Nearly 42.5 million Americans suffer from a mental illness. Of those 42.5 million, 56 percent do not receive treatment because of financial reasons or social stigmas. No person deserves to struggle with mental illness, and there are plenty of helpful and free resources available. Here are seven of them:
1. ACT Coach: ACT stands for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This free app was designed by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs to help users deal with negative thoughts by offering guided audio exercises, metaphors for mental health and a log to help you track your progress.
2. Virtual Hope Box: Virtual Hope Box is a free app designed for people living with post-traumatic stress disorder. It gives users puzzles to distract from anxiety, inspirational quotes to lift spirits and offers guided meditation and muscle relaxation. Additionally, it provides quick access to emergency numbers as well as support contacts.
3. GLBT Near Me: This organization connects users to local LGBTQ+ support groups for low-cost and, often free, resources for LBGTQ+ people. Their database offers over 1,000 resources.
4. Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD): This organization provides support groups for those struggling with eating disorders. All sessions are led by a psychiatrist or nutritionist and are absolutely free. ANAD provides a safe space to discuss issues and receive helpful guidance and information.
5. Crisis Texting: The Crisis Textline is a free messaging service that matches you with a trained volunteer counselor. The counselor helps guide users through “hot” moments and is ideal for those who have anxiety about talking over the phone or in person. All conversations are confidential, excluding cases of immediate danger of suicide and/or abuse from a guardian. To get started, just text “home” to 741741.
6. OK2Talk: This free website was designed primarily for teens and young adults with mental illnesses. OK2Talk allows users to submit creative content to create a safe space to discuss mental illness. Users can share stories and find support and motivational posts to help cope.
7. SAM: SAM is a free app that helps users monitor and cope with anxious thoughts. It allows users to track their progress and uses guided exercises to help de-stress and reflect. SAM even offers a Social Cloud that allows users to anonymously share their progress with an online community for support.
