Mental Health Resources: Free and Low-Cost Help When You Need It
Mental health care is essential healthcare, but cost and access barriers keep many people from getting help. Here are resources for affordable mental health support.
Crisis Resources
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Veterans Crisis Line: 988 then press 1
- SAMHSA Helpline: SAMHSA.gov for substance use
Low-Cost Ongoing Care
- Community Mental Health Centers: Offer services on sliding fee scale
- Training Clinics: Graduate students provide supervised therapy at reduced rates
- Open Path Collective: Connects people with affordable therapists
- Health Centers: Many FQHCs include mental health services
Insurance Coverage
Medicaid covers mental health services in all states. Marketplace plans must cover mental health as an essential health benefit. Check your coverage and find in-network providers through your insurer.
Free and Low-Cost Counseling Options
If you are struggling with your mental health and cannot afford private therapy, there are several options available to you. Community mental health centers exist in every state and provide counseling, psychiatric services, and crisis intervention on a sliding fee scale based on income. These centers are funded in part by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay. To find a community mental health center near you, visit the SAMHSA treatment locator at findtreatment.gov or call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Many colleges and universities operate training clinics where graduate students in psychology, counseling, and social work provide therapy under the supervision of licensed professionals. Sessions are often free or available for a nominal fee of 5 to 25 dollars. The quality of care is closely supervised, and these clinics often have shorter wait times than community mental health centers. Contact the psychology or counseling department at universities near you to ask about available services.
Crisis and Immediate Support
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call or text 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor. The service is free, confidential, and available in English and Spanish, with translation services for over 250 additional languages. For those who prefer not to talk on the phone, the Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741.
Veterans can press 1 after dialing 988 to be connected directly to the Veterans Crisis Line, which is staffed by responders trained in veteran-specific issues. The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention for LGBTQ young people and can be reached at 1-866-488-7386 or by texting START to 678-678. These services do not require insurance, identification, or any form of payment. They exist solely to help people through their most difficult moments.
Online and App-Based Resources
Technology has expanded access to mental health support in meaningful ways. Several apps offer free tools for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. Apps like PTSD Coach, developed by the VA, and MindShift, developed by Anxiety Canada, provide evidence-based strategies at no cost. Many health insurance plans now cover telehealth therapy sessions, which allow you to meet with a licensed therapist from your home via video or phone.
Peer support groups can also be a valuable part of a mental health care plan. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, known as NAMI, offer free support groups in communities across the country for both individuals living with mental health conditions and their family members. NAMI also operates a free helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI where trained volunteers provide information, resource referrals, and emotional support during business hours.
Understanding Your Insurance Rights
Federal parity laws require most health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder services at the same level as medical and surgical services. This means your copay for a therapy session should be no higher than your copay for a doctor visit, and annual visit limits for mental health care should match those for physical health care. If your insurance company denies a mental health claim or applies stricter limits than it does for physical health services, you have the right to appeal the decision.
Free and Low-Cost Counseling Options
If you are struggling with your mental health and cannot afford private therapy, there are several options available to you. Community mental health centers exist in every state and provide counseling, psychiatric services, and crisis intervention on a sliding fee scale based on income. These centers are funded in part by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and serve anyone regardless of their ability to pay. To find a community mental health center near you, visit the SAMHSA treatment locator at findtreatment.gov or call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Many colleges and universities operate training clinics where graduate students in psychology, counseling, and social work provide therapy under the supervision of licensed professionals. Sessions are often free or available for a nominal fee of 5 to 25 dollars. The quality of care is closely supervised, and these clinics often have shorter wait times than community mental health centers. Contact the psychology or counseling department at universities near you to ask about available services.
Crisis and Immediate Support
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call or text 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor. The service is free, confidential, and available in English and Spanish, with translation services for over 250 additional languages. For those who prefer not to talk on the phone, the Crisis Text Line is available by texting HOME to 741741.
Veterans can press 1 after dialing 988 to be connected directly to the Veterans Crisis Line, which is staffed by responders trained in veteran-specific issues. The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention for LGBTQ young people and can be reached at 1-866-488-7386 or by texting START to 678-678. These services do not require insurance, identification, or any form of payment. They exist solely to help people through their most difficult moments.
Online and App-Based Resources
Technology has expanded access to mental health support in meaningful ways. Several apps offer free tools for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. Apps like PTSD Coach, developed by the VA, and MindShift, developed by Anxiety Canada, provide evidence-based strategies at no cost. Many health insurance plans now cover telehealth therapy sessions, which allow you to meet with a licensed therapist from your home via video or phone.
Peer support groups can also be a valuable part of a mental health care plan. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, known as NAMI, offer free support groups in communities across the country for both individuals living with mental health conditions and their family members. NAMI also operates a free helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI where trained volunteers provide information, resource referrals, and emotional support during business hours.
Understanding Your Insurance Rights
Federal parity laws require most health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder services at the same level as medical and surgical services. This means your copay for a therapy session should be no higher than your copay for a doctor visit, and annual visit limits for mental health care should match those for physical health care. If your insurance company denies a mental health claim or applies stricter limits than it does for physical health services, you have the right to appeal the decision.
