Free Mental Health Resources
We update this list regularly with helpful resources. Take what serves you and leave the rest.
CA-Based Resources: https://www.mentalhealthca.org/resources
Interested in therapy or medication support?
Schedule to see how we can help. Also see recommended readings below.
📞 Call or text 988 for 24/7 emotional support for Suicide & Crisis
Dial 211 or visit here for resources for food, housing, and basic needs
Project LETS Resources | Text: 401-400-2905
Thrive Lifeline | Text “THRIVE” to: 313-662-8209
Trans Lifeline | Call: 877-565-8860
The Trevor Project | Text “START”to 678-678, Call 1-866-488-7386
SAMHSA Helpline | Call: 1-800-662-4357
Crisis Text Line | Text “HOME” to: 741741
RAINN – National Sexual Assault Helpline | Call: 1-800-656-4673
National Domestic Violence Hotline | Call: 1-800-799-7233
🤍 Crisis Support and Hotlines
🌈 LGBTQ+ Mental Health
The Trevor Project – 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth.
📞 1-866-488-7386 | Text START to 678-678 | Online chat available.Trans Lifeline – Peer support hotline run by and for trans people.
📞 877-565-8860 (U.S.) | 877-330-6366 (Canada)LGBT National Help Center – Free, confidential peer support lines and local referrals for LGBTQ people of all ages.
Q Chat Space – Live, facilitated online chat groups for LGBTQ+ teens seeking safe and affirming spaces.
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality – National directory of LGBTQ-friendly healthcare providers and educational materials.
PFLAG – National organization supporting LGBTQ+ people, their families, and allies with over 400 local chapters across the U.S. (including California).
It Gets Better Project – Digital storytelling and mental health resource network promoting hope and visibility among LGBTQ youth.
The Jed Foundation (JED) – LGBTQ+ Mental Health Hub – Emotional health and suicide prevention resources tailored to LGBTQ+ young adults.
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) – Advocacy, education, and mental health resources for LGBTQ+ API individuals and families.
BlackLine – Peer support line prioritizing Black, Indigenous, and people of color, with specific focus on LGBTQ+ and trans callers.
📞 1-800-604-5841
🏳️🌈 CA LGBTQ Centers
San Francisco LGBT Center – Counseling, peer support, housing, and employment programs
Oakland LGBTQ Community Center – Mental health counseling, support groups, and wellness programs for East Bay residents.
Sacramento LGBT Community Center – Crisis and mental health support, youth drop-in center, and advocacy services.
Los Angeles LGBT Center – Comprehensive health and mental health services, including counseling, substance use programs, and youth support.
San Diego LGBT Community Center (“The Center”) – Counseling, support groups, and health services
🍷 Drinking & Substance Use
SMART Recovery – Science-based recovery tools (CBT, REBT).
🍽 Disordered Eating
NEDA – National Eating Disorders Association
Screeners, articles, body image, binge eating, recovery.The Body Positive – Body acceptance, intuitive eating, self-compassion.
Recovery Warriors – Podcasts, articles, tools.
😴 Sleep & Insomnia
CBT-i Coach – CBT-i App (VA app: sleep diary, relaxation, tools)
National Sleep Foundation – Sleep Tips
👥 Groups & Peer Support
7 Cups – Free chats with trained listeners + online support communities.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) – Peer-led groups, education, helpline, resources.
Mental Health America (MHA) – Screenings + self-help tools.
🎓 For Students & Young Adults
The Jed Foundation – Mental health support teens & youth.
ULifeline – A college mental health hub with tools.
💵 Financial & Work Stress
MyWellbeing – Therapist matching with personal/financial considerations.
Financial Therapy Association – Where mental health & money meet.
O*NET Online – Explore career paths & transferable skills.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou
Reccomended Readings
A curated collection of inclusive, trauma-informed books on wellness and mental health
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Integrative Psychiatry by Daniel A. Monti & Andrew B. Newberg
An evidence-based guide that blends conventional psychiatry with complementary approaches such as mindfulness, nutrition, and spirituality.The Inflamed Mind by Edward Bullmore
Explores the links between inflammation in the body and depression, offering a biological-meets-holistic framework for treatment.This Is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo
A psychiatrist and nutrition expert explains how diet affects anxiety, depression, and emotional well-being.The Anatomy of Anxiety by Ellen Vora
A holistic psychiatrist reframes anxiety not as a purely mental issue, but as a full-body experience, with practical lifestyle approaches for healing.The Chemistry of Joy by Henry Emmons
Integrates Western psychiatry with mindfulness, nutrition, and positive psychology to create a personalized path out of depression.
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Out of the Shadows: Reimagining Gay Men’s Lives by Walt Odets
A groundbreaking look at the inner lives of gay men, exploring identity, love, trauma, and resilience with honesty and compassion.The Velvet Rage by Alan Downs
Examines the shame and struggles gay men often face growing up in a heteronormative world, and offers insights into building authenticity and self-acceptance.The Wheel of Time (Series) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
An expansive fantasy epic — included as a personal favorite — showing how storytelling and myth can be forms of escape, healing, and resilience.Stumbling by Brandon Flanery
A memoir of faith, queerness, and self-discovery that reflects on the complexities of leaving religion while embracing identity.Foundations of Therapy
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
A therapist becomes a client herself, blending humor, humanity, and insight into the healing process.The Gift of Therapy by Irvin Yalom
Bite-sized wisdom from a legendary psychotherapist; perfect for students, new clinicians, or anyone curious about what therapy looks like from the inside.What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey & Dr. Bruce Perry
A compassionate exploration of childhood trauma through the lens of neuroscience and resilience.
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The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
A classic text on how trauma affects the body and mind, and how healing can emerge through body-based and therapeutic practices.My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem
Explores racialized trauma and introduces somatic practices for healing across generations and communities.Healing the Shame That Binds You by John Bradshaw
Breaks down how shame is internalized, how it shapes our lives, and how we can work through it to find freedom.
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Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski
Explains the stress cycle and offers tools for completing it, especially helpful for women and caregivers.Unwinding Anxiety by Dr. Judson Brewer
Breaks down how anxiety becomes a habit and teaches brain-based methods to retrain patterns toward calm.
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Decolonizing Therapy by Dr. Jennifer Mullan
Calls for reimagining therapy as a liberatory practice, especially for marginalized and BIPOC communities.The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health by Dr. Rheeda Walker
Breaks down stigma, systemic barriers, and practical coping strategies for Black mental health.Permission to Come Home by Dr. Jenny Wang
Explores Asian American mental health struggles and offers an affirming, culturally sensitive perspective on healing.
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Internal Family Systems Therapy by Richard Schwartz
An accessible introduction to IFS, a therapy model that helps people understand their “parts” and develop inner harmony.DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets by Marsha Linehan
A practical, hands-on guide to DBT skills for mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond by Judith Beck
A highly regarded guide to CBT, rooted in evidence and perfect for students, therapists, and curious readers.
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Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
An introduction to attachment styles and how they play out in adult relationships, with practical advice for more secure bonds.Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Helps readers recognize where boundaries are missing and build healthier, more empowering ones in every area of life.Polysecure by Jessica Fern
A trauma-informed take on attachment theory that also applies to non-monogamous and diverse relationship structures.
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It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine
A grief book that doesn’t try to “fix” pain but instead honors loss and helps you feel less alone in it.Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff
Introduces research-backed practices for treating yourself with kindness instead of criticism.Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
Maps out 87 emotions and experiences, helping readers develop a richer emotional vocabulary and deeper connections.

