Resources for Students

As Kevin illustrated, knowing when to ask for help – and being able to reach out for it – shows not only strength and courage, but an emotional intelligence that we are able to take care of ourselves.

Below is a list of online resources: tools to support your own well-being, access to mental health professionals, and crisis helplines.

What To Do If You Are In Crisis:

If you are struggling, you are not alone. And if you are in danger of hurting yourself or someone else, then you need to reach out for help right now. This may feel like the hardest part, but it is so important to take this first step.

Crisis Text Lines:
- United States: Text HOME to 741741
- Canada: Text CONNECT to 686868
- United Kingdom: Text SHOUT to 85258
- Ireland: Text HOME to 50808
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
The Trevor Project – LGBTQ Lifeline: Call 1-866-488-7386, Text START to 678678
Open Counseling: International Crisis Hotlines

Helplines:

National Eating Disorder Association National Helpline: 1-800-931-2237
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Alliance on Mental Illness Cutting/Self-Harm Helpline: Text NAMI to 741741
National Runaway Safeline: 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)

Resources:

1. Screening Tools

Mental Health America (MHA): Take this quiz to assess if you need additional support.

ULifeline: An online resource specific to college mental health, containing information about mental health disorders and a self-evaluator tool.

2. Mental Health and Well-Being Education

Morgan’s Message: A non-profit for student athletes that amplifies stories, resources, and expertise to confront mental health, builds a community by and for athletes, and provides a platform for advocacy.

www.nami.org: NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

Mental Health is Health: An online resource providing information and tips relating to processing emotions.

Mental Health America (MHA): This site shares signs and symptoms, facts, statistics, and the latest news on mental health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): This page covers mental health basics and helps you know what to look for.

Stand for All: An online program offering remote coaching support designed to teach skills and strategies to address common issues like low mood, worry, poor sleep, panic and discomfort around others. Courses are self-paced and can be taken anonymously.

California Surgeon General’s Playbook: An article offering information on stress relief for caregivers and students during Covid 19.

National Institute on Drug Abuse: A project of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this website is written for a teen audience and provides videos and animations as well as science-based activities that support youth in learning more about the way drugs affect the brain and body.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration: A website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that aims to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities by sharing information on finding treatment, evidence-based resources, free programs and helplines.

3. Wellness & Meditation

Headspace: An app that provides instructional videos and guided meditations to support emotional well-being. This app is free for teens.

InsightTimer: A free meditation app with a diverse array of meditation styles.

Liberate: A safe space for the Black community to develop a daily meditation habit.

UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center: An app that offers you guidance and practice in mindfulness meditation.

4. Self-Guided Tools

BeMe: A mental health app made with teens, for all teens— whether you’re curious, struggling, or doing well. With feel-good content, mood-boosting activities, coping skills, chat-based live coaching, and access to counselors.

The Local Optimist: A mental health resource by Madhappy featuring research-backed toolkits, vulnerable personal essays and interviews, and in-person and virtual events that aims to make conversations about mental health easier and help everyone prioritize their well-being.

Berkeley Greater Good: Science-backed exercises to improve wellbeing and happiness, as well as a suite of resources such as podcasts, videos, and quizzes.

Self-Compassion.org: This website curates Dr. Kristin Neff’s ground-breaking work on self-compassion and includes research, recommended practices, and other resources.

Pinterest Well-Being: A collection of short (<5 minutes) evidence-based exercises to help you with stress – developed with the Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation.

I am – Positive Affirmations: An app that will send individuals tailored daily affirmation reminders as often or as little as they desire.

MindDoc: An app that will support individuals in reflecting and monitoring their thoughts and moods.

5. Clinical Services: Online Therapy

Thriveworks: This website features an extensive directory of therapists who specialize in working with children and adolescents. It has both in-person and online counseling options while maintaining the services at an affordable price.

Inclusive Therapists: This website features a directory of mental health professionals with diverse backgrounds who strive to provide safe and equitable therapeutic services.

Therapy for Black Girls: Online space to promote mental wellness in Black women and girls, providing therapy resources and educational materials.

Talkspace: This organization offers a wide range of mental health service options (text, live video, and phone) provided by professional counselors. The organization has specific support available for teenagers.