Get Support

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Everyone needs help sometimes.When you’re feeling hopeless, these resources can help you find the support you need.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help in the U.S., call any of the lines for hope below to talk to someone in your local area. They can listen to you and direct you to local resources if further assistance is needed. If someone has talked to you about suicide, and you believe they are currently a threat to themselves or someone else but won’t take your help, call 911.

  • 988 …………………….…. New U.S. Suicide Hotline (Available 24 hours. Languages in English and Spanish)
  • (888)628-9454 ……. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Spanish Language Available
  • (800)799-4889 ……. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Deaf & Hard of Hearing Options
  • (800)784-2432 ……. 1-800-SUICIDA Spanish Speaking Suicide Hotline
  • (877)968-8454 ……. 1-877-YOUTHLINE Teen to Teen Peer Counseling Hotline
  • (866)488-7386 ……. TrevorLifeLine for LGBTQ Support
  • (877)565-8860 ……. Trans Lifeline

You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor from crisistextline.org.

If you are located in a participating Hopeful City, you can find city-specific resources on your city’s landing page:

Check Your CityReno, NV ResourcesLas Vegas, NV Resources
VA Resouce NavigatorS.E.R.V.E ResourcesMyHealth VA InformationLife Challenges and Mental Health ResourcesVA Supports Military Sexual Trauma Survivors HandoutVA Mental Health HandoutNational Resource DirectoryCareer One Stop

www.va.gov/reach  is a great tool that has resources for so many issues including applying for VA healthcare, housing, homelessness, how to avoid foreclosure, substance abuse, tobacco use, alcohol abuse, career management and employment assistance, education and training, GI Bill, personalized career planning and guidance, disability accommodations and employment, disability rights, VA disability benefits, mental health, grief after a death, relationship issues, depression, PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma (MST), intimate partner violence and trauma, suicide prevention, suicide postvention (after suicide death), suicide prevention training (VA S.A.V.E.), lethal means storage (weapons and/or medications), anger management, sleeping, LGBTQ+ issues, women Veteran issues, women’s health, minority Veteran issues, Native American Veteran benefits, Whole health, military to civilian life transition, retirement and aging issues, service dog veterinary health benefits, amputee issues, prosthetics issues, spinal cord injury issues, TBI issues, chronic pain issues, disability housing grants, adaptive sports programs, Compensated Work Therapy programs, Veteran-owned small business support, legal and financial issues, gambling problems, financial calculators, VA caregiver support program, and parenting.

https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/ a.k.a. FINVET is the National Veterans Financial Resource Center.  It is a comprehensive website that dozens of resources.  They cover eating healthy on a budget, lowering and managing debt, building credit, help with utility bills, legal bills, medical bills, Veteran employment assistance, investing, Veteran Service Organizations, education benefits, college financing, financial goals, Veteran discounts, budgeting, housing and rental resources, food assistance and food security, VA clothing allowance, auto loans, adaptive vehicle equipment, etc.

https://www.maketheconnection.net/ helps SMVF “Connect with stories of help and hope”.  There are over 800 videos to choose from that can be filtered be service era (WW2-Korea, Vietnam era, Post Vietnam era, Desert era, Post 9/11 era), military branch, gender, combat experience.  You can also find videos based on life events and experiences, signs and symptoms, conditions, treatment and support, etc.

https://mobile.va.gov/app/mindfulness-coach Mindfulness Coach was developed to help Veterans, Service members, and others learn how to practice mindfulness. The app provides a gradual, self-guided training program designed to help you understand and adopt a simple mindfulness practice. Mindfulness Coach also offers a library of information about mindfulness, 12 audio-guided mindfulness exercises, a growing catalog of additional exercises available for free download, goal-setting and tracking, a mindfulness mastery assessment to help you track your progress over time, customizable reminders, and access to other support and crisis resources.  Mindfulness Coach was created by VA’s National Center for PTSD.

www.va.gov/coachingintocare or 888-823-7458 is a free service for family and friends of Veterans.  They will briefly assess your concerns and provide appropriate resources and referrals. Through 10 to 30 minute calls, licensed psychologists and social workers offer guidance and help for starting conversations with the Veteran in your life about their mental health or substance use and motivating them to seek treatment if it’s needed.

https://mobile.va.gov/ has 39 apps for Veterans, 8 apps for family and friends, and 54 apps for healthcare professionals.  There is an app to help Veterans and caregivers prepare questions they need to ask their doctor prior to the appointment.  There are apps for couples and relationship issues, insomnia, asking pharmacist questions, pharmacy refills, nutrition and exercise, suicide safety planning, VA appointment scheduling, quitting smoking, and there are several for different type of therapy/counseling.

Having a support system is an important part of feeling good. It benefits a person on all levels, and studies have shown that people with support systems live longer.  Trust and open communication are key components in the healing process.

How do I find a support group in my community?

Many people find peer support a helpful tool that can help towards overcoming depression. There are a variety of organizations that offer support groups for consumers, their family members and friends. Some support groups are peer-led, while others may be led by a mental health professional.

Join the Inspire Online Support Group: An online support group can be very helpful in managing depression. It allows you to share your stories with others and get support even when you can’t get out of bed. iFred has partnered with an online depression and anxiety support group, Inspire.  You can make friends through this group and potentially find or start a local in person support group.

Your local Mental Health Association: This is an excellent resource to assist you in finding support groups in your area.

The American Self-Help Clearinghouse: Receive a  group support referral.

National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse: Maintains a listing of support groups on a broad range of mental health topics.  It also maintains a Directory of Consumer-Driven Services, which includes peer-run organizations throughout the United States that offer a variety of supportive services and activities.

Specialized support group resources include:

If you need further assistance on mental health issues or referrals, please contact the Mental Health America Resource Center at 1-800-969-6642.