Seeking help can feel confusing, especially when a student or family is unsure where to start. Some situations may call for a trusted adult, school support, a counselor, a doctor, a crisis line, or another service. The right next step depends on the level of concern, the student’s age, location, safety, available services, and whether the concern is urgent.
This page provides general educational information about different types of mental health support. It is not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, treatment, crisis support, or emergency care.
If there is immediate danger, risk of self-harm, suicide, harm to others, abuse, or a medical emergency, contact local emergency services or a crisis line right away. In urgent situations, involve a trusted adult, school safeguarding staff, or a qualified professional as soon as possible.
Types of Professional Help
Psychologists and Psychiatrists
Mental health support can come from different professionals and services. Titles, training, licensing, confidentiality rules, and healthcare systems vary by country, so students and families should check local requirements and use qualified providers when professional help is needed.
Psychologists and Psychiatrists
- Psychologists: Psychologists may provide assessment, therapy, consultation, or psychological support depending on their training, license, and country. In many places, psychologists do not prescribe medication, but rules vary by location.
- Psychiatrists: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health. They may assess mental health conditions, prescribe medication, provide medical guidance, and coordinate care when symptoms are more complex, severe, or connected to safety concerns.
Counselors and Therapists
- Counselors and therapists may help people talk through concerns, build coping skills, understand patterns, and work toward personal or mental health goals. Their training, scope of practice, and licensing vary by country and setting.
- School counselors may provide school-based support, planning, consultation, student check-ins, and referrals, but their role is different from clinical therapy in many ways.
Social Workers
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Social workers may provide counseling, case support, advocacy, referrals, and connections to community resources. Their role can vary across schools, hospitals, community agencies, and government systems.
General Resources:
- Psychology Today: Psychology Today: Find therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists. Psychology Today is a directory. Students and families should still verify credentials, location, cost, licensing, and suitability before contacting a provider.
- Professional directories and local services: Students and families can check school counseling services, university counseling centers, national health services, community clinics, professional directories, or licensed providers in their country. Availability, licensing, cost, privacy rules, and suitability vary by location.
Finding Support Groups
Support groups can help some people feel less alone by connecting them with others who have faced similar concerns or life situations. They may be peer-led, professionally facilitated, school-based, community-based, online, or connected to a specific issue such as grief, anxiety, depression, family stress, identity, illness, or adjustment challenges.
Support groups are not the same as therapy, and they are not always the right fit for every person. Students and families should check whether a group is age-appropriate, well-moderated, safe, private, and connected to reliable support when needed.
Benefits of Support Groups:
- Feeling understood by others with similar experiences may reduce isolation.
- Hearing different perspectives may help students learn practical coping ideas.
- A well-run group may provide connection and encouragement.
- Support groups may help students learn how others manage similar challenges, while still recognizing that each person’s situation is different.
Types of Support Groups:
- Condition-specific groups may focus on concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, eating concerns, substance use, illness, or family-related stress.
- General mental health or well-being groups may focus on stress, adjustment, emotional awareness, coping skills, or general support.
- School or university groups may be offered through counseling centers, student support services, wellness programs, or peer support programs.
- Community or online groups may also be available. Students and families should check who runs the group, privacy expectations, age requirements, moderation, cost, and safety guidelines.
Resources:
- NAMI Support Groups: NAMI: Information on local and online support groups in the United States.
- Mental Health America: MHA: Information and resources related to mental health support.
- School, university, or community services: Students can also ask school counselors, university counseling centers, doctors, community clinics, or local mental health organizations about age-appropriate support groups.
Crisis Intervention
When to Seek Immediate Help:
- Seek immediate help if someone is at risk of self-harm, suicide, harm to others, abuse, severe confusion, medical danger, or another urgent safety concern.
- Contact local emergency services, a crisis line, school safeguarding staff, a trusted adult, or a qualified professional. If there is immediate danger, use the local emergency number first and do not leave the person alone if it is unsafe to do so.
Crisis Resources:
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (USA).
- Samaritans: Samaritans: Provides 24/7 support for people in distress (UK).
- For country-specific information and resources, please visit OpenCounseling's International Suicide Hotlines.
- International: Crisis services vary by country. Use local emergency numbers, school or university support services, government health websites, or a directory such as Find a Helpline to locate country-specific support.
Online Resources and Helplines
Helplines, websites, phone numbers, and service availability can change. Always verify current contact details through official websites or local emergency services.
USA:
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): NIMH: Comprehensive information on mental health conditions and treatments.
- Mental Health America (MHA): MHA: Resources on recognizing and addressing mental health issues.
United Kingdom:
- Mind UK: Mind: Information and support for mental health issues.
- Samaritans: Samaritans: Provides 24/7 support for people in distress.
Canada:
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): CMHA: Resources and support for mental health issues.
- Kids Help Phone: Kids Help Phone: Provides confidential 24/7 support for young people in Canada.
Australia:
- Beyond Blue: Beyond Blue: Support and resources for mental health and well-being.
- Lifeline Australia: Lifeline: Crisis support and suicide prevention services.
International:
- World Health Organization (WHO): WHO: Global information and resources on mental health.
- Mental Health Foundation: Mental Health Foundation: Resources and support for mental health globally.
International Crisis Lines:
- Global Crisis Text Line: Text "HELLO" to 741741 from anywhere in the world to connect with a crisis counselor. Available in multiple languages.
- Lifeline International: A network of crisis lines available in various countries, providing immediate support in times of crisis.
Specialized Support Resources
Some students may need support related to a specific concern, identity, experience, or life situation. This may include grief, illness in the family, trauma, disability, discrimination, cultural adjustment, family conflict, substance use, eating concerns, abuse, or support for international students.
Specialized services should be age-appropriate, locally relevant, culturally responsive when possible, and clear about what they can and cannot provide. Schools, universities, doctors, community organizations, national health services, and qualified professionals may be able to suggest appropriate referrals.
Examples of specialized support areas include:
- Grief and bereavement support
- Trauma-informed support
- Support for Indigenous, migrant, or culturally diverse communities
- Disability and accessibility support
- LGBTQ+ youth support
- Family violence or abuse support
- Substance use support
- Eating disorder support
- Medical or illness-related support
- Support for international students or students studying abroad
Before using a specialized service, students and families can ask:
- Is the service appropriate for the student’s age?
- Who provides the support?
- Are the providers qualified or supervised?
- What are the privacy and confidentiality rules?
- Is there a cost?
- Is it crisis support, ongoing support, information, or referral?
- Does the service clearly explain what it can and cannot provide?
Grief Support in Cancer
- A cancer diagnosis not only affects the patient but also their loved ones, triggering complex grief and emotional distress. Mesothelioma Hope provides a comprehensive guide on coping with loss, understanding the stages of grief, and accessing support groups.
- Explore the Grief Support Guide
Indigenous Youth Services
- Indigenous youth often face unique mental health challenges due to historical trauma, systemic discrimination, and barriers to culturally competent care. Indigenous Youth Services offers culturally sensitive mental health support, counseling, and mentorship programs tailored to Indigenous communities.
- Learn more about Indigenous Youth Services
Tips for Seeking Help
Finding help is easier when the next step is broken into smaller decisions. Students and families can start by identifying the level of concern, the type of support needed, and who can help safely.
1. Identify Your Needs
Start by noticing what is happening and how serious it feels. Consider how long it has been going on, whether it is getting worse, how it affects daily life, and whether there are any safety concerns.
Questions to consider:
- Is this temporary, ongoing, or getting worse?
- Is school, sleep, eating, concentration, motivation, or relationships being affected?
- Is there self-harm, suicidal thinking, abuse, harm to others, or immediate danger?
- Would it help to talk with a trusted adult, school counselor, doctor, therapist, crisis line, or another service?
- Is this urgent, or can it be handled through a planned appointment?
2. Research the Right Professionals and Resources
Different needs may require different types of support.
Trusted adults may include a parent, caregiver, teacher, school counselor, mentor, coach, or family member.
School or university support may include counseling, advising, safeguarding support, disability accommodations, academic help, or referrals.
Therapists and counselors may help with emotional concerns, coping skills, stress, relationships, grief, anxiety, depression, or other concerns, depending on their training and scope.
Psychiatrists or doctors may be needed when symptoms are severe, persistent, complex, or when medication, diagnosis, or medical assessment may be relevant.
Support groups may help some people feel less isolated, especially when groups are age-appropriate and well-moderated.
Online or local services may also be available. Check credentials, privacy, age requirements, cost, location, and local regulations before using a service.
3. Prepare for Your First Appointment
Preparing can make the first conversation easier.
Students or families can:
- Write down the main concerns
- Track mood, sleep, stress, eating, concentration, or behavior changes
- List questions
- Bring relevant school, medical, or support information if appropriate
- Ask about confidentiality and what happens if there is a safety concern
- Ask about cost, follow-up, referrals, and what to expect next
Students do not need to explain everything perfectly. The first conversation is often about describing what has been happening and deciding what support may be appropriate.
4. Continue With Support
Support may take time, and progress can look different for each person. It can help to attend appointments consistently, practice agreed strategies, and communicate if something is not helping.
If a service, provider, or approach does not feel like a good fit, students and families can ask questions, request clarification, involve a trusted adult, or look for another appropriate option when possible.
5. Build a Support System
Professional help can be important, but everyday support also matters. When it is safe and appropriate, students can tell trusted people what kind of support would be helpful.
Support might include:
- Someone to check in with
- Help make an appointment
- Support talking to school staff
- Help with routines or responsibilities
- A safe person to contact during difficult moments
- Encouragement to keep using appropriate support
6. Know Your Rights & Options
- Confidentiality rules vary by country, age, setting, and level of risk. Students should ask what is private, what may be shared, and what happens if there is a safety concern.
- If cost is a barrier, students and families can ask about school-based support, community clinics, national health services, sliding-scale options, insurance-covered providers, nonprofit organizations, or local youth services.
7. Be Patient and Practical
It can take time to find the right kind of support. Needing help does not mean someone has failed. If a service, provider, or approach is not working, it may be appropriate to ask questions, seek another option, or involve a trusted adult or professional.
Conclusion
Seeking help is a practical step when mental health concerns feel difficult to manage alone. Support can come from trusted adults, school staff, counselors, doctors, crisis lines, community services, peer groups, or licensed professionals, depending on the situation.
If someone is in immediate danger, at risk of self-harm or suicide, or unable to stay safe, contact local emergency services or a crisis line right away. For non-urgent concerns, students and families can start by describing what is happening, identifying trusted support, and checking which services are available in their school, community, country, or university.