Mental Health Resources
24-Hour Hotlines
- Al-Anon/Alateen Hotline 1-800-344-2666
- American Pregnancy Helpline 1-800-942-6466
- Crisis Text Line Get Help Now: Free, 24/7, Confidential Text HOME to 741-741
- LGBT National Help Center 1-800-246-PRIDE (7743)
- Marijuana Anonymous 1-800-766-6779
- National Drug & Alcohol Treatment Hotline 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
- National Institute of Mental Health 1-888-ANXIETY (269-4389)
- National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
- National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline 1-866-331-9474
- Self-Injury Hotline 1-800-DONT-CUT (1-800-366-8288)
- Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- The Trevor HelpLine 1-800-4-U-Trevor (488-7386)
Click Below!
RESOURCES
Looking for resources for other basic needs such as food, housing and health services?
Mental Health 101
To take control of our emotional health, we have to understand it. Learn about mental health, what influences it and ways to protect and improve it here.
Seize the Awkward - Does a friend, classmate or teammate seem to be struggling?
This campaign encourages young people to reach out to friend who may be struggling with mental health problems.
Set to Go - Need Help Making the Transition to College?
What is your best option after high school? This program guides students and families through the challenges of transitioning from high school to college and adulthood.
What if someone talks to you about their mental health?
Listen. Let them finish their sentences and complete thoughts without interrupting. After they have finished you can respond.
Let them know if you understand. If someone has just spilled their guts and and you’ve gone through something similar—tell them. It helps a lot for someone to know they aren’t alone. Make sure you don’t switch the topic of conversation to your struggles though; focus on their needs.
Avoid being judgmental. Don’t tell them they are being weird or crazy; it’s not helpful at all.
Take them seriously. Try not to respond with statements that minimize how they are feeling or what they are going through, such as, “You’re just having a bad week,” or “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Make yourself available to talk again if needed. While it can be a big relief for someone to share something they have been keeping secret, mental health struggles usually aren’t solved with one conversation. Let the person who has spoken with you know that they can reach out to you again if they are having a tough time. It’s ok to let them know if there is a time of day or certain days of the week that you aren’t available. For instance, “I’m here for you if you need to talk, but my parents don’t let me use the phone after 9 on school nights, so call before then.
Don't turn what you've been told into gossip. If someone is talking to you about their mental health, it was probably tough for them to work up the nerve to say something in the first place and you shouldn’t share what they tell you with other students at school. Let them share on their own terms.
Tell an adult if you have to. It’s important to have friends that trust you, but if a friend indicates they have thoughts or plans of hurting themselves or another person, have been hearing voices or seeing things that no one else can hear or see, or have any other signs and symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored then you need to tell an adult what is going on. That doesn’t make you a bad friend; it just means that the problem requires more help than you can give. If someone you know is in crisis and needs help urgently, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text 741741, go to your local Emergency Room or call 911.
It’s easy to procrastinate getting help, but reaching out for support is the first step to feeling better. Just talking about what’s going on can help you feel better, so take that first step by reaching out for help or opening up to a counselor, teacher, trusted friend or family member. There are ways to feel better, but you have to tell someone what you’re going through.
Contact your counselor for a referral!
USC Telehealth Services
USC offers a great service that is no charge and is open to anyone in need of services. This program is called the SAFE-T Program at USC Telehealth. It is a short term program (8 therapy sessions) where patients will be able to receive therapy via phone and/or Zoom. Contact with info on flyers below or see their website for more info.
Telehealth Client Flyer_English_FINAL_January 2021 (2).pdf (PDF)
Telehealth Client Flyer_Spanish_FINAL_January 2021.pdf (PDF)
HAVE YOU JOINED NAMI YET?
NAMI On Campus Clubs are student-led clubs that tackle mental health issues at high schools and on college campuses by raising mental health awareness, educating the community, supporting students, promoting services, and advocating for more support. These clubs are open to all students, whether they live with a mental health condition, are a family member or friend, or have a general interest in mental health. NAMI on Campus clubs aim to address the mental health needs of all students so they have positive, successful and fun college experiences.
Interested? See Ms. Ortega in the Guidance Office!
National Eating Disorders Association
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.
Click Icon below for NEDA Contact
Self Care Tips
Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.
Here are some tips to help you get started with self-care:
- Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
- Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated. A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Also, limit caffeinated beverages such as soft drinks or coffee.
- Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.
- Try a relaxing activity. Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy such as journaling.
- Set goals and priorities. Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to be mindful of what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.
- Practice gratitude. Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Be specific. Write them down at night, or replay them in your mind.
- Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
- Stay connected. Reach out to your friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.
Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is important to find what you need and enjoy. It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you. In addition, although self-care is not a cure for mental illnesses, understanding what causes or triggers your mild symptoms and what coping techniques work for you can help manage your mental health.
National Institute of Mental Health Website
Need to relax?
Not sure how to talk to your parents?
Talking to a parent about mental health can be scary for a number of reasons. Click this link for some of the most common concerns people give for not talking to their parents and some tips for overcoming them.
ULifeline - Are you able to discuss mental health?
This online resource center offers students information about emotional health issues and resources available to them. While geared toward the college campus, it's a great resource on emotional health.
Suicide Prevention Awareness
You are not alone in helping someone in crisis. There are many resources available to assess, treat and intervene. Crisis lines, counselors, intervention programs and more are available to you, as well as to the person experiencing the emotional crisis.
TeenzTalk.org is a platform for all youth to come together and be heard in a safe, positive environment. We focus on mental health and wellness, harnessing peer connections as a source of strength. Our online content lies in video responses and blog posts by youth, for youth.
The It Gets Better Project - Endless Stream of Inspiring Stories
The It Gets Better Project inspires people across the globe to share their stories and remind the next generation of LGBTQ+ youth that hope is out there, and it WILL GET BETTER.