Call or text 988
In the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support by call, text, and chat, 24 hours a day. You do not have to be suicidal to reach out.
Learn about 988 ↗Community hubMental health
Mental health & emotional wellbeing
Seeking help is a step toward strength.
Stress, grief, anxiety, trauma, depression, family pressures, discrimination, migration challenges, and other experiences can affect anyone. Understanding the signs and knowing where to turn can help individuals and families access appropriate support. This is an information gateway—not a diagnosis or therapy service.
If you need help right now
You do not have to handle a crisis alone.
For immediate danger: call 911
If a person is in immediate physical danger or needs emergency medical attention, contact 911 or your local emergency department. This website does not monitor messages or provide emergency response.
Recognize and respond
When should someone seek professional help?
A qualified professional can help when symptoms are persistent, severe, worsening, or interfere with everyday life. You do not need to wait for a crisis to ask for help.
Possible signs
Persistent sadness or worry, significant changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest, irritability, or problems completing daily responsibilities can be reasons to speak with a clinician.
Where to start
Consider a primary-care clinician, licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, or another qualified mental-health professional. Ask about language access, cultural experience, fees, insurance, and telehealth.
Help for young people and families
Pay attention to sudden changes in behavior, school participation, withdrawal, or concerning statements. Listen without judgment and consult a pediatrician, school counselor, or qualified clinician as appropriate.
Support without shame
Stigma can prevent people from seeking support. Listening respectfully, keeping appropriate boundaries, and offering help finding care can make a difference. Never assume someone’s culture or faith determines their needs.
Trusted external resources
Explore official mental-health information and care directories
NIMH — Caring for Your Mental Health
Practical self-care information, signs that it may be time to seek help, and guidance for speaking with health professionals.
Open original resource ↗NIMH — Do I Need Help?
Plain-language information on when changes in feelings or functioning may warrant professional evaluation.
Open original resource ↗HHS Office of Minority Health — Mental Health
Resources on mental and behavioral health and barriers to access across diverse U.S. communities.
Open original resource ↗HHS Office of Minority Health — Health Services Directory
Directories to help locate health services, including mental-health and substance-use treatment options.
Open original resource ↗SAMHSA — Find Support
Learn about mental-health and substance-use concerns and how to find treatment and support resources.
Open original resource ↗SAMHSA — Faith and Community Leaders
Practical guidance for trusted community leaders in recognizing mental-health concerns and connecting people to care.
Open original resource ↗Care that respects the individual
Cultural understanding matters.
African and Caribbean immigrant families, Black Americans, Hispanic communities, Indigenous families, Asian Americans and many others may face different combinations of barriers: stigma, cost, language differences, provider shortages, discrimination, or limited knowledge of the U.S. healthcare system. No community is uniform.
Questions to ask when selecting a provider
- Are you licensed to provide this type of care in my state?
- Do you have experience with my concerns and the communities or languages relevant to me?
- Do you accept my insurance, offer sliding-scale fees, or provide telehealth?
- How do you protect privacy, and what are the exceptions to confidentiality?
- Can we discuss how my beliefs, family, and community support fit into my treatment preferences?
Notice: This page is general education, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation. We do not provide counseling, clinical care, referrals to particular professionals, or emergency services. Confirm qualifications, costs, and availability directly with providers. Spiritual and community care may complement—but should not replace—appropriate clinical care.