When You Need Help
Sometimes you need support right away. Other times, you’re looking for information, resources, or someone who understands what you or your family is going through.
This page brings together immediate help, peer-led support, and educational resources so you can find what’s most helpful for you—when you need it.
Immediate Help
National
Crisis Text Line
Text “START” to 741-741. Free, confidential and 24/7. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline >
Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Maine Residents
Warmline
Call 1-866-771-9276. For 18 and older, 24/7. Talk with a trained peer support specialist who has personal experience with mental health recovery. Run by Sweetser.
Crisis Line
Call 1-888-568-1112 statewide. Cumberland County 774-HELP (4357). York County 282-6136. For all ages, 24/7. Opportunity Alliance offers a mobile crisis response service as well as phone assistance and a crisis center in Portland, Maine. Trained staff provide support, advocacy, crisis intervention, assessment, and assistance in faciliating access to emergency room services.
Lived Experience Resources
Strong 365 >
Strong 365 has personal stories from young people with psychosis and resources to help cope with symptoms.
7 Cups of Tea >
7 cups of tea is a peer chat community that connects you to caring people who understand. It is a free, anonymous and confidential online chat with trained listeners – many of whom have been through similar experiences.
Personal Mental Health Stories >
Note that this playlist is regularly updated.
Active Minds >
Active Minds is a nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness through education, research, advocacy, and a focus on students and young adults ages 14-25.
Bring Change to Mind >
Bring Change to Mind seeks to end the stigma and discrimination around mental illness. The website has a blog, videos, and resources to help youth talk about mental health.
Students with Psychosis >
Students with Psychosis helps to empower students living with psychosis and their allies to take leadership and become advocates around mental health. They offer events, career building opportunities including internships, and have an Advocacy board.
The Trevor Project >
The Trevor Project is a national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQIA youth.
The International Hearing Voices Network >
The International Hearing Voices Network has extensive resources about the experience of “voices, visions, and other unusual experiences.”
Educational Resources
Prodrome and Early Psychosis Program Network (PEPPNET) >
PEPPNET offers resources including local and state program directories, a virtual resource center and an inventory of best practices in high risk and early psychosis programs.
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Maine >
Through support, education, and advocacy, NAMI Maine is dedicated to building better lives for the one in four Mainers who are affected by mental illness.
Early Psychosis Intervention >
EPI provides a collective resource about Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) for the province of British Columbia (BC).
Understanding Voices >
Understanding Voices has resources about different approaches to voice-hearing and ways of supporting people who are hearing voices.
NIMH: What is Psychosis? >
The National Institute of Mental Health has resources on psychosis and information on the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) project.
Sibling’s Guide to Psychosis >
Canadian mental health association developed this guide which provides information and support to teens and young adults who have a sibling experiencing psychosis.
Back to Life, Back to Normality >
This is a link to purchase the book Back to Life, Back to Normality: a resource for families and supports.
Deconstructing Stigma >
A mental health education campaign featuring personal stories from people living with mental health conditions to challenge stigma and encourage understanding.
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness >
The nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, offering education, advocacy, and support for individuals and families affected by mental illness.
Nutrition and Healthy Weight Management >
A video presentation by Dr. Carrie Gordon exploring the connection between nutrition, healthy weight management, and overall wellness.
Digital Shareables on Schizophrenia >
A collection of free, shareable graphics and information from the National Institute of Mental Health to raise awareness and understanding of schizophrenia.
Books & Personal Stories
The Center Cannot Hold >
A memoir by Elyn R. Saks, a law professor and mental health advocate, describing her experience living with schizophrenia and her path to recovery.
An Unquiet Mind >
A memoir by psychiatrist and psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison about her personal experience with bipolar disorder and the challenges of navigating treatment and acceptance.
