Support When You Need It

If you are in emotional pain, feeling hopeless, or simply need to talk to someone who will listen without judgment, please reach out. You matter. Your life matters. Help is available at any hour.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service for people facing mental health or substance use concerns — and for families who want to help someone they love.

1-800-662-HELP (4357) — available in English and Spanish. SAMHSA can help you find counseling, support groups, and local services near you.

If hard things happened when you were young, you are not alone — and there are organizations dedicated specifically to helping young people heal and move forward.

• NCTSN (National Child Traumatic Stress Network) offers guides, videos, and resources for young people, parents, and educators. Their materials explain how early experiences affect daily life and what helps people feel safer over time.
• National Youth Employment Coalition connects young people with employment programs designed to be welcoming and supportive — not punishing or rushed.

Visit our trusted sources page for direct links to these organizations and more.

There is no deadline on healing. If the idea of working right now feels overwhelming, that is a signal to pause — not a failure. Your wellbeing comes first. Always.

Signs that it might be time to focus on support before work:

• You are not sleeping or eating regularly
• Small tasks feel impossible to start or finish
• You feel disconnected from people you trust
• Thoughts of hurting yourself come up more than occasionally
• You are using substances to get through the day

None of these mean you will never work. They mean you deserve care now. Connect with 988, SAMHSA, or a local counselor. When you feel steadier, our Getting Back to Work guide will be here waiting for you.

Talking to a trained counselor can help you understand your patterns, build coping tools, and feel less alone. You do not need a diagnosis to benefit from counseling — you just need a desire to feel better.

SAMHSA's treatment locator at findtreatment.samhsa.gov can help you find affordable options near you, including sliding-scale fees based on income.

A mentor is different from a counselor — they walk alongside you in practical life goals like finding housing, building a resume, and landing a job. Mobility Mentoring through the Center for Working Families is one well-regarded program. Workforce centers in your area may offer similar support.

If you are already working and struggling, you can ask for adjustments that help you succeed — without telling your employer everything about your past.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides free, expert advice on workplace adjustments. They can help you figure out what to ask for and how to ask for it in a way that feels comfortable.

Examples of adjustments people request: flexible scheduling, written instructions, a modified workspace, permission to take short breaks, or meeting agendas shared in advance. Many of these cost employers nothing and make a real difference.

We want to say this plainly: you deserve help. Not because you have earned it through suffering enough, and not because you have hit some invisible threshold of pain. You deserve help because you are a person, and people need each other.

Reaching out does not make you weak. It makes you brave. The people on the other end of 988, SAMHSA, and local support lines chose that work because they believe in you — even when you cannot believe in yourself yet.

However you got here, whatever you have been through, you are welcome on this site and in this world. We are glad you are reading this.