on MeFi is depressed, including me. I'd like to hear from the happy ones. What's your secret?"
- When you were in the midst of deep depression, painful painful fear...were there words, stories that helped, even for just a moment? (A comment also speaks about "Imposter Syndrome," where sufferers are convinced that they do not deserve the success they have achieved and are actually frauds.)
- Give me your best Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) hacks!
- How can I save each day from failure? "I'm depressed. What can I do to keep one small negative experience from spiraling into a cascade of negative thoughts about myself?"
- How do you deal with intractable depression
- Does therapy actually work for depression?
- Please help me manage my obsessive thoughts
- How do I make it through the next five days without falling apart? Completely overwhelmed with depression, midterms, medication, and a funeral. (Best Answers: 1, 2)
- Will Work for Happiness
- How do you break out of a depressed/unmotivated/lonely funk? (While in college.)
- Have you found help from depression that did not include medication or talk therapy? If so, please share.
- Therapy for the Uninsured and Rural
AskMe Threads for Those Who Would Like To Help Someone Suffering From Depression
- What can I do to help my severely depressed and overworked boyfriend?
- My husband is depressed and wants to kill himself. He refuses counseling. How can I stop him? How can I help a man who refuses help?
- How should I respond to my suicidal sibling's email?
- Help me understand how depression can affect or end a relationship.
- Please help me treat a depressed boyfriend the best that I can.
- I need help on how to deal with (i.e., break up with) my girlfriend with mental health issues.
- My girlfriend's OCD and anxiety causes her to get stuck in loops of obsessive thought that really mess with our relationship. How can I deal with this better, and can therapy help her?
- My sister has an alcohol and/or prescription and/or depression problem. What can I do to help her and in what order?
- I'm getting therapy. He refuses. Now what?
- Help me help my anxious, bipolar, stressed-out friend.
- Treating treatment-resistant depression.
- Is there such thing as Internet Emergency Services?
- Suicidal Nephew Possibly Moving In - No Job, No GED, No Car
- First steps for drug addiction recovery?
AskMe Threads about Talking To Loved Ones About Your Depression
- My husband thinks my depression is a choice, how do I talk to him?
- How do you keep your relationship happy and good when you feel like crap?
- I'm depressed and need my friends. How do I let them know?
- How to tell boyfriend of my depression?
- I'm getting therapy. He refuses. Now what?
Books, Articles &c.
Books that members have found helpful and have recommended to others in AskMe
- Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Excerpt available at Google Books. (repeatedly highly recommended by Metafilter members.)
- How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me: One Person's Guide to Suicide Prevention offers strategies for recognizing, targeting, and overcoming suicidal thoughts.
- An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison, Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins.
- (Regardless of What You Were Taught to Believe) There Is Nothing Wrong with You: Going Beyond Self-Hate and The Depression Book: Depression as an Opportunity for Spiritual Growth by American Zen teacher Cheri Huber.
- How To Lift Depression ...Fast
Additional Resources
- Art Kleiner's How Not To Commit Suicide, is one of the most recommended articles in AskMefi threads about suicide and depression.
- Demystifying Depression Originally posts on Kuro5hin, now on WikiBooks. "By writing this document we hope to provide you with the knowledge everyone should have about their mental well-being. Depression is not an unavoidable fate. It is physical. The good news is that you can recover and yes, even learn to be happier than you have ever been before."
- "We all tend to think in extremes...and when traumatic events happen we think that way even more. Here are some common cognitive distortions. Take a look and see if any of them are getting in your way": (An excerpt from David D. Burns' work The Feeling Good Handbook)
- Suicide, the Forever Decision is a book by Paul Quinnett that is available to view for free online (PDF)
- MoodGym (often recommended)
- If you are thinking about suicide... read this first
- Depression lies because Depression is a dick.
- Danielle Tcholakian, Surviving Depression
Postpartum Depression Resources
International
USA and Canada
UK
- The PANDAS Foundation offers a free Help Line at 0808 1961 776, 9am – 8pm every day, online support, a support group directory, and other resources.
Further Reading
- The Secret Sadness of Pregnancy with Depression
- PPD - includes links to a variety of support resources
AskMe Threads
- How to pick a therapist to help my anxiety (before pregnancy/parenting)
- help me understand postpartum hormones
- Postpartum Depression vs. Sleep Deprivation
- Apps for Prenatal and Postpartum Care
- Avoiding postpartum mental illness?
- How to handle my healthy pregnancy and friends' pregnancy struggles?
- I'm new to depression. Please help.
- End in sight for PPD?
- How do I support a friend with PPD?
- Was having a baby a mistake?
- How do we make sure our kids have fully-functioning parents?
Alcoholism Resources
AskMe Threads about having a problem with drinking
- How can I tell if I'm an alcoholic?
- Does alcohol abuse equate to alcohol dependence?
- Finding the right AA meeting for a beginner
- Can I go to AA meetings even though I'm still drinking?
- How to make it physically easier to stop drinking?
- Finally admitted to myself that I'm an alcoholic. Recovery strategies without AA?
- Getting through the early days of sobriety
AskMe Threads about dealing with someone else's drinking
- What are your experiences with Al-Anon?
- Alcohol-Related Marriage Problems - Advice?
- My boyfriend thinks he's an alcoholic - Should he go to AA?
- Should I feel bad about estranging myself from my alcoholic mother?
- Re-habbing myself while my boyfriend is in rehab
- How to set boundaries with an alcoholic husband
- Help me help him be sober
- Can you help an alcoholic friend?
- My sister is falling off the wagon - what now?
- Is my mom an alcoholic? What do I do?
Resources Suggested in AskMe Threads
For people having a problem with drinking:
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- AA Meeting Finder
- Moderation Management
- Smart Recovery
- Recovering Couples Anonymous
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (USA) has a page on finding and getting help, a page on finding different types of alcohol treatment and a page on assessing whether someone's drinking is a problem or not.
- Patient UK on Alcoholism and Problem Drinking (UK)
For family and friends:
- Al-Anon Alateen - a peer support group for teens who are struggling with the effects of someone else’s problem drinking.
- Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) World Service Organization
Books, Articles &c.
- The "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous, online edition
- Alcohol Withdrawal symptoms
- The Progressive Disease of Alcoholism - graphic flowchart
- Drinking: A Love Story, by Caroline Knapp
- Sober Recovery Community online forum
- Addiction, Lies, and Relationships
- Recovered Provides those in need with access to evidence-based addiction treatment that is reliable, accurate, and trustworthy (formally National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence)
- A Skeptic's Guide to the 12 Steps
- A Place Called Self: Women, Sobriety, and Radical Transformation
MetaTalk Threads
- How can we make ThereIsHelp even better?
- ThereIsHelp comes to profile pages, please help us tweak a feature
- There is help. Mefi win.
Disclaimer
The listing of an organization on this website does not constitute an endorsement of that group. This website and its contributors cannot guarantee the accuracy of information posted here or on any other website. This website and its contributors are not responsible for any advice, information, or assistance that you may obtain by using any of the organizations or websites listed or linked here. This website is for general information purposes only and for use at your own risk.