N.A.M.I

N.A.M.I: National Alliance on Mental Illness (website)

Totally free and volunteer staffed. Find a N.A.M.I chapter, and start going to virtual or in-person support groups. They’re anonymous, and if you don’t want to have your microphone or camera on during a virtual meeting, I’ve not once seen it become an issue. Sometimes people feel better when they’re around others who are going through the same kinds of things they are.

N.A.M.I can also help set you up with a patient advocate who can help you talk to medical providers, sometimes help with setting up appointments or tests, or helping you understand your patient rights and the resources that are available to you.

N.A.M.I also maintains several “warmlines” across the United States, and has a directory of those lines on the website linked above. The “warmline” is meant to support people who are experiencing mental health challenges, but who’s situation hasn’t yet become a full blown emergency. It’s a social support resource to help prevent that full blown emergency.