Help Lines for Times of Need

Photo by Karen Eisenlord

As an occupational therapist I have compiled a list of help lines for many problems that people may face from day to day. These range from crises help lines to less severe help 'warm' lines. Please upvote if you find this information useful, and share it with anyone you know who may need the help provided. Thanks!

Most of the help lines below are in the U.S. but I found a service that is worldwide to provide help for anyone, anywhere;  befrienders.org

Here's one for suicide prevention that is international; suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines iamalive.org  SUICIDE CHAT LINE  suicideispreventable.org, mentalhealth.gov

Crisis Help Centres in Canada -- suicideprevention.ca
Crisis Support in the USA -- suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Crisis Support in UK  suicide.org

ohlrainn.org

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
En Espanol: 1-888-628-9454
Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889

Suicidepreventionlifeline.org  

Also, there is always 911 if you live in the U.S.  

For Survivors of Childhood Abuse -- isurvive.org  

For issues with physical pain --controlyourpain.com    

Brain and spinal injury charity, based in the U.K. has a website for information -- basiccharity.org

Addition: If anyone needs help paying for their medication, try calling this number; 1-888-4PPANOW (1-888-477-2669). If anyone uses this, please let me know how it goes. Karen

Cancer support~ This is an amazing resource that is one of the most comprehensive and helpful sites that I have seen.

cancercare.org

Help with stress, depression and being mentally healthy --

stressgroup.com

stressgroup.com/depression

healthyplace.com 

HELP WITH EMERGENCY OR CRISIS SITUATIONS;

First of all, there is always 911 if you live in the United States. Here are some other lines you can call if it is less of an emergency situation in the U.S.:

Dept. of Mental Health 24-hr. Access Line: 800-854-7771., if you need assistance after 5 PM or on the weekends.

The DMH Psychiatric Mobile Response Team: 626-258-2004 is for crisis management.

Suicide Prevention:

It’s very important to take any thoughts or talk of suicide seriously. If you or someone you care about is suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.  IN A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911 and/or go to your nearest hospital.

Warm lines -- to talk and get referrals (also you can call 211 for referrals in the U.S.)877-910-9276      855-952-9276

Here are some other help lines for less serious problems and when you need to just talk;

Community Help Line - 1-877-541-2525

The Hotline - 1-562-596-5548

The New Hope Line - 1-714-639-4673 (24 hours)

As far as I know they are all current and still good. I have tried most of them. There was one that I had trouble getting through on, but I do not recall which one. As you can see, a couple of them are not toll free. If you call that number, you may want to ask for a toll-free number, if they have one.

There are also many on-line help/support sites for assistance, such as for survivors of abuse, or grieving. A few that I have used and found somewhat helpful are;

DailyStrength-   dailystrength.org/support-groups
(online support groups for bereavement and other health and mental health conditions.)

The following website has an online chat service, with a real person who is a volunteer for crisis counseling; It is anonymous as far as I know.

newhope.org
(They have a teen section also). It can be done anonymously as far as I know --

The New Hope Line - 1-714-639-4673 (24 hours)

Teen Line - 800-852-8336

National Child Abuse Center;
800-422-4455

Center for Missing and Exploited Children;

missingkids.com

Finding a support group where you live;

Look in your directories, ask any of the onlines services listed here, check with local churches and mental health organizations such as NAMI (National Institute for Mental Illness.) There are many online support groups. Just 'google' the type of support group you are looking for and where. 'Meetups' have support groups worldwide. Meetup.com

For Cutters and self-harmers; safe-alternatives.com

Pet Loss And Grieving;

ourachurch.com

pet-loss.net/heaven

Help for specific things; Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulemia or manorexia -- 

thebellavita.com

Bipolar and other mental health issues --

helpguide.org

Rape/incest/sexual-abuse hotline/help - apps.rainn.org

Addition: If anyone needs help paying for their medication, try calling this number; 1-888-4PPANOW (1-888-477-2669). If anyone uses this, please let me know how it goes. Karen

For anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse of any kind; or who needs help because they are being abusive themselves;

webmd.com/balance/spouse-abuse-domestic-violence

azlawhelp.org/articles

psychcentral.com

ndvh.org

For cutters and self-harmers!  safe-alternatives.com  

Help filing ssdi - in the USA

allsup.com/about-ssdi-guidelines-by-disability.aspx

Use this company at your own risk. I don't know them; but they look legitimate. I cannot be help responsible for the outcome. Also, there are many other services that help people get their social security benefits. They are not supposed to charge more than $5,000, and on contingency. If you win the case, you will receive the back-pay from when your case was originally filed. This is what the fee is taken out of with the Social Security Administration's approval. Or, you may find another advocacy service. There are many others.

You may try applying yourself directly through the Social Security Administration; but it is often denied the first time and needs to be appealed, even with legal representation.
I can be a long process, (sometimes up to two years, ) to get approved - but it is well worth it to get the help you need. I believe that the outcome is better with legal/advocacy representation. The Dept. of Public Social Services has an advocacy service for free I believe.

Americans with Disabilities Act Homepage; www.ada.gov

First-time home buyers with disabilities and other financial assistance for people with disabilites; (also, see bottom of this page) --

mortgageloan.com/disabilities

SITES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES;

Habitat for Humanity -- habitatforhumanity.org
A non-profit Christian organization that builds accessible homes for people in need.

Other resources --
Additionally to the financing assistance programs above there are other national resources devoted to U.S residents living with disabilities and an improvement in each individual's independent living.

National Organization on Disability -- nod.org

National Disability Institute -- ndi-inc.org

NCB Capital Impact in partnership with the National Disability Institute strives to increase social and economic independence amongst individuals with a disability. The goal of this partnership is to establish economic freedom for American with disabilities.
ncbcapitalimpact.org

AAPD - American Association for People with Disabilities

As the largest disability members organization AAPD has established reliable partnerships and offer great resources.
aapd.com/about