Can I get mental health help even though I’m only a minor?

Mental health conditions are common among teens and young adults.50%of all lifetime mental illnesses develop by age 14, and75%develop by age 24. A mental health condition isn't your fault or your family's fault — these conditions develop for complicated reasons that researchers are only just starting to understand.But we do know a lot about how you can live well with a mental health condition. You have the power to improve your mental health, and it starts with one conversation.

Experiencing mental health symptoms can be scary and confusing. That’s why speaking up and asking for help is a sign of strength. You don’t have to go through this alone; mental health services and supports are available, and the earlier you access them, the better.

Asking for Help

A good first step is to talk with your parents or guardian about what you’re experiencing. You’ll find some tips about having the conversation below. It can be hard to know what to say, but you can start with something like, “I’m not feeling right. I think I need help. Can I talk to you about it?”

If it’s not safe to talk with your parents or guardian, find another trusted adult in your life who might be understanding of your situation and help you figure out what to do next. The most important thing is that you speak up about what you’re experiencing and ask for the help you need. Here are some people you may consider reaching out to:

Other family members and friends
School teachers or counselors
Faith-based leaders
Coaches
Pediatrician or healthcare provider

Finding Mental Health Treatment and Support

The good news is even if your parents or guardian won’t provide consent for therapy, there are many resources available to you. Minors seeking therapy without parental consent might consider starting in their schools. A school counselor or teacher may be able to provide support or connect you with someone who can.

Researching the laws about minor consent for health care in your state may also lead to opportunities for getting help. Some states allow minors to seek mental health care in certain situations or for a limited number of sessions. Search “minor self-consent for mental health treatment” in your state to learn more. 

If you are in Crisis

If you are in danger of hurting yourself and are not able to stay safe, please call the 24/7 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for help. You will be connected to a trained crisis worker to talk with you about your feelings and work with you to develop a plan for staying safe. They can also provide information on local resources, including treatment. 

To reach Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio (Spanish) select "2"
Lifeline Options for Deaf + Hard of Hearing for TTY Users: use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
You may also text 988, or chat function is available here at 988Lifeline.org
LGBTQ Youth & Young Adults: 
- The Trevor Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth & young adults ages 13–24 and can be reached at (866)-488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678.
- Boys Town National Hotline operates a 24-hour American Association of Suicidology-accredited crisis line for teens and families at (800) 448-3000.
The Crisis Text Line provides a free, confidential texting service that is available 24/7 in the United States. They can be reached by texting HOME to 741741.
Visiting your nearest emergency room is another way to get immediate support in a mental health crisis.

Additional youth-oriented crisis supports that may be helpful include:

Covenant House/National Runaway Safeline at (800) 786-2929 is a 24-hour confidential crisis and resource line for at-risk teens considering running away from home; serves as an intermediary for teenagers (13-21) and parents, offers resources for parents of children who have run away, free bus transport home, runaway education; also offers message boards and Live Chat options.
National Safe Place at (502) 635-3660 is a 24-hour service that provides information to help and support youth in need; additionally, it designates youth-friendly organizations as “Safe Place” locations through its “Find a Safe Place Locator” for teens in a crisis. Text SAFE at your current location to 69866 for help via text (24hrs).

Other Resources to Support Your Mental Health

You might find helpful information on NAMI’s Kids, Teens and Young Adults page, such as tips on how to talk to your friends about mental health and how to take care of your mental health using social media. NAMI also offers multiple programs such as: 

NAMI on Campus: student-led, student-run mental health clubs on college campuses
NAMI Ending the Silence: a 50-minute presentation designed for middle and high school students that includes warning signs, facts, and statistics and how to get help for themselves or a friend.

If you are starting college, you might find the NAMI College Guide: Starting the Conversation helpful. 

Other helpful organizations include:

The Jed Foundation has an online resource center that provides essential information about common emotional health issues and shows teens and young adults how they can support one another and overcome challenges. They also offer programs and resources to help students have a healthy and positive high school and college experience.
Center for Young Women’s Health and Young Men’s Health websites provide guides on mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders, and other topics that impact emotional wellbeing such as bullying, alcoholic parents, breakups, cliques, consent, test anxiety and more.
The Tribe Wellness Community offers online peer support groups for teens facing mental health challenges and/or difficult family dynamics.
Your Life Your Voice is a service of  Boys Town that provides teens with tips and coping techniques to help with tough situations. They also feature an interactive list and print-out of 99 coping skills and strategies at www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/pages/tip-99-coping-skills.aspx.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) is an Australian website that offers online resources explaining a parent’s mental illness to children.
Rainbows for all Children is an international support group network dedicated to providing in-person peer support programs for children, teens and young adults as they navigate grief and heal from loss — whether from death, divorce/separation, deployment, deportation, incarceration or other trauma. Rainbows partners with communities to offer support through channels of peer support with volunteer adult facilitators. They offer a “Find a Group” function on its website. 
Study.com provides a mental health guide for college students which shares tips on wellness and information about resources, support, and special accommodations.
Teen Help is a website that offers information about common mental health conditions that affect teens. 
Teen Line  is a teen hotline providing emotional support and education on common crises or issues to teens via phone, text, chat, email and message boards. Also includes a parent and resource section with blogs and videos. Calls and texts between 6–10 p.m. PT. You can contact Teen Line at (800) 852-8336 and by texting TEEN to 839863.

Hours of operation Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST

Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264)

Text: 62640

Webchat: www.nami.org/help

Email: helpline@nami.org