RESOURCES
Support you can reach today.
Crisis lines, self-assessments, trusted organizations, free materials, and reading — gathered by our clinicians as a starting point.
IF YOU NEED HELP NOW
Crisis & immediate support
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. These lines are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988
Free, confidential support for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. Call, text, or chat.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Text-based crisis support from a trained counselor.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233; text START to 88788
24/7 confidential support for anyone affected by domestic violence.
More crisis lines — including county access lines and specialty support — are in Crisis & Immediate Support below.
Crisis & Immediate Support
National (24/7)
Free, confidential support for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. Call, text, or chat.
Call or text 988
Free, confidential 24/7 treatment referral and information service for mental health and substance use (English & Spanish).
1-800-662-4357 (HELP)
Confidential support for veterans and their loved ones.
Call 988, then press 1; or text 838255
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth.
1-866-488-7386; text START to 678678
24/7 confidential support for anyone affected by domestic violence.
1-800-799-7233; text START to 88788
National
Clinician-run support and treatment referrals for eating disorders. Mon–Fri, 9 am–7 pm ET.
1-866-662-1235
California
Non-emergency peer support line for anyone in California seeking emotional support. Hours: Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 7 am–11 pm; Thu 8 am–10 pm.
Call or text 1-855-600-WARM (9276)
Alameda County
24-hour crisis line for suicide prevention and crisis intervention.
1-800-309-2131
County behavioral health access and referral line.
1-800-491-9099
San Francisco
24/7 phone and text crisis support; the oldest community-based telephone crisis center in the U.S.
Call 415-781-0500; text 415-200-2920
SF County behavioral health access and referral line.
1-888-246-3333
Santa clara County
24/7 confidential suicide prevention hotline.
1-855-278-4204
San Mateo County
County behavioral health access and referral line.
1-800-686-0101
Contra Costa County
24/7 crisis phone line, texting, and referrals for anyone in Contra Costa County.
Dial 211 or 1-800-833-2900; text HOPE to 20121
24/7 mobile crisis response team for behavioral health crises anywhere in Contra Costa County.
1-833-443-2672 (or 844-844-5544)
Marin County
24/7 access line for information, screening, and referrals for mental health and substance use services.
1-888-818-1115
Free Self-Assessments
Multi-condition
Free, anonymous, validated screens for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), ADHD, PTSD, bipolar, eating disorders, psychosis, and more.
Depression / Anxiety
The original, freely available versions of the two most widely used depression and anxiety screening questionnaires.
ADHD
A six-question WHO screener for adult ADHD.
Alcohol Use
The WHO’s ten-question alcohol use screening tool.
Learn About Conditions
ADHD
The leading national ADHD organization: evidence-based information, local support groups, and the National Resource Center on ADHD.
Focused specifically on adults with ADHD; virtual support groups and webinars.
Accessible articles, webinars, and symptom guides for ADHD and related conditions.
Anxiety & Depression
Evidence-based information on anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, and PTSD, plus a therapist directory and free webinars.
Peer-led support groups (in-person and online), wellness tools, and education for mood disorders.
The federal research agency’s plain-language brochures and fact sheets on every major diagnosis.
Bipolar Disorder
Peer support groups and educational materials for bipolar disorder.
Condition guide, family education, and support-group finder.
PTSD & Trauma
The most comprehensive public resource on trauma and PTSD, including the free PTSD Coach app.
The most comprehensive public resource on trauma and PTSD, including the free PTSD Coach app.
Public education resources on trauma across the lifespan.
OCD
Diagnosis guides, treatment finder for ERP-trained providers, and family resources.
Eating Disorders
Education, free clinician-led support groups, and a treatment helpline.
1-866-662-1235
Support and education for parents and caregivers of loved ones with eating disorders.
Autism & Neurodivergence
Resources by and for autistic people.
Support and education for autistic adults, teens, and their families.
Substance Use & Recovery
SAMHSA’s confidential treatment locator.
Free, science-based mutual-support groups (a secular alternative/complement to 12-step).
Meeting finders for the Bay Area and nationwide.
Sleep
Reliable information on insomnia, sleep hygiene, and sleep disorders from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Grief & Loss
Bay Area nonprofit providing grief support, crisis intervention, and education for adults, children, and families.
1-650-321-5272
Resources for those who have lost someone to suicide, including local support groups.
Grief resources for children, teens, and families.
Free Psychoeducational Materials
Workbooks & Worksheets
Free, complete CBT-based self-help workbooks developed by clinical psychologists in the Western Australia health system (depression, anxiety, panic, social anxiety, perfectionism, procrastination, self-esteem, disordered eating, bipolar, and more). Widely regarded as the gold standard.
Professionally authored psychoeducation guides on CBT concepts, panic, worry, trauma, and low mood.
Free CBT handouts and information sheets.
Extensive library of free CBT worksheets and information sheets.
Apps
Free CBT-based anxiety self-help app (originally developed by Anxiety Canada). Tools for worry, panic, perfectionism, social anxiety, and phobias. Available for iOS and Android.
Free, evidence-informed apps developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and open to everyone: PTSD Coach, CBT-i Coach, Mindfulness Coach, ACT Coach.
General
Free, downloadable plain-language brochures on every major diagnosis, written and reviewed by the U.S. federal mental health research agency.
Nonprofit mental health education site with clearly written, expert-reviewed articles.
Recommended Reading
Depression & Mood
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
David Burns, MD. Classic CBT self-help; clinical trial support as a standalone intervention.
Mind Over Mood (2nd ed.)
Dennis Greenberger, PhD & Christine Padesky, PhD. Structured CBT workbook used by therapists worldwide.
The Mindful Way Through Depression
Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal & Jon Kabat-Zinn. From the developers of MBCT.
Anxiety, Panic & Worry
The Anxiety and Worry Workbook
David A. Clark, PhD & Aaron T. Beck, MD. Co-authored by the founder of cognitive therapy.
Mastery of Your Anxiety and Panic (Workbook)
David Barlow, PhD & Michelle Craske, PhD. Patient workbook from one of the most researched panic treatment protocols.
The Happiness Trap
Russ Harris, MD. The most accessible introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
ADHD
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD
Russell Barkley, PhD. Standard evidence-based self-help book for adults with ADHD.
Driven to Distraction
Edward Hallowell, MD & John Ratey, MD. Brought adult ADHD into public awareness.
Smart but Scattered (for parents)
Peg Dawson, EdD & Richard Guare, PhD. Practical, research-based executive functioning strategies for children and teens.
Trauma & PTSD
The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Widely read overview of how trauma affects the brain and body.
Reclaiming Your Life from a Traumatic Experience (Workbook)
Barbara Rothbaum, PhD, Edna Foa, PhD & Elizabeth Hembree, PhD. Patient workbook for Prolonged Exposure therapy.
The PTSD Workbook
Mary Beth Williams, PhD & Soili Poijula, PhD.
OCD
Getting Over OCD (2nd ed.)
Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD. ERP-based program from a leading OCD researcher.
Brain Lock
Jeffrey Schwartz, MD. Widely recommended four-step self-directed approach.
Bipolar Disorder
The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide (3rd ed.)
David Miklowitz, PhD. Developer of Family-Focused Therapy for bipolar disorder.
An Unquiet Mind
Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD. Memoir by a clinical psychologist living with bipolar disorder.
Borderline & Emotion Regulation
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook (2nd ed.)
Matthew McKay, PhD, Jeffrey Wood, PsyD & Jeffrey Brantley, MD. Accessible DBT skills based on Linehan’s treatment.
Stop Walking on Eggshells (for family members)
Paul Mason, MS & Randi Kreger.
Eating Disorders
Overcoming Binge Eating (2nd ed.)
Christopher Fairburn, MD. Developer of CBT-E; includes a full guided self-help program.
Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder (for parents)
James Lock, MD, PhD & Daniel Le Grange, PhD. Developers of Family-Based Treatment (FBT).
Sleep
Say Good Night to Insomnia
Gregg Jacobs, PhD. Drug-free CBT-I program developed at Harvard Medical School.
Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep
Colleen Carney, PhD & Rachel Manber, PhD.
Mindfulness, Stress, & Self-Compassion
Full Catastrophe Living
Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. Foundational text of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself
Kristin Neff, PhD. By the researcher who established self-compassion as a field of scientific study.
Grief
Bearing the Unbearable
Joanne Cacciatore, PhD. Compassionate, clinically informed writing on grief and loss.
The Grief Recovery Handbook
John James & Russell Friedman. Structured, action-oriented program.
For Families Supporting a Loved One
I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help!
Xavier Amador, PhD. Standard guide (LEAP method) for families of loved ones with serious mental illness who decline treatment.
Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder
Julie Fast & John Preston, PsyD.
For Families & Caregivers
National / Bay Area
Free, evidence-based education program for family members of adults with mental health conditions.
Bay Area
Local NAMI chapter — support groups and education in San Francisco.
Local NAMI chapter — support groups and education in the East Bay.
Local NAMI chapter — support groups and education in Santa Clara County.
Local NAMI chapter — support groups and education in San Mateo County.
Family caregiver education and advocacy.
San Francisco
Parental-stress support line for parents and caregivers of children under 18 in the Bay Area. Hours: Mon–Fri 9 am–10 pm, Sat–Sun 9 am–6 pm.
415-441-5437 (415-441-KIDS)
Affording & Accessing Care
Berkeley
Sliding-scale individual and group therapy for children, adolescents, and adults; assessments; specialty clinics (CBT, recovery, older adults, trauma).
510-923-2241 (CBT Clinic)
Low-fee individual and couples therapy through the Community Clinic; sliding scale from $45.
510-548-2250
Sliding-scale clinic serving LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC communities.
510-548-8283
510-548-8283
San Francisco
Low-fee sliding-scale psychotherapy, psychiatry, and assessment for adults, children, couples, and families.
415-861-5449
Palo Alto
Sliding-scale community clinic for adults, children, adolescents, older adults, couples, and families.
650-961-9300
650-961-9300
Nationwide
Nationwide network of therapists offering sessions at steeply reduced rates.
Insurance & Navigation
Guidance on insurance questions, medication assistance, and finding care.
These resources are provided for information only and are not a substitute for professional care. Unfold Psychology is not affiliated with and does not endorse these external organizations.
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