Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Resources for Help

Sometimes writing or remembering a personal experience can bring up strong emotions. If you ever feel overwhelmed, unsafe, or unsure where to turn, support is available.

You don’t need to face anything alone.

Below are trusted resources for young people in New York City and across the United States. Some offer crisis support, others provide mentoring, therapy, community, or practical help. You can reach out to any of them privately and at your own pace.

You matterYour safety mattersYour voice matters
🆘 Immediate Crisis & Emotional Support

If you need urgent emotional support, someone is available 24/7 — by call, text, or chat.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 anytime for confidential emotional support in the U.S.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741-741 to talk with a trained crisis counselor.
Teen Line
Text TEEN to 839-863 or call (800) 852-8336 to connect with trained teen peer listeners.
NYC Well (New York City Only)
Call 1-888-NYC-WELL, text WELL to 65173, or chat online for counseling, referrals, and support in over 200 languages.
🧠 Mental Health Care & Counseling

These organizations help young people find licensed therapists or mental health services.

NAMI NYC (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Support groups, education, and mental health programs for youth and families.
nami.nycNAMI.org (national)
The Jed Foundation (JED)
Resources focused on emotional health, safety, stress, mental health literacy, and resilience for teens and college-aged youth.
www.jedfoundation.org
PsychologyToday.com (Therapist Finder)
Search for therapists in your area based on insurance, language, specialty, and price.
www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQIA+ Youth Support

Safe and affirming support for identity, belonging, and crisis navigation.

The Trevor Project
24/7 text, call, or chat mental health support for LGBTQIA+ youth.
Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386.
www.thetrevorproject.org
The Ali Forney Center (NYC)
Housing, safety, and mental health services for LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness or family rejection.
www.aliforneycenter.org
GLSEN
Resources and reporting tools for school-based bullying, harassment, and advocacy.
www.glsen.org
🌍 Immigrant, Refugee & Multilingual Support

Resources for young people navigating migration, cultural identity, or language barriers.

NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
Legal, community, and translation services for immigrant individuals and families.
www.nyc.gov/immigrants
The Door (NYC)
Free legal support, counseling, healthcare, and youth programs for ages 12–24.
www.door.org
KIND (Kids in Need of Defense)
Legal support for unaccompanied and immigrant minors.
www.supportkind.org
UNICEF Youth Migration Support
Educational resources and global youth advocacy programs.
www.unicef.org/migration
🛡️ Bullying, Safety, and Youth Rights

Support if you are being threatened, harmed, bullied, stalked, or mistreated online or in person.

StopBullying.gov
Guidance on bullying, cyberbullying, and reporting unsafe behavior.
NYC Department of Education — Respect for All
NYC school-based reporting for bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
www.schools.nyc.gov
ACLU Youth Rights Hub
Information on legal rights in schools, community settings, identity, speech, and safety.
www.aclu.org
🏠 Housing, Family Conflict & Emergency Safety

If home does not feel safe or you are at risk of homelessness, help exists.

National Runaway Safeline
Call 1-800-RUNAWAY or text 66008 to chat confidentially.
www.1800runaway.org
Safe Horizon (NYC)
Support for domestic violence, abuse, trafficking, and trauma recovery.
www.safehorizon.org
Covenant House NYC
Shelter, counseling, and youth support for those experiencing housing insecurity.
www.covenanthouse.org
🧘 Wellness, Self-Care, and Emotional Tools

Not every struggle requires crisis help. Sometimes small tools make big difference.

Headspace (Student and Youth Access)
Meditation and emotional grounding.
www.headspace.com
Calm App
Mindfulness and anxiety support.
www.calm.com
NotOK App
Emergency “panic button” to notify trusted contacts.
www.notokapp.com
Brown University Mindfulness for Teens
Guided breathing and grounding exercises.
www.mindfulnessforteens.com
🤝 Community, Creativity & Belonging

Programs that help build confidence, identity, and connection.

826NYC
Tutoring and creative writing programs.
www.826nyc.org
Girls Write Now
Mentorship for teen writers in NYC.
www.girlswritenow.org
DYCD (NYC Dept of Youth & Community Development)
After-school programs, arts, leadership, sports.
www.nyc.gov
YMCA Youth Programs (NYC + National)
Community support, leadership, and developmental programming.
www.ymca.net ; www.ymcanyc.org