A simple act of kindness and understanding can make a big difference!
There are lots of ways to help yourself, your friends or your peers who may be experiencing mental health challenges. Check below for resources to help YOU take action, because one person can make a difference!
1. TALK ABOUT IT
Person to person
2. HELP SOMEONE GET HELP
3. JOIN or START A SUPPORT GROUP
4. LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
5. BE A PEER SUPPORTER OR MENTOR
6. CREATE & SHARE VIDEOS, BLOGS, PICTURES, ETC. to RAISE AWARENESS
There are lots of ways to help yourself, your friends or your peers who may be experiencing mental health challenges. Check below for resources to help YOU take action, because one person can make a difference!
1. TALK ABOUT IT
Person to person
- Here are three ways to reach out others.
- For more great tips, visit the Born This Way Foundation’s braverytips.org.
- Time to Change is a group from the UK that has even more tips for talking.
- Want inspiration from down under? Visit RUOK? for stories about how a conversation can make a difference.
- OK2TALK is an online community for teens and young adults struggling with mental health to share stories of challenges, hope and recovery.
- When the Mask Comes Off is a documentary & discussion guide that can help your school or community talk about mental health and find youth driven solutions.
2. HELP SOMEONE GET HELP
- Crisis Text Line – text “Listen” to 741-741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
- SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline –1‑877‑SAMHSA7 (1‑877‑726‑4727)
- Join Strengthofus.org, online community designed to empower young adults through resource sharing and peer support (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- Mental Health America has online screenings and links to local providers
3. JOIN or START A SUPPORT GROUP
- NAMI Connection will help you find free support groups in your area
- Start your own group. Here is an example of a peer support group called JoinRiseBe from Connecticut.
4. LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
- Join Strengthofus.org, online community designed to empower young adults through resource sharing and peer support (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
- To learn more about the basics of mental health, visit mentalhealth.gov or NAMI
- To learn what young people in your area are facing check out Crisis Text Line Trends
5. BE A PEER SUPPORTER OR MENTOR
- Here are some best practices for peer supporters from the International Association of Peer Supporters.
- Get trained!
- Mental Health First Aid trainings help you assist someone experiencing a mental health related crisis.
- Get trained to offer eCPR
- If you have lived experience with mental health, you can become a Certified Peer Specialist
- The International Association of Peer Supporters also offers trainings.
6. CREATE & SHARE VIDEOS, BLOGS, PICTURES, ETC. to RAISE AWARENESS
- Submit videos or stories to NotaloneNami, twitter, facebook or other social media. Use hashtag #texttalkact to keep you connected with other participants.
- Here are a few videos to get your creative juices flowing
- Text Talk Act promotional video.
- Minding the Elephant – video encouraging people to talk about mental health.
- The Time to Change website has lots of good videos to help people talk about mental health.
