Mental Health Nonprofits to Support During Mental Health Awareness Month

Our mental health is every bit as important – if not more important – than our physical health. In challenging times like these, with the future uncertain and many facing social and economic challenges, many are facing acute mental health issues. Many mental health nonprofits around the country work with these clients to address the issue, provide crisis intervention, and give each client the hope and resources to continue on to a successful life.

Every May, we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental illness and encouraging those struggling with their mental health to seek help. Here, we are highlighting top-rated mental health nonprofits that offer crisis intervention services. 

Teen Lifeline

Phoenix, AZ
Teen Lifeline is a mental health nonprofit providing peer-to-peer crisis intervention for young people throughout Arizona. Highly-trained peer counselors take client phone calls and text messages seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The goal is to prevent teenage suicide by giving those in crisis a safe place to talk with other teens.

The Teen Lifeline answers about 19,000 calls and texts annually, giving renewed hope to each youngster in crisis. In addition to their crisis intervention hotline, the organization also provides Life Skills Development courses for volunteers and members of the community, and suicide prevention training and education.

“Teen Lifeline helped me through a very tough time in life. I don’t know where I would be without all of the kind and caring staff and volunteers.”
-Jane, Client Served

The Trevor Project

West Hollywood, CA
The Trevor Project is one of the most well-known suicide prevention and mental health crisis intervention nonprofits in the nation. The crisis hotline offers free, 24/7 online and phone support for LGBTQ+ youth (under the age of 25) who need a safe space to talk.

Studies show that LGBTQ+ youth are at a markedly higher risk of self-harm and suicide. The Trevor Project reports that these youth are at least twice as likely to consider, attempt, or complete suicide than their peers.

Through crisis intervention, their support hotline, and public advocacy, training, and activism, the Trevor Project is working to make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ youth.

“This is a fantastic organization. The Trevor Project was the first organization to provide suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ youth, and they have grown so much in the last 16 years…The Trevor Project works tirelessly to ensure that LGBTQ+ youth in crisis have someone to turn to, someone to talk to, and someone to tell them that they are not alone.’
-MPCarter, Volunteer

Kristin Brooks Hope Center/IMAlive.com

Chester, MD
The Kristin Brooks Hope Center, home of IMALIVE, is a mental health organization dedicated to suicide prevention, crisis intervention, education, and mental health awareness. The IMALIVE network offers real-time virtual access to highly-trained volunteers who help those in crisis understand that they are not alone.

The organization helps more than 10,000 people every year who are experiencing depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.

“Hopeline helped me out when I had nowhere else to turn. The lady who answered the phone gave me advice that I still remember to this day. She saved my life. I send my infinite thanks to Hopeline.”
-Ellih, Client Served

22 Warriors Foundation

Las Vegas, NV
Every day, 22 servicemembers and veterans take their lives. At the 22 Warriors Foundation, the goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, provide crisis intervention, and eliminate veteran suicides in this country. Through counseling, action, and education, the 22 Warriors Foundation keeps working “until 22 becomes 0.”

The organization provides counseling services, suicide hotlines, education, and advocacy. They also partner veterans living with PTSD with service dogs, free of charge. The Foundation gives intervention services and rehabilitation assistance for veterans living with addiction, in addition to other financial and emotional support for veterans.

“Great foundation for all veterans! I reached out to a few friends during a very dark time I was struggling with, one of them got me in touch with 22 Warriors. I was able to get into some groups and get with some people that not only helped me through but have continued to see me and contact me after my schedule conflicted with the support groups. I probably wouldn’t be here without the foundation.”
-Mitchell, Client Served

Washburn Center for Children

Minneapolis, MN
The Washburn Center for Children provides critical mental health services for children ages 0-17 experiencing severe mental health challenges. The organization provides a variety of services, including outpatient counseling, intensive inpatient services, case management, crisis intervention, and family-focused treatment.

Many children live with mental illness. Even young children can experience depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, behavioral issues, or grief and loss. Like many other mental health nonprofits on this list, the Washburn Center treats the whole patient, delivering critical care for the youngest patients.

“My son’s and our whole family’s life was profoundly changed as a result of the guidance we received from Washburn. After trying multiple resources who dismissed or could not define what our son’s challenges were, the caring staff at Washburn properly diagnosed our son’s ADHA and learning disorders, and then found us the ideal team that helped our son to reach his full potential. As a result of their guidance, our son worked with the right people, found the right school, and has become a well rounded, successful young man who is currently a Fulbright Scholar.”
-Beth, Client Served

To support these mental health nonprofits, or to find other crisis intervention services in your area, check out the Great Nonprofits website.