Treatment

About Treatment

NAMI Knowledge Article: Can I get mental health help even though I'm only a minor? Experiencing mental health symptoms can be scary and confusing. That's why speaking up and asking for help is a sign of strength. It can be hard to know what to say, but start with something like, I'm not feeling right. I think I need help. Can I talk to you about it? Whether you reach out to a parent, coach, teacher or religious leader, a trusted adult can help you figure out what's next. Mental health services and supports are available and the earlier you access them, the better.

NAMI Video - Why Culturally Competent Care Matters as we prioritize our mental health, it’s crucial to find a therapist who understands and respects our cultural background. Here are the key lessons you might learn on this journey. Let’s break it down together.

NAMI Video - Self-Care University: Animal Therapy NAMI ambassador Alessandra Torresani meets with the staff of Special Spirit Equine Therapy to learn what animal therapy is, how it helps with mental health and brings you along to a live session of equine therapy.

NAMI Video - Self-Care University: Sound Therapy NAMI ambassador Corinne Foxx meets with Sound Healer Danny Santos to learn what sound therapy is, how it helps with mental health, and brings you along to a live session of a sound bath.

NAMI Video - Your therapist is there to help your therapist is there to help, never feel embarrassed or ashamed to reach out.

NAMI Video - Youth - How to Ask for Help Priscilla and Brooke talk about the emotions surrounding asking for help. Reaching out to a caregiver, friend, or mental health professional are all helpful tools. Priscilla and Brooke discuss the tools that they have used when asking for help.

NAMI Video - Youth - Mental Health Treatment Options Ryder talks about the many different mental health treatment options, like medication, one-on-one therapy, and group therapy. He shares that what might work for one person doesn't necessarily mean it will work for everyone, and the importance of trying new things until you find what's right for you.

DocReady - Build your checklist it can be awkward, scary or embarrassing talking about your mental health. Doc Ready helps you to plan what you're going to say and gives you sample ways to say it to your doctor (sometimes called "GP" on this website). You add what you want to say under each topic and create a checklist that we recommend you screenshot, so you can bring it to your appointment.

Finding Treatment

NAMI Knowledge Article: I need to see a Psychiatrist/Therapist. How can I find one? Whether you are just starting your search for a mental healthcare provider, or you have been trying to find a good “fit” for a while, don’t give up. Mental health treatment is available whether you have public insurance, private insurance, or no insurance.

NAMI Knowledge Article: How can I find an inpatient or residential treatment facility? Contains resources to locate an inpatient or residential facility for you or your loved one.

AAKOMA Project helps diverse teenagers and their families achieve optimal mental health through dialogue, learning, and the understanding that everyone deserves care and support. Has resources including a toolkit, statistics, fact sheets, and articles. Offers 5 sessions of free virtual therapy with culturally competent providers nationwide. To qualify, individuals must be 12-30 years old and a member of a racially/culturally marginalized community.

AGLP, The Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists has a database of LGBTQ-friendly psychiatrists near you that are members of the association.

Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) provides a directory which connects Asians and Asian-Americans to culturally aware providers. Also provides fact sheets about suicide, bullying, first generation college students, International Students’ adjustment challenges, partner violence, trauma and violence exposure, substance use, and brain injury. You can also find a bullying awareness campaign, and Asian American/Pacific Islander LBGTQI resources.

Asians for Mental Health Directory provides a directory of Asian and Pacific Islander therapists.

Asian Mental Health Collective raises awareness about the importance of mental health care, promotes emotional well-being, and challenges the stigma concerning mental illness amongst Asian communities globally. Has an Asian American Therapist Directory, support groups, Facebook group, resource library, video web-series, and meetup groups. Also runs the Lotus Therapy Fund, a program that gives 8 free therapy sessions for those who qualify. The program is a needs-based and people are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis.

Black Girls Smile encourages positive mental health education, resources, and support, geared toward young Black women and girls. Has a Therapy Assistance Program that connects and provides financial support for 2-6 months of with culturally, racially, and gender-competent and sensitive therapy sessions for individuals identifying as Black/African American and femme (including pronouns she/her/hers and they/their/theirs).

InnoPsych provides a directory of therapists of color.

Inclusive Therapists provides a directory or directly matches people with therapists or coaches who will offer care specifically for your unique identity. The goal is to ensure people with marginalized identities get equitable access to radically affirming, culturally responsive mental health care. Inclusive Therapists centers the needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and 2SLGBTQIA+ intersections (QTBIPOC).

Latinx Therapy provides a directory of Latinx therapists. Also has a links to a podcast that discusses mental health topics related to Latinas, Latinos and Latinx individuals in efforts to demystify mental health myths and diagnoses.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a free, searchable database of all kinds of doctors, medical professionals and healthcare providers, including mental health professionals, who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people in the USA and Canada.

Loveland Foundation is an organization committed to showing up for communities of color in unique and powerful ways, with a particular focus on Black women and girls. Also runs the Loveland Therapy Fund which provides financial assistance to Black women and girls in need of therapy nationwide. Loveland Therapy Fund recipients will have access to comprehensive lists of
mental health professionals across the country providing high quality, culturally competent services to Black women and girls.

MannMukti is a storytelling platform that enables the South Asian diaspora to normalize and discuss mental health issues. Has a “Stories of Stigma” podcast series that features experts on South Asian mental health. Includes research and articles about scientific developments on the link between immigration, South Asian culture, and mental health. Has a South Asian Therapist Directory. Also has university chapters.

Melanin and Mental Health provides a directory to connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black and Latinx/Hispanic communities. Also offers a podcast, "Between Sessions" and other resources.

National Alliance for Hispanic Health focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of Hispanics through improving the quality of care and its availability to all. The organization runs the Su Familia Helpline which provides free reliable and confidential health information in Spanish and English to help callers navigate the health system. Staffed by bilingual health promotion advisors who provide basic information on a wide range of health topics including mental health. Additionally, they have an up-to-date database enabling health promotion advisors to refer callers to health care services in their community. To reach the Su Familia Helpline call (866) 783-2645, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.

National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association provides a directory of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander service providers in every state.

National Institute on Mental Health - Teen Depression: More Than Just Moodiness being a teenager can be tough, but it shouldn’t feel hopeless. If you have been feeling sad most of the time for a few weeks or longer, this website asks you questions to see if you may have depression and how you can get help.

SAMHSA - Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator is a confidential and anonymous source of information for people who are looking for treatment facilities anywhere in the U.S. for a recent onset of serious mental illnesses such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other conditions. Individuals who experience a first onset of serious mental illness - which can include a first episode of psychosis - may experience symptoms that include problems in perception (such as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting or feeling something that is not real), thinking (such as believing in something that is not real even when presented with facts), mood, and social functioning.

South Asian Therapist provides a directory of South Asian therapists. South Asia includes the following countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

TherapyForBlackMen.org provides a directory to help Black men and boys search for a therapist or coach by their location and specialization. This organization sometimes offers financial assistance for people who need therapy.

Therapinxy is a space where ancestral healing and mental health services intersect. Their mission is to build Filipino resiliency through collective care, kapwa, and liberation. They envision a future where Filipin@/xs have self-determination and are able to thrive. They create spaces to destigmatize mental health, access to wellness resources, and uplift therapists and healers so
that you can self-care and collectively care without shame or stigma. Has a Finder for Therapists and Healers for Filipino/a/x People.

WeRNative is a comprehensive health resource for Native youth, by Native youth, providing content and stories about the topics that matter most to them. They strive to promote holistic health and positive growth. The website features a section called "My Mind" that features resources about building resilience, mental health challenges, and getting help.