National Helplines
Crisis Text Hotline provides free and confidential text-based mental health support and crisis intervention.
- Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States – 24/7. It’s free and confidential.
- A live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor will receive the text, respond from a secure online platform, and help you move from a hot moment to a cool calm.
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) can help with overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety, or depression.
- call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
- TTY 1-800-487-4889
- text HOME to 741741
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – call or text 988
Trans Lifeline offers direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
- Call 1-877-565-8860
YouthLine operates a national helpline that provides crisis support and referrals via call, text, chat, and email. The helpline is answered by youth daily from 4pm-10pm and by adults at all other times.
- Call 877-968-8491
- Text Teen2Teen to 839863
- Chat via the website – see link above
- Email Teen2Teen@LinesForLife.org
New Jersey Helplines
2NDFLOOR is a confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey’s youth and young adults (ages 10-24)
- Call or text 888-222-2228
NJ Mental Health Cares, the state’s behavioral health information and referral service, offers mental healthcare screening and support.
- NJ residents can call 1-866-202-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support.
- NJ Mental Health Cares will be answered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week by live trained specialists.
New Jersey Hopeline provides access to specialists 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for confidential telephone counseling.
- Call 1-855-654-6735
Tips for Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Use these strategies to take a break from unhealthy cycles of social media use and learn to manage your stress in productive ways.
- Get enough sleep.
- For teens, 8-10 hours each night is essential for normal growth and development and the ability to maintain your attention span throughout the day.
- Make time for physical activity.
- Exercise takes our minds off stress and releases “feel good” chemicals in our brains that elevate our moods. So take a stroll through a park or kick a soccer ball around with friends.
- Do things that make you happy.
- Find activities or hobbies that you love and work them into your daily routine. Consider physical sports, artistic outlets or spending time with nurturing family and friends.
- Focus on the positive.
- Take some time to think about what you’re good at and focus on those strengths. This skill can help keep external stressors in perspective.
- Talk to someone.
- Managing stress is challenging, and nearly impossible to do alone. Tell someone you trust about your problems – they may be able to help you find new and innovative solutions