Checklist
How to find mental health care
Knowing you want help and knowing how to get it are different problems. This checklist breaks the search into small steps you can tick off at your own pace, and it explains the kinds of provider you may come across. It names no clinics, services or products, because the right choice depends on where you live and what you can access.
Your ticks are saved only in this browser, on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Why the search takes so long
Many people find the process slow: waiting lists, calls that are not returned and plans that do not list the provider you wanted are common. That is a feature of the system, not a sign that you are doing it wrong or that you do not deserve help. Contacting several options at once is the simplest way around it.
If you cannot wait
If you are in crisis or worried about your safety, do not work through this list first. In the US, call or text 988 any time, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Outside the US, contact local emergency services. Our crisis plan sheet is a blank page for writing your own contacts down ahead of time.
Next steps
- Questions to ask a therapist or doctor
- Guide to getting support
- What do you do when you know you need help but keep putting it off?
Where this comes from
The routes in section 3 follow the National Institute of Mental Health's guidance on finding help, which points to primary care providers, the federal treatment locator, insurers, employer assistance programmes, schools and public agencies. The provider descriptions are broad summaries, and credentials differ by state and country, so check your own. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice.