Sometimes people are experiencing emotional distress and need to speak with someone who specializes in the mental health field. We encourage you to speak to a parent, caretaker, or trusted adult first to explain what you are feeling and together think about how to best access help.

ASKING FOR HELP

Below are some words you might use to ask for help from a parent or trusted adult

• Over the last couple of weeks, I have been feeling differently.
• I have been feeling sad because...
• Here is what I am noticing...

• I might need someone to talk to.
• I've being having thoughts about hurting myself.
• I'm really struggling with how I am feeling and don't know what to do.
• Websites and phone numbers to access resources for mental health needs, including crisis hotlines for teens

INFORMATION ABOUT DIFFERENT MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS

	Visit the Wellness Center circular bookshelf for a list of Tip Sheets. The Sheet Topics include:
	DEPRESSION MAKING FRIENDS BULLYING STRESS EATING DISORDER GRIEF & LOSS SOCIAL ANXIETY

Note: Whyville's Wellness Center does not endorse or recommend any third party commercial products or services. The Wellness Center is not responsible for, and disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the site. The following is a list of resources for you to look through and consider. We have provided links to information about specific mental illnesses, treatment resources, and general mental health information.

Suicidal thoughts or urges

• Emergency Services: Dial 911 or visit the emergency department of your local hospital.

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-TALK (8255)

  A toll free, confidential, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that will connect you to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you.

• Nineline Covenant House: www.nineline.org Call 800-999-9999,800-999-9915 (TTY)

  Crisis counselors are available 24/7 to discuss issues around family, relationships, feelings, suicide, basic needs, abuse, health, sex, drugs and alcohol, and running away. The hotline is free and confidential. The Nineline website has information for young people on a wide range of physical and mental health topics.

• Girls & Boys Town Hotline for parents and children: 1-800-448-3000, TTY: 1-800-448-1833

• IMAlive.org: an online crisis network

  IMAlive is a free, confidential and secure online chat service that provides live help to people in crisis. All chats are answered by trained volunteers, all of whom use the pseudonym Alex.

Running Away

• National Runaway Safeline Call 1-800-RUNAWAY if you are a teenager who is thinking of running from home, if you have a friend who has run and is looking for help, or if you are a runaway ready to go home. The 24-hour crisis line has an experienced front-line team member ready to help you now. If you're not ready to call, you can post to our bulletin board, send an email, or start a live chat. It's anonymous, confidential and free.
  • Hotline: 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929)
  • Website: http://www.1800runaway.org/

Self-injury

• S.A.F.E. ALTERNATIVES is a nationally recognized treatment approach, professional network, and educational resource base, which is committed to helping you and others achieve an end to self-injurious behavior. The website offers information about the treatment approach, referrals to local mental health providers trained in S.A.F.E., and resources related to self-injury.
  • Hotline: 800-366-8288
  • Website: www.selfinjury.com

Grief and Loss

• National Alliance for Grieving Children The National Alliance for Grieving Children (NAGC) provides a network for nationwide communication between hundreds of children's bereavement support professionals and volunteers who want to share ideas, information and resources with each other to better support the families they serve in their own communities. Through this network, the NAGC offers online education, hosts an annual symposium on children's grief, maintains a national data base of children's bereavement support programs and promotes national awareness to enhance public sensitivity to the issues impacting grieving children and teens.
  • 866-432-1542
  • Website: childrengrieve.org
• The Dougy Center provides a safe place for children, teens, young adults and their families who are grieving a death to share their experiences. We do this through peer support groups, education, and training.
  • 866-775-5683
  • Website: www.dougy.org
• Friends for Survival Friends For Survival, Inc. is a national non-profit outreach organization open to those who have lost family or friends by suicide, and also to professionals who work with those who have been touched by a suicide tragedy. Friends For Survival, organized by and for survivors, has been offering services since 1983. All staff and volunteers have been directly impacted by a suicide death.
  • National Help Line: (800) 646-7322
  • Website: http://www.friendsforsurvival.org/
• Brave Kids provides parents and children with information on health services, financial assistance, support groups, child care, dental assistance, camps, transportation and physical therapy to name a few. Find medical information and resources for children with special needs, chronic illness and disabilities such as: autism, cancer, cerebral palsy, ADHD, ADD and more here at Brave Kids.
  • Toll Free: 800-568-1009
  • Website: www.bravekids.org

Child Abuse

• The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Serving the United States, its territories, and Canada, the Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who, through interpreters, can provide assistance in 170 languages. The Hotline offers crisis intervention, information, literature, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. They can help connect you with the best possible supports in your area. Call the hotline if you: need help and want to talk to a counselor, are in physical or emotional crisis and need support and encouragement, have questions about the signs of child abuse and how to report it. All calls are anonymous and confidential. When you call, a qualified crisis counselor will answer and assist you.
  • Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
  • Website: http://www.childhelp.org/pages/hotline-home

Eating Disorders

• The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the leading non-profit organization in the United States advocating on behalf of and supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, NEDA is here to help. Helpline volunteers will be there to offer support and guidance with compassion and understanding.
  • Confidential Helpline: 1-800-931-2237
  • Website: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-help-support

Support for family members of problem drinkers

• Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else's drinking. Alateens come together to: share experiences, strength, and hope with each other, discuss difficulties, learn effective ways to cope with problems, and encourage one another.
• For meeting information, call: 888-425-2666 (888-4AL-ANON)
• Website: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/home

Relatives with cancer

• The American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org, Call: (800) ACS-2345

  ACS is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. They also can help find supports for family members.

Addiction

• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: http://www.samhsa.gov/

  Provides information about research and treatment for substance abuse for those struggling with addiction

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Your Mind: Sorting It All Out: kidshealth.org/teen

  Provides doctor-approved answers, advice and straight talk on over 100 topics related to everything from feeling sad to relationships to dealing with problems. Site includes answers to questions submitted by teens. In English and Spanish.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): http://www.nami.org/

  NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families.

• http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml
• Just for You: www.healthfinder.gov/justforyou

  Click on "Teens" for information about topics such as drug abuse, stress and depression.

• www.thehealthcenter.info/teen-anxiety
• Mind Zone: www.copecaredeal.org

  Information on topics including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and suicide prevention. Site includes downloadable books with firsthand accounts of teens' experiences with mental illness, up-to-date information from experts on the illnesses and their treatment, and tips for coping in everyday life. There are also links to other helpful web sites.

• What a Difference a Friend Makes: www.whatadifference.org/

  On this site "find tools to help in the recovery process, and you can also learn about the different kinds of mental illnesses, [and] read real-life stories about support and recovery." Some material also in Spanish. From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Disclaimer: Material in Whyville's Wellness Center is intended as general information. It is not a recommendation for treatment, nor should it be considered medical or mental health advice. Whyville's Wellness Center urges families to discuss all information and questions related to medical or mental health care with a health care professional.