As we strive for better physical wellness, we can take steps to improve our mental health. This looks different for everyone. Perhaps you’d like to talk to someone, focus more on self care, consider medication, and/or seek other treatments. No matter your challenges, there are options to help you.
Use this guide to find the support that works for you and your loved ones. Resources are available 24/7.
Looking for mental health help? There are several ways to start your search.
If you have Medicaid coverage in Pennsylvania, you can find an in-network provider by clicking on the Behavioral Health Managed Care Organization (BH-MCO) listed for your county.
The Pennsylvania Department of Insurance is here to help you if you are having trouble with the mental health benefits covered by your insurance. Call them at 877-881-6388 for assistance.
You might qualify for Medical Assistance, also known as Medicaid. Unlike many other health insurance options, you can enroll any time. If you do not know if you are eligible, you can still apply.
There are four ways to apply:
For Kids and Teens
CHIP covers all kids and teens with quality health care coverage. Like Medicaid, enrollment is always open. Learn more on the CHIP website.
Know Your Options
Learn about health care options and enrollment availability on the Department of Insurance website.
Please call 911 if danger for self-harm seems imminent.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone — no matter how much pain you are experiencing.
Remember that emotions aren’t fixed, and how you feel today might not be the same as how you feel tomorrow.
Take these immediate actions suggested by HelpGuide :
You are valued and there are people who care about you and resources here to help.
Suicide prevention is all of our business. Oftentimes, if a person in crisis gets the professional help they need, they will never be suicidal again.
If someone says they are thinking about suicide, they need professional help. Don’t play it down or ignore the situation.
More tips on supporting a person who is suicidal from Mayo Clinic .
See more warning signs and risk factors for suicide from Prevent Suicide PA.
Not sure who to reach out to for help? You can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) and text the Crisis Text Line (741741) to talk about your concerns for someone else.
Are you a veteran in crisis or are you concerned about a veteran in crisis? Here’s how to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line:
Coping with loss is overwhelming. It’s normal to experience a wide range of emotions.
Any loss can cause grief, including;
Please go easy on yourself if you are experiencing grief. It is normal to feel grief from even subtle losses in life.
Mental Health America shares these tips for living with grief:
One day the pain will lessen. Until then, if you need extra support, that’s completely normal. Get connected to help and resources in your area through Pennsylvania’s Support and Referral Helpline: 855-284-2494 (TTY: 724-631-5600).
We all experience stress from time to time, but if you are feeling more stressed out than usual or your stress won’t go away, you might want to take action to protect your health.
Here are some tips for managing stress from the National Institute of Mental Health :
If you are feeling overwhelmed, please seek out help. Use Psychology Today’s search engine and/or SAMHSA’s search tool to find therapists, treatment facilities, health care centers, support groups, and more.
You deserve to feel fully heard and understood when seeking support and resources. There are professionals/organizations that understand the unique experiences that come with being LGBTQ.
If you are in need of immediate support, please call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386, chat online with TrevorChat , or text START to 678-678 to have a text conversation.
If you are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, you are not alone. Help is available.
The Fairweather Lodge Program provides emotional support, a place to live, and employment for people with serious mental illness.
Your struggles are real and valid, and there is so much help available to you.
Whatever you are going through, you are absolutely not alone. Even though people your age might not be talking about feeling down, experiencing anxiety, or having other mental health struggles, these issues are common and it’s not your fault that you are experiencing them.
If you are having thoughts of suicide or are thinking about harming yourself, please reach out to a trusted adult and/or consider texting the Crisis Text Line: Just text PA to 741741 to get the conversation started.
You deserve to feel mentally well. Here are some common signs that you might want to reach out for help so you can start feeling better:
If a friend confides in you that they are considering harming themselves, do not keep it a secret. Reach out to a trusted adult and/or call The Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
The best thing you can do for your friend is intervene, and quickly.
Here are tips on what to do from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) :
Safe2Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
Do you think someone is going to harm themselves? Did you see something scary that concerns you online?
If it makes you uncomfortable, submit a tip. It will be up to your school to determine what the next steps are.
If you have experienced violence, it is not your fault. The sooner you get help, the sooner you can begin to feel better.
Trauma can have long-term effects on mental health. You are not alone.
It is normal to:
If these reactions are interfering with daily activities, you may want to seek some help. Some signs from the National Institute of Mental Health that you might need help:
Children might:
In addition to reaching out for help if you need it, try to avoid alcohol and other drugs, spend time with supportive loved ones, and maintain normal routines as much as possible.
If you suspect child abuse, report it. Call ChildLine at 800-932-0313. Find other resources on the Keep Kids Safe website.
If you witness or hear a violent incident, do not ignore it and don’t intervene on your own. Call 911 immediately.
Pennsylvania has more than 50 domestic violence programs to help victims find safety. Find your closest domestic violence program and/or call the National Helpline at 800-799-7233.
It’s not always easy to identify domestic violence. Here are some warning signs to watch for from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV):
Worried you might be in an abusive relationship? Take the “Is this abuse?” quiz from PCADV.
If someone comes to you to say they have experienced sexual violence, the most important thing you can do is remain calm. Believe them and remind them that it is not their fault.
Pennsylvania’s rape crisis centers provide 24/7 confidential services for those who have experienced sexual assault. Find your local rape crisis center with this map from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape or call 888-772-7227 for support and services, including:
Find more resources through the National Sexual Violence Resource Center — located right here in Pennsylvania.
Are you a veteran in crisis or are you concerned about a veteran in crisis? Here’s how to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line:
Here are three common mental health concerns for military members, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):
If you are struggling with any of these concerns, please seek out help. Find a health care provider in the TriCare network by searching online.
Learn more about common military mental health concerns and how to help a fellow warrior on the NAMI website .
Find more mental health resources for veterans on the federal Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Military Sexual Assault
The Department of Defense’s Safe Helpline is here to help survivors of sexual assault. Use the Safe Helpline website for live chats, reporting retaliation, and more. Get help by phone at 877-995-5247.
Substance Use Disorder is a disease, and you deserve to get help for your illness.
Signs that you might need help include:
Recovery starts with a call. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for information about treatment resources. Your call is confidential. The hotline is staffed by trained professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is available in both English and Spanish.
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has a search engine for finding treatment, as well. Search by ZIP code, county, or statewide for programs that could help you.
What to ask treatment providers to determine if they are right for you.
Starting a conversation about getting help isn’t easy. These tips from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism are helpful for talking with your loved one about getting treatment:
The National Association of Children of Addiction educates and supports children and family members to lead healthy lives despite being hurt by substance use disorder. The organization teaches the “seven Cs” for helping kids cope with parental substance use:
I didn’t cause it. I can’t control it, and I can’t cure it.
I can help take care of myself by communicating my feelings, making healthy choices, and celebrating me.
Alateen has chats for young people, ages 13 to 18, who have been affected by someone else’s substance use. Register for an Alateen Chat .
Whether you’ve just discovered your child’s substance use or you need a new approach, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids’ Parent Helpline is here to help you:
Knowing the facts can help your child get on the road to recovery:
This crisis toolkit has resources for parents of loved ones with substance use disorder.
Get helpful, up-to-date resources by following the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs on Facebook and Twitter .
Signs and symptoms of compulsive gambling (gambling disorder) include:
If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Pennsylvania’s Commission on African American Affairs recommends the following resources:
The Association of Black Psychologists suggests these tips for self care when experiencing racial stress or trauma:
Download the full self-care toolkit developed for and by people of African ancestry .
The Black Mental Health Alliance supports the health and well-being of Black people and other vulnerable communities.
Looking for a therapist? Fill out a short questionnaire and someone will follow up with you within 24 hours.
This national effort by Dr. Joy presents mental health topics in a way that feels more accessible and relevant to Black girls and women.
Find a culturally competent therapist by using the Therapy for Black Girls search tool .
WES Health System has a specialized outpatient program to meet the needs of Philadelphia’s growing Asian population.
The program provides medication evaluation and consultation, individual and group therapy, and family and couples therapy in a patient’s native language.
The clinic is located at 2514 N. Broad St., Philadelphia. Contact the office at 215-599-2845.
In January 2020, Governor Wolf announced an initiative called Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters. This initiative is aimed at expanding health care access and ending the stigma that comes with reaching out for help.
Tell the governor’s administration what would help you better your mental health by filling out the Reach Out PA feedback form.
Governor Wolf started a first-of-its-kind statewide Suicide Prevention Task Force in 2019. The task force is focused on reducing the rate of suicide in Pennsylvania.
If you or someone you love is in crisis or you are considering harming yourself, free help is available 24/7 through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Pennsylvania recently rolled out mental health trainings for fire, emergency, and rescue personnel.
Governor Wolf released a “Trauma-Informed PA” plan to guide Pennsylvania on what it means to be trauma-informed and healing centered. The goal is to break the cycle of trauma by setting people on the path to true healing.