Staying Healthy Mental Health Free Mental Health Resources for Families Mental healthcare can be expensive and sometimes out of reach. Here are several mental wellness services and resources that don't cost a dime. By Maressa Brown Updated on March 17, 2023 Medically reviewed by Janet Taylor, M.D. Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: 10'000 Hours/Getty Images Caring for your mental well-being should be as critical as caring for your physical health. But, mental health care is often expensive and out of reach for many people. So, if it seems like mental health care will end up causing financial stress, take heart: There are free resources to help. So many things can cause stress in our lives. Unexpected events like a pandemic, an accident, a death, or financial difficulties can magnify daily stress. "The closer to 'in the moment' that you can understand, process, and deal with these challenges, the better," says Stephanie Macadaa, LMFT, a Los Angeles-based licensed marriage and family therapist. "Thankfully, right now, mental health services are more available and flexible than ever due to everything being online." And plenty of these services don't cost a dime. Read on to learn about these free mental health care resources for families to find what's best for you and your family. How Mental Health Care Deserts Impact Black Parents and Their Birth Trauma Individualized Offers Certain resources might be available to you based on your residence or employer, such as pandemic-related resources, university resources, or workplace programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors, nurses, and social workers could register for 1,000 free months of therapy through Talkspace. To access the benefit, health care workers can register after downloading the app from Google Play or Apple's App Store or via the Talkspace website and provide their NPI and state of residence for verification. If you live in New York, you can call the COVID-19 Hotline at 1-844-863-9314 for emotional support. Other states have similar resources, which you can find by viewing your state's health department website. If you attend, work at, or even live near a university, you might be eligible for free mental health care through the school. And if you're currently employed, it's worth investigating whether your employer has an employee assistance program (EAP), which could qualify you for a set number of free counseling sessions and other wellness resources. 10 Companies Whose Policies Actively Support Working Parents Online Materials Various organizations have free online mental health resources. For instance, some professional mental health organizations offer provider directories, screening tools, peer-to-peer communities, webinars, and blogs. Some of these organizations include: Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Mental Health America (MHA) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) And if you're looking for ways to talk to kids about specific topics and activities for families, the National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health offers some free resources and guides. It's Your Duty to Support Your LGBTQ+ Child's Mental Health, Here's How Social Media Some online therapy companies offer free information, resources, and community connection through their social media accounts. For example, check out Talkspace on Instagram and Betterhelp on Instagram for some guides and tips on managing your mental health. In addition, Good Therapy on Facebook is a great place to find bits of mental health information and link-backs to their blog. Have You Budgeted Enough for Your Kids' Mental Health Needs? Therapist in Training Contact your local psychoanalytic training institute, which might offer free therapy with a therapist in training if you can commit to a set number of sessions. You'll be able to work with a qualified therapist under supervision. Online Therapy Deals Some online therapy companies offer free trials or other deals. For example, Talkspace regularly offers $100 off with a code that you can find in a banner on their website. In addition, Online-Therapy offers a 20% discount for the first month. Also, 7 Cups provides free 24/7 chat support staffed by volunteer listeners. They also offer a more affordable price for online therapy at $150 per month. Best Online Therapy for Kids Mindfulness or Meditation Apps Various sites and apps host free meditation series. For an introduction to mindfulness meditation that you can practice on your own, try the UCLA Mindful app. You can also stream or download guided meditations on their site. And the popular meditation app Headspace offers its Weathering the Storm collection for free. They also offer a free workplace toolkit, which includes guided meditations and exercises for employers and employees. National Hotlines These free national hotlines are set up for moments of crisis, so if you're experiencing a critical need, you can contact one that fits your situation. While they do not offer therapy directly, the trained helpline workers can help you locate free therapy resources nearby: National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline): 1-800-273-TALK or 988 Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 24/7 Treatment Referral National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) The Steve Fund (support for young people of color): Text "STEVE" to 741741 Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 The Trevor Project (support for LGBTQ+ youth): 1-866-488-7386 or text "START" to 678678 Veterans Crisis Line: 988; press 1 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text "START "at 88788 The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Has a New Number Pro Bono Services Some community mental health providers may offer free mental health services to income-qualifying residents. Check your state or county website to learn about these programs. If you don't qualify for community mental health services, don't hesitate to contact a therapist you're interested in working with and ask if they might take you on pro bono or work with you on a sliding scale. Angelle E. Richardson, Ph.D., LPC, visiting assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University explains, "Often therapists are willing to work with clients based on their income to ensure that they can get the services that they need." My Tween Needs Mental Health Services Now, But There's a Waitlist Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit