Student Mental Health Resources
Last updated June 10, 2024
School, extracurriculars, work, and life can be stressful from time to time. This is why it’s essential to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. Check out our list of student mental health resources–all completely free–to use when you're in need of some extra support.
Note: This is not a complete list of all the free and low-cost mental health resources available. If you are experiencing a crisis, please call 911 or 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Aura
Aura offers free, personalized meditation, stories and sleep tales, and life coaching.
BlackLine
BlackLine is a free support line designed to support and affirm the experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous folks in the U.S. They can provide immediate crisis counseling to those in need. ALL are welcome and encouraged to call if they need support, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Visit their website or call 1 (800) 604-5841.
Calm
Calm offers 3-25-minute meditation sessions to help with anxiety, practicing gratitude, and more. If you are meditating for the first time, there are programs for beginners.
Call 988: the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Simply dial 988 and you will be connected to a professional within minutes.
Note: There is potential for law enforcement to be involved in certain situations when using this hotline. We recognize that not all folks reaching out for support will feel comfortable or safe around the police in times of crisis. We urge you to make a decision that is best for you.
Check with your college’s counseling/mental health center
If you're a college student, your school will likely have an on-campus counseling center. Depending on your school, you may be offered a certain amount of free or low-cost counseling sessions per term. Stop by your college's counseling center to learn how to schedule an appointment. Click here to learn more about finding a mental health care provider and accessing mental health resources offered through your college.
Find a trusted adult and ask for help
This person may not have all the answers, but can help you strategize next steps to ensure you get the care you need. Your parents, guardians, school counselor, coach, family member, teacher, or school nurse are a great place to start.
Headspace
Headspace offers free access to dozens of its guided meditations and articles that can help you with breathing, mindfulness, stress, anxiety, and sleep.
LGBTQ National Hotline
This hotline provides crisis support for LGBTQ people of all ages. Call 888-843-4564 or 800-246-7743 to begin.
Mindfulness for Teens
This website has free videos, guided meditations, and more resources for teens to learn about mindfulness to deal with stress.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI's video library educates and informs people about topics such as self-care, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and more.
Safe Place
Find a Safe Place near you by texting “safe” and your location (city/state/zip) to 4HELP (44357). You will be connected with the closest Safe Place to you as well as an option to text with a mental health professional.
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline is a peer support crisis and counseling line run and staffed by trans people. Learn more on their website or call 1 (877) 565-8860.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world's largest suicide and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. Call 1 (866)-488-7386, text ‘START’ to 678-678, or head to The Trevor Project’s website for support, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Warmline
Warmline is a peer-run listening line staffed by people in mental health recovery who have been trained to offer safe and judgment-free support. Warmlines in the U.S. are categorized by state here.