Health
Routes to mental health support, including the free ones
Several parallel systems, a national three-digit line, and a parity rule that is more useful than it sounds.
A national three-digit line provides free, confidential crisis support by call or text at any hour, with specialised routes for veterans and for young people. It is the right first contact in a crisis and it is not only for emergencies.
For ongoing care, federal parity rules require most plans that cover mental health to do so on terms no more restrictive than for physical health — limits on visits, prior authorisation requirements and cost sharing included. Plans do not always comply, and that is a specific thing to raise with a state insurance regulator.
Outside insurance, community mental health centres, community health centres with behavioural services, university training clinics and employee assistance programmes all provide care at low or no cost, and the last is frequently forgotten despite being already paid for.
A substance use and mental health treatment locator published by a federal agency lists services by address, with filters for payment accepted.
What to do next. Save the national three-digit line, and use the federal treatment locator to find services that accept your situation.
studentaid.gov outranks this page. Rules, figures and dates change
between academic years. This is written to help you read the official sources, not to
stand in front of them. Start there.
Nothing here is a determination. We cannot tell you what you qualify
for, and no website can. The programme and the office that runs it decide that, after
you apply.
Still have a question?
Describe what you are trying to work out and a member of the team will answer, or direct you to the office that makes the decision.