Illinois has a population of nearly 13 million people. Twenty percent of them suffer from some form of mental illness, and more than 3% suffer from a serious form. What’s worse? Less than 45% of residents with mental illness receive any treatment. Plus, about one-third of Illinoisans are at or below the poverty level.
Fortunately, there’s help. No shortage of providers (or shortage of funds) should ever prevent you from getting the help you deserve. The following resources are free of charge, confidential, and available to all Illinois residents. Help yourself or someone you love today.
The National Mental Health Hotline
If you need to connect with a mental health specialist, call 1-866-903-3787 right now. A trained professional will take your call and assist you however she or he can. A world of resources is waiting for you. The hotline is available to all US residents and operates on a 24/7 basis.
Call4Calm and Text Line
The Illinois Department of Human Services offers both a hotline and a text line for mental health crisis support. The hotline is available Monday through Saturday from 8 AM until 8 PM except for holidays and can be reached at 1-866-359-7953. For text only, send ‘TALK’ to 552020, or for Spanish, send ‘HABLAR’.
NAMI Helpline & More
The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a wealth of resources, including the NAMI Helpline, which can be reached by calling 1-800-950-6264 or by emailing info@nami.org. Although the helpline is only available Monday through Friday from 10 AM until 8 PM EST, there is a 24/7 text line available. Simply text ‘NAMI’ to 741-741 for assistance.