You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that being strong doesn’t mean doing everything yourself.
For years, I was the person who handled the emergencies, solved the problems, and kept moving forward. Asking for help wasn’t something I was particularly good at. Eventually, I learned that sometimes the bravest thing you can say is, “I need help.”
Through my Mental Health Monday video series, I’ve been sharing organizations, tools, and resources that can help people navigate life’s most difficult moments.
Whether you’re struggling yourself, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for a place to start, I hope you’ll find something helpful here.
You don’t have to wait until everything falls apart to ask for support.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
For anyone experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or a mental health crisis.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You don’t have to be suicidal to reach out. Trained crisis counselors are available to listen, provide support, and help you identify next steps.
Call or text: 988
Website: https://988lifeline.org
Crisis Text Line
For anyone who finds it easier to type the words than say them out loud.
Sometimes talking about what you’re experiencing feels impossible. Crisis Text Line connects you with a trained volunteer crisis counselor through text messaging. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7.
You don’t need to have the perfect words. You just need to start the conversation.
Text: HOME to 741741
Website: https://www.crisistextline.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
For individuals and families navigating mental health challenges.
NAMI provides mental health education, support groups, advocacy, and resources for people living with mental health conditions and those who love them.
Whether you’re trying to understand what someone is experiencing, searching for community support, or looking for guidance, NAMI offers a place to begin.
NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264
Website: https://www.nami.org
Mental Health America (MHA)
For anyone wondering whether what they’re experiencing might be a mental health concern.
Mental Health America offers free, confidential online mental health screening tools that can help you better understand what you’re experiencing.
Screenings are available for concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health conditions. They’re not a diagnosis, but they can be a helpful first step toward understanding your needs and exploring support.
You don’t have to know exactly what’s wrong to begin looking for answers.
Take a screening: https://screening.mhanational.org
Website: https://mhanational.org
The Jed Foundation (JED)
For teens, young adults, parents, and anyone supporting the next generation.
The Jed Foundation works to protect emotional health and prevent suicide among teens and young adults.
One of the messages I’ve shared through Mental Health Monday is the importance of checking on the people who seem to have everything together.
The high achievers. The dependable ones. The people everyone assumes are fine.
Don’t just ask how someone is doing. Make space for an honest answer, and don’t be afraid to ask again.
Website: https://jedfoundation.org
Postpartum Support International (PSI)
For parents and families navigating mental health challenges during pregnancy and after childbirth.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and becoming a parent can bring emotional challenges that people don’t always talk about.
Postpartum Support International provides education, support groups, a helpline, and connections to specialized resources for postpartum depression, anxiety, pregnancy loss, and other perinatal mental health concerns.
You can love your child deeply and still struggle. Those two things can exist at the same time.
HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773
Website: https://www.postpartum.net
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
For anyone looking for mental health or substance use treatment and support.
SAMHSA provides information and tools to help individuals and families locate mental health and substance use treatment services.
Finding help can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already struggling. SAMHSA’s resources can help you identify treatment options and take the next step.
You don’t need to have the whole plan figured out. Sometimes you just need to know where to begin.
National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Find treatment: https://findtreatment.gov
Website: https://www.samhsa.gov
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
For people living with depression or bipolar disorder and those who support them.
DBSA offers peer-led support groups, educational resources, and tools for individuals experiencing mood disorders.
Connecting with people who understand what you’re going through can make a meaningful difference. Support doesn’t always have to come from someone with all the answers. Sometimes it comes from someone who understands the questions.
Website: https://www.dbsalliance.org
A Personal Note
I share these resources because I know what it’s like to be the person everyone depends on while quietly struggling yourself.
My memoir, I Chose to Be Here: Loyalty, Lies, and Leaving the Con, explores what happens when the survival skills that once protected us stop serving us.
I spent years believing strength meant handling whatever life threw at me. I’ve come to understand that strength can also mean recognizing when you need someone else.
If you’re here because you’re having a difficult time, I hope you find the support you deserve.
You matter. Your story matters. And you don’t have to navigate it alone.
With love,
Sarah
These resources are provided for informational purposes and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For immediate emotional or mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.
