Free Mental Health Resources in the US

Free mental health support is available across the United States.

988, Crisis Text Line, and the NAMI HelpLine are free to use. Community clinics adjust their fees to income and family size.¹

Free help right now, day or night

Two national services offer immediate support at any hour. ²

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.² The Lifeline is free and confidential. It answers 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

It covers the United States and its territories.³ Support is there for suicidal crisis, emotional distress, and alcohol or drug concerns.²

The 988 site lists options for Deaf and hard-of-hearing callers.² Behind 988 sits a network of more than 200 local crisis centres.³

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States.⁴ The service is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Web chat and WhatsApp options are also offered.

Trained volunteer crisis counsellors reply by text.⁴ Crisis Text Line is a non-profit mental health charity.

Free emotional support and guidance

NAMI HelpLine

Call 1-800-950-6264 or text NAMI to 62640.⁵ The HelpLine is a free, confidential nationwide peer-support service. Trained peers offer one-on-one emotional support and mental health information.

They can also help you find services near you. Specialty lines serve teens and young adults, family caregivers, and Spanish speakers.⁵

The HelpLine runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm ET.⁵ It is not a crisis line. In a crisis, call or text 988 instead.

211

Call 211 for help, or find your local 211 online.⁶ It connects you to expert, caring help. Every call is completely confidential.

Mental health is a dedicated referral category at 211.org.⁶ The line also covers housing, food, healthcare, and utilities. It is run by United Way.

Ongoing care when money is tight

For ongoing treatment, federally funded community health centres are the main low-cost route.

They must serve everyone, even people who cannot pay.¹ Fees adjust to income and family size on a sliding scale.

About 1,400 health centres run more than 16,200 service sites.⁷ They operate in all US states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

Search by city, state, or ZIP code at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.⁷ Walk-in and appointment access varies by centre, so phone ahead.

Find free help in your state

Two national tools already reach every state.

• Dial 211 for confidential referrals to mental health support near you.
• Use the health centre locator at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov to find a community health centre nearby.⁷

Ask 211 or the NAMI HelpLine about services for specific groups. You may also want private care, and our guide on how to find the right therapist can help.

Which service should I contact first?

• You are in danger now: use the emergency and crisis contacts at the top of this page.
• You need to talk to someone right now: call or text 988.²
• You would rather text: text HOME to 741741.⁴
• You want information or help finding services: call the NAMI HelpLine on 1-800-950-6264.⁵
• You need local referrals, or help with housing or food too: dial 211.⁶
• You need ongoing, affordable treatment: search findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov for a community health centre.⁷

Reaching out can feel hard, and support is real and free. You do not have to manage alone.

References

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional assessment or care. If this is affecting your life, consider reaching out to a qualified mental health professional.

References

1. [1] HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care - What is a Health Center. bphc.hrsa.gov.
2. [2] 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988lifeline.org.
3. [3] 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - About. 988lifeline.org/about.
4. [4] Crisis Text Line. crisistextline.org.
5. [5] NAMI HelpLine (National Alliance on Mental Illness). nami.org/support-education/nami-helpline.
6. [6] 211 (United Way). 211.org.
7. [7] HRSA-funded Community Health Centers (Find a Health Center). findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.