My friend is depressed and needs emotional support urgently — what do I do?

Stay calm and be present. Tell your friend you're there for them and you care. Listen without judgment — don't try to fix the problem, just hear them. If they mention hurting themselves, take it seriously and help them contact a crisis line (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or a trusted adult immediately. Open Heart Support has step-by-step guides for exactly this situation.

How do I help a friend who is struggling with depression?

Check in regularly, listen actively, and let them know they're not alone. Avoid saying things like 'just cheer up' — instead ask open questions like 'how are you really feeling?'. Encourage them to talk to a counselor or therapist. Open Heart Support provides teen-friendly resources, scripts, and AI coaching to help you support your friend.

What should I say to a friend who is emotionally struggling?

Say: 'I'm here for you', 'You don't have to go through this alone', or 'I care about you and I want to help.' Avoid minimizing their feelings. Open Heart Support's AI coach can guide you on exactly what to say in different situations.

How do I help a friend who is having a panic attack?

Stay calm, move them to a quiet spot, and help them slow their breathing — try breathing in for 4 seconds, holding for 4, and breathing out for 6. Remind them the feeling will pass and that they are safe. Don't tell them to 'calm down.' If it's their first panic attack or it doesn't ease, consider reaching out to a crisis line or a trusted adult.

What do I do if my friend is being bullied?

Listen without judgment, take what they're feeling seriously, and ask what kind of support they want — some teens want you to speak up, others just want you nearby. Encourage them to tell a trusted adult, and if it's cyberbullying, help them block and report the accounts. Open Heart Support has scripts and steps for exactly this situation.

How can I support a grieving friend?

Show up and stay present — you don't need the perfect words. Say their loss matters, check in regularly over the following weeks (not just the first few days), and avoid clichés like 'everything happens for a reason.' Offer specific help like bringing food or sitting together. Consistency means more than big gestures.

Where can I find free mental health resources for teens near me?

Open Heart Support's Find Help page lets you search for nearby mental health clinics, support groups, and crisis services by zip code or your current location. You can also call or text 988 anywhere in the United States for free, confidential support, 24/7.

Is Open Heart Support free and private?

Yes. Open Heart Support is completely free and built around youth privacy law — COPPA, FERPA, and HIPAA-aligned. No data is sold, and your activity stays private to you. It is a teen mental health and emotional support platform, not a cardiac or heart-surgery resource.

What is Support Squad?

Support Squad manages 5 data types including journal entries. Helps you organize, track, and share your work in 1 place for teams and solo users.

How do I find mental health resources near me?

Enter your 5-digit ZIP code in the search box on this page. We instantly look up mental health facilities, clinics, support groups, and hotlines in our own database for your area — no live web search, so results always load fast. National crisis hotlines are always listed below the results.

How do I know if my friend needs professional mental health help?

Trust your gut. If your friend mentions feeling hopeless, talks about not wanting to be here, stops doing things they love, withdraws, or their mood lasts more than a couple of weeks, it's worth suggesting they talk to a professional. You don't have to diagnose them — just point them toward someone who can. Search your ZIP code above to find local facilities, and share the crisis hotlines if they're in immediate distress.

What counts as a mental health crisis?

A crisis is when someone might be in immediate danger — for example, if your friend talks about harming themselves, says goodbye in a way that feels final, or you can't reach them and you're worried. In those moments, don't wait. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911 right away. It's always better to act and be wrong than to wait and be right.

What should I say when I suggest my friend get mental health help?

Keep it simple and from the heart. Try: 'I care about you, and I've been worried. I found some places near us that could help — can we look at them together?' Avoid making them feel broken or pressured. Offer to sit with them while they call a facility or a hotline.

Are mental health hotlines free and confidential?

The search and hotlines listed here are free to use. You don't need to log in, and we don't track who searches for what. If you call a hotline, what you say stays between you and the counselor.

Where does the facility data come from?

Facility listings are stored in our own curated database, sourced from public U.S. mental health directories. Because we keep the data locally, your ZIP code search is instant and does not depend on a live third-party map service.

Find Resources for Your Friend

Enter your ZIP code or City, State to instantly find mental health facilities, clinics, support groups & hotlines near you — from our own database.

No login needed — free & confidential

In a crisis right now? Help is one tap away — free, 24/7, and confidential.

Call 988 Text 988 Call 911

Or text HOME to 741741 — Crisis Text Line.

Search by ZIP Code or City, State

Type your 5-digit ZIP code or "City, State" (e.g. Brooklyn, NY) to find mental health facilities and support near you. Results come from our own database, so they load instantly.

Try:

Enter your ZIP code or City, State to find resources near you

Results load instantly from our own database.

Crisis & Mental Health Hotlines

Verified

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Anyone in crisis

24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your friend.

Call or Text 988 Website

Crisis Text Line

Prefer texting

Free, 24/7 crisis support by text. A trained crisis counselor will text with you.

Text HOME to 741741Text HOME to 741741Website

The Trevor Project

LGBTQ+ youth

24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people under 25.

Call 1-866-488-7386Text START to 678-678Website

SAMHSA National Helpline

Substance use

24/7 free, confidential treatment referral and information for substance use and mental health.

Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)Website

NAMI HelpLine

Mental health info

Mon–Fri 10am–10pm ET. Info, resource referrals and support for people with mental health conditions.

Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)Text "HelpLine" to 62640Website

Veterans Crisis Line

Veterans

24/7 confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, and their loved ones.

Dial 988, then press 1Text 838255Website

RAINN — Sexual Assault

Survivors

24/7 free, confidential support for survivors of sexual violence.

Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Website

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Domestic violence

24/7 confidential support for anyone affected by relationship abuse.

Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)Text START to 88788Website

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline

Child safety

24/7 support for children and adults dealing with child abuse.

Call or Text 1-800-422-4453 Website

Trans Lifeline

Trans community

Peer support and crisis line run by and for trans people.

Call 1-877-565-8860 Website

National Runaway Safeline

Runaway/homeless youth

24/7 support for runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth and their families.

Call 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929)Text 66008Website

Emergency Services

Immediate danger

If your friend is in immediate physical danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 911 right away.

Call 911

All numbers above are verified national U.S. hotlines. Local clinic and group details below are sourced live and should be confirmed by calling ahead.

How to Find Mental Health Help Near You

When your friend is struggling with depression, anxiety, or emotional pain, finding the right help can feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through how to locate mental health clinics, support groups, crisis services, and hotlines in your area — and how to choose the right resource for your friend's situation.

Use the search tool above to find real, operating mental health resources near your friend's location. Enter a city or zip code to see clinics, support groups, and crisis services in the area. You can also use your current location to find resources nearby.

Types of Mental Health Resources You Can Find

Mental Health Clinics

Licensed facilities providing therapy, counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and ongoing treatment. Many offer sliding-scale fees based on income. Use the search above to find clinics near your friend that accept new patients.

Support Groups

Peer-led or professionally facilitated groups where people with similar experiences share support and coping strategies. Available for depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and more. Often free and meet weekly.

Crisis Services

Emergency mental health services for situations where someone is in immediate danger. Includes crisis hotlines, mobile crisis teams, and emergency psychiatric services. If your friend is in danger, call 988 or 911.

Hotlines

Free, confidential phone and text lines staffed by trained counselors available 24/7. Provide immediate support, crisis intervention, and referrals to local resources. See the verified national hotlines listed above.

When to Seek Emergency Mental Health Help

Seek emergency help immediately if your friend:

•Talks about wanting to die or harm themselves
•Has a specific plan to hurt themselves
•Says goodbye or gives away meaningful possessions
•Is experiencing a mental health crisis with risk of harm
•Cannot be reached and you are worried about their safety

Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or911 immediately. It's always better to act and be wrong than to wait and be right.

How to Choose the Right Mental Health Resource

Assess the urgency

If it's a crisis, call a hotline or 911. If it's ongoing support, look for a clinic or support group.

Consider the type of help

Therapy and counseling for ongoing issues, support groups for shared experiences, crisis lines for emergencies.

Check availability

Call ahead to confirm hours, intake processes, and whether they're accepting new clients.

Consider cost

Many clinics offer sliding-scale fees. Support groups are often free. Hotlines are always free.

Verify credentials

For clinics and counselors, check that they are licensed and experienced with the relevant concerns.

Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Options

Crisis hotlines are always free and available 24/7
Support groups are often free or low-cost
Community mental health centers offer sliding-scale fees
School counselors are free for students
NAMI offers free peer support and education programs

Mental Health Resources for Teens and Young People

If your friend is a teen or young adult, there are resources specifically designed for them:

The Trevor Project

24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth under 25

Crisis Text Line

Text-based crisis support preferred by many young people

School counselors

Free support available at every school

Teen-specific support groups

Peer groups for teens dealing with similar challenges

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Notice & Legal Disclaimer

We're not professional help — and we'll always tell you to get it. Support Squad helps teens support a friend through hard times with peer-support tools, guidance, and resources. It is not medical, mental health, or emergency care, and does not replace a licensed therapist, counselor, doctor, or emergency services. We encourage you and your friend to seek a professional whenever more than a friend can give is needed. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact emergency services right away.

Crisis? Get help now:

988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text) · Text HOME to 741741 — Crisis Text Line · 911 — Emergencies

Youth privacy & safety. We comply with U.S. laws protecting minors and students, including COPPA (no users under 13), FERPA (education records), and HIPAA-aligned data handling. Reports and personal data are stored securely and visible only to trained moderators. Anyone under 18 should involve a trusted adult when seeking care.

Accessibility. The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require accessible digital services. We follow WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines for color contrast, keyboard navigation, and screen-reader support. If you encounter an accessibility barrier, email accessibility@openheartsupport.org so we can fix it.

Privacy & Safety·U.S. Laws & Policies

Support Squad is a peer-support tool that helps teens support a friend — it is not professional care, counseling, or emergency services. We encourage seeking a licensed professional for real help. We follow U.S. youth privacy laws (COPPA, FERPA, HIPAA-aligned) and accessibility standards (ADA, Section 504, WCAG 2.1 AA). Report barriers to accessibility@openheartsupport.org. In a crisis, call or text 988 or dial 911.

Privacy & Safety·U.S. Laws & Policies

Find Mental Health Help•Privacy & Safety•U.S. Laws & Policies•