Over 1 in 4 Americans suffer from some type of diagnosable mental disorder each year. That’s around 25% of the population of the United States that could potentially benefit from mental health support and resources, both in times of crisis and in the months and years that follow. Mental Health America (MHA) is one organization making an impact on mental health issues by providing those resources and impacting legislation at the same time.
Overview of the Mental Health America Hotline
The MHA hotline is a service offered by Mental Health America, an organization dedicated to advancing the mental health and overall well-being of individuals living and working in the United States. This mission includes multifaceted efforts encompassing everything from research and public education to advocacy that seeks to influence public policy.
MHA was the brainchild of Yale graduate and Wall Street financier Clifford W. Beers, who experienced the challenges of mental health firsthand. That included being subjected to abusive environments during stays at private and public health institutions. Beers’ struggles with bipolar disorder and personal trauma inspired him to dedicate his life to mental health reform. He released his biography, A Mind That Found Itself, in 1908 and helped found the National Committee for Mental Hygiene (later dubbed Mental Health America) in 1909.
Since that watershed moment more than a century ago, MHA has continued racking up notable achievements that align with the organization’s goals of education, inclusion and science-backed initiatives:
- Over 4 million mental health screenings completed via MHAscreening.org
- Publishing numerous reports looking into key subjects, such as bullying of gay or perceived gay students, stress in the workplace and national awareness of bipolar disorder
- Creating a National Certified Peer Specialist (NCPS) certification to establish universal standards for peer support networks
- Lobbying for legislation prioritizing mental health integrations into primary care, protections for physically disabled Americans and discrimination-free mental health insurance coverage for federal workers and their dependents
Helpline Services
MHA offers a wealth of mental health resources, referring those seeking assistance to a trusted network of crisis support workers, counselors, mental health experts and other professionals in communities across the United States.
The MHA hotline isn’t a single resource but a collection of resources that deliver assistance through chat, text and phone calls. Some hotlines are intended for use in crisis situations where someone is expressing suicidal ideology or another mental health emergency. Others are disaster-related for individuals who might be in crisis due to a tragedy such as a hurricane or earthquake. There are also warm lines, where peer-to-peer communication is paramount.
Mental Health America’s hotline network includes these four major support systems:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Available 24-7, the Crisis Lifeline serves people who are experiencing a suicidal crisis or other emotional distress. The organization also has a wealth of demographic-specific resources on its site with targeted support categories for Black mental health, maternal mental health, disaster survivors, veterans and service members, loss survivors, LGBTQI+ and others. 988 also emphasizes accessibility, with services available for Spanish-speaking individuals and those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Crisis Text Line. This global nonprofit organization trains volunteers to provide free, confidential mental health support entirely via text, chat and WhatsApp. Volunteers respond live through Crisis Text’s secure platform and can help texters move from a hot moment to a cool, calm one and refer them to long-term support options in their area.
- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created its toll-free, multilingual helpline to assist those who are navigating emotional distress due to disasters caused by nature and/or humans. Services range from live counseling and sharing healthy coping tips to referring callers for follow-up care at a local crisis center.
- Warmlines. When you just need to talk to someone, use MHA’s warmlines to reach organizations such as the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and state-specific networks. A list of available warmlines is available at warmline.org, but some local call centers are only open certain days and times.
MHA also offers on-site educational resources and a mental health assessment.
How to Access Help
The Mental Health America hotlines are accessible in several ways:
- Call for help. Call 988 or reach the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline directly at (800) 985-5990.
- Text for help. Text 988 to reach the MHA hotline or text “MHA” to 741741 to reach the confidential Crisis Text Line 24-7.
- Chat online. Reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support around the clock by visiting 988lifeline.org and clicking on one of the blue CHAT buttons or the telephone and 988 graphic icons.
MHA also refers people to third-party helplines and resources with very specific service missions and areas of expertise:
- The Trevor Project, a suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. Call (866) 488-7386 or text “START” to 678678.
- Trans Lifeline, for transgender and questioning people in need of peer support. Call (877) 565-8860 in the United States and (877) 330-6366 in Canada.
- 2-1-1, for help from the United Way when in need of help with free childcare, housing expenses, finding food, etc. Dial 211 or visit www.221.org.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline, for victims and survivors of domestic violence. Call (800) 799-7233, text “LOVEIS” to 22522 or visit thehotline.org.
- StrongHearts Native Helpline, to reach help for domestic and dating violence victims specifically in the Native American community. Call (844) 752-8483.
MHA: Crucial Mental Health Assistance and Support
For more than 100 years, MHA has served communities throughout the United States through a complex blueprint that includes advocacy, education, direct assistance and referrals to dedicated mental health organizations. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or looking for ways to assist a loved one in their own journey, you can find immediate support and long-term resources through the MHA hotline directory at MHANational.org.
