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Crisis Text Line | Text TALK to 741-741. Available 24/7 for confidential support and information. Trained specialists will help you stay safe and healthy with effective, secure counseling and referrals.

Teen Line | 310-855-4673 or text “TEEN” to 839863 between 6:00pm-9:00pm PST to get support from a trained peer counselor. Use the APP to vent, share, and get support from teens and see what others are posting on the moderated teen blog.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 800-273-8255 or text “ANSWER” for confidential 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or considering suicide.

National Domestic Violence Hotline | 800-799-7233.  24-hour hotline for anyone affected by abuse. Services include counseling, housing, legal assistance, and medical advocacy.  If unable to speak safely, contact via website or text “LOVEIS” to 866-331-9474.

National Dating Abuse Resources for Teens | 866-331-9474, chat at loveisrespect.org or text “loveis” to 22522, 24/7. Learn about the Types of Abuse from “loveisrespect” and about creating support systems.

National Sexual Assault Hotline | 800-656-4673 for 24/7 confidential hotline.  Services include support from trained professionals, referrals for care, information on laws, local resources, and basic information about medical concerns.

Trevor Hotline | 866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678678 for confidential 24/7 support for LBGTQ+ youth. Trained counselors offer support if you are feeling suicidal or need a safe place to talk.

Veteran’s Crisis Line | 800-784-2433 for 24/7 confidential support for veterans and those who are concerned about a veteran in their life. Also, chat online or send a text message to 838255 for 24/7 help.

Be Well OC | A community-based, public-private partnership providing an ecosystem of optimal mental health support services. The facility in Orange County will offer comprehensive services, regardless of insurance or ability to pay, and is anticipated to be completed.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Orange County | 714-744-8718 A peer-facilitated group that supports one another on the road to wellness, including those diagnosed with mood disorders, their families, friends, and anyone else who seeks to learn more about depressive and bipolar mood (affective) disorders.

LGBTQ Center | 714-953-5428 Provides a safe space, advancing awareness, visibility, and sustaining equality and inclusiveness. The center is open to all and there are no fees associated with its services. For mental health referrals and resources email info@ncresourcecenter.org.

Mission Hospital Adolescent After School Program | 949-364-4246 The Aspire program is an Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Program at Mission Hospital for adolescents aged 13 to 17. Most insurance accepted.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Orange County | At the heart of NAMI’s mission is the sharing of information and striving to end the stigma associated with mental illness. NAMI offers care and support for a family member or a loved one through their Warmline, support groups, education, newsletters, a lending library, and classes on mental illness.

• NAMI’s Warmline provides free and confidential support and resources 24/7 call or text 714-991-6412 for help.
• NAMI’s Peer Connector Program provides help to families through a mentoring program. Trained mentors, with experience either as a family member or as an individual with a diagnosis, provide advice, support, and resources. This program is designed for both peers and family members.
• NAMI’s Support Groups are for individuals 18 years and older who are family members or who care about someone with a mental illness. Meetings are held in a casual and confidential environment providing support.

Orange County 211| Dial 2-1-1 or 888-600-4357 (toll-free) to receive free or low-cost referrals to agencies serving Orange County relating to substance use, mental health, counseling, transitional age youth, persons with disabilities, housing, employment, transportation, early intervention, and more. Trained multilingual specialists are available 24/7. Or, text your zip code to 898211.

Orange County Health Care Agency – Behavioral Health | Provides a broad range of health and social services promoting wellness, self-sufficiency, and a better quality of life for individuals and families. The Behavioral Health Division provides a continuum of services and an array of mental health, alcohol, and other drug services for children, youth, families, adults, and older adults.

Orange County Psychological Association | 888-324-7978 The website provides a comprehensive listing of mental health providers and resources for Orange County. Additionally, a service called Psychology 2000 offers free, short-term psychological services to people who cannot afford them and meet certain criteria.

Low-Cost Providers

CalOptima.org | To find a behavioral health or medical provider who accepts MediCal.

Child Guidance Center, San Clemente | 714-953-4455 Resources and information to equip youth and parenting adults with behavioral health services and wellness programs.

Family Resource Center, CHEC, San Juan Capistrano | 949-489-7742 Providing low and no cost counseling services for individual, group, and family, parent education, and access to other local services by bilingual staff.

Family Resource Center, SOC, Lake Forest | 949-364-0500 Providing low and no cost counseling services for individual, group, and family, parent education, and access to other local services by bilingual staff.

Open Counseling | Find free or low-cost counseling services in Irvine, many of which provide online appointments. Non-profit providers offer free-to-low-cost counseling based on your income.

Orange County Regional Center | 714-796-5100 Provides a variety of services to persons with developmental disabilities, their families, and the community, including assessments, individual and family service plans, and case management services.

Seneca | 714-202-2100 Offers specialty mental health and counseling services to children and families touched by adoption, foster care, relative caregiving, or legal guardianship. Clinics include a variety of family-based services: traditional mental health therapies for youth and their families, and counseling for adult adoptees, parents, siblings, and birth families.

Wellness & Prevention Center | 949-680-0516 For mental health and substance use prevention services to students and families attending school in south Orange County, regardless of ability to pay, by bilingual staff.

Western Youth Services | 949-595-8610 Providing low and no cost counseling services for individual, group, and family, parent education, and access to other local services by bilingual staff.

Local Low-Cost Medical Providers

Camino Health Center | 714-240-2272 Access a wide variety of healthcare, dental, and behavioral health services from a bilingual staff, regardless of ability to pay.  Offices in Lake Forest, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano.

Laguna Beach Community Clinic | 949-494-0762 Providing medical care regardless of insurance or the ability to pay.

Be Well OC | A community-based, public-private partnership providing an ecosystem of optimal mental health support services including a comprehensive App Library with a multitude of free or low-cost wellness resources.

Child Mind – Parent Guide for Getting Good Care | Guidebook explains what to do if you think your child may need help, where to seek help, types of treatment professionals, types of treatment, and what every parent should know about how to get quality care for their child.

Half of Us | Tips for dealing with mental health issues such as feeling angry, hopeless, lonely, or stressed. Facts about addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, suicidal behavior, and self-injury.

How to Pick a Therapist and Get the Most From Therapy | Information on different types of therapy and therapists, what to expect, how to make the most of your therapy, how to tell if therapy is working for you, what to do if it’s not, and advice on paying for therapy.

Jed Foundation | Empowering teens and young adults with skills to grow into healthy, thriving adults with suggestions for teens who are worried about themselves or others. Jed Foundation provides high schools and college/universities with resources that support substance use prevention, mental health, and suicide prevention.

Online Mental Health Screening Tool – Mental Health America | Comprehensive resource for symptoms, treatments, and starting conversations about mental health concerns.

Preparing Your Teen to Seek Professional Help | Information on how to talk to your teen about seeking professional help including approaching your child, focusing on strengths, and explaining that professional treatment can work and the role a professional can play in feeling better.

Promised to Talk | A regional campaign by Mission Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, and St. Jude Medical Center, aimed to increase awareness about the importance of taking care of our minds and bodies.

Youth Mental Health First Aid | Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in youth.

80 Awesome Tips When You Cannot Afford Therapy | Alternative therapy resources including apps, websites/online forums, and support groups.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for Teens | Learn how to determine whether you or a loved one has a drug or alcohol problem and how and where to get help when necessary.

Partnership for Drug Free Kids | Helps families struggling with their son or daughter’s substance use. Empower families with information, support, and guidance to get the help their loved one needs and deserves. English and Spanish site.

Treatment eBook | Learn what drug and alcohol treatment entails, how to pay for it, how to get your child to start, and what you can do to help your family cope with challenges.

Hotlines and Services

Child Mind Institute | Guidebook explains what to do if you think your child may need help, where to seek help, types of treatment professionals, types of treatment, and what parents should know about getting quality care for their child. Additional resources specific to remote learning also provided.

Council for Relationships | Search for a virtual therapist by specialty area for family, couples, or individual counseling that can be offered on a sliding fee scale.

Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator | Find treatment programs to treat mental illnesses such as psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other conditions.

International Bipolar Foundation | 858-598-5967 a non-profit organization, whose mission is to eliminate bipolar disorder through the advancement of research, to promote and enhance care and support services, and to erase the associated stigma through public education.

Partners4Wellness | 949-595-2288 Provides prevention programs and youth education for middle and high school students and other youth-serving organizations. Supports county-wide constituency reducing abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

Opioid Treatment Program Directory | Find treatment programs in your state that treat addiction and dependence on opioids, such as heroin or prescription pain relievers.

Partnership for Drug Free Kids – Helpline for Parents | Call 855-378-4373 for free confidential conversations with trained counselors for support and guidance on preventing substance use and managing recovery from addiction in English or Spanish. Helpline also offers parent coaching from trained volunteers with lived experience.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Helpline | 800-662-4357 for 24-hour help including free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish. See Treatment Services Locator for providers.

Tools to Quit Smoking and Vaping

New Lung – Be Tobacco Free | 1-866-NEW-LUNG Call to enroll in services and develop a personal quit plan. Program includes individual support, group classes, stress management, and follow-up support.

ThisIsQuitting | Text QUIT to 88709. This is Quitting is a free APP designed to help young people quit vaping. The text messaging program incorporates messages from other teens who have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes. Learn more about how it works and the additional resources available for parents of young vapers and for adults who want to quit.

Smoke Free Teens | Tools and tips to become a smoke free teen. Includes SmokefreeTXT, QuitStart APP,  Speak to an Expert, Build Your Quit Plan, and SmokefreeUS on Instagram. Smoke Free – Spanish

Support Groups

Al-Anon/Alateen | Call 714-748-1113 or go online for meeting locations and times. Weekly meetings provide support and resources for family members and friends of alcoholics by sharing their experience and strength.

Alcoholics Anonymous Orange County | Call 714-556-4555 for meeting times and locations. Weekly meetings provide support and resources for alcoholics in recovery by sharing their experience and strength.

Narcotics Anonymous | Call 714-590-2388 (Spanish 888-622-4672) for meeting times and locations. NA is a national program that provides support through regular meetings to those who have a desire to recover from addiction.

Other 12 step anonymous groups held in South Orange County including Marijuana Anonymous, Pills Anonymous, and Heroin Anonymous.

Aha! Parenting.com | Information about positive parenting, including how to stay connected and how to talk about tough subjects with your child.

Center for Parent and Teen Communication | Information, videos, and plans developed to strengthen family relationships and build youth with character strengths that prepare them for healthy, successful, and meaningful lives. Includes a Self-Care Plan for parents and a Stress Management Plan for teens.

Divorce Recovery Workshop, Orange County | Multi-session workshops helping families and teens heal and recover.  They have been supporting families in Orange County helping them transform their relationships and connect with other teens and adults who are going through similar issues.

Fostering Resilience | Information and videos on building teen resilience and raising children with confidence.

Kids in the House | Short, informative videos to guide parenting related to all subjects – teen social lives, activities, sexuality and body image, parent/teen relationships, substance use, technology, video games, responsibilities, bullying, health, and more.

Power of Parents | MADD’s program empowers parents to have ongoing, intentional conversations about underage drinking.

Talking About Marijuana With Your Teen | Where do you start? Between legalization, increased normalization in pop culture, and new ways of using, it’s important to discuss marijuana with your kids and how it impacts the developing teen brain.

The Parent Project | Offers multi-session parenting classes in various locations throughout Orange County helping to restore peace and balance in the home. Parent Project is also an affordable court juvenile diversion program.

Bullying

Hotlines and Services

STOMP Out Bullying – Chat Line | Provides a safe place for 13 – 24-year olds to receive help with issues related to bullying and cyberbullying, as well as support for youth who may be at risk of suicide. See website for evening hours.

Online Resources

STOMP Out Bullying | Teaches effective solutions to respond to all forms of bullying. Provides help for those in need and at risk of suicide and raises awareness through peer mentoring programs and social media.

StopBullying | Provides information to help define and identify bullying and how to talk about and deal with bullying. Includes information for LGBTQIA+, special needs, religion, and diversity bullying.

The Bully Project | Resources and tools for parents, students, educators, and those with special needs, offering real stories related to bullying.

Grief Services

Dougy National Center for Grieving Children and Families | Providing support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death can share their experiences. They provide support and training locally, nationally and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief.

National Alliance for Grieving Children | Compilation of grief support services listed by state.

National Association of School Psychologists | The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is the premier source of knowledge, professional development, and resources, empowering school psychologists to ensure that all children and youth attain optimal learning and mental health. Search for “crisis and safety” then locate “Helping Children Cope with Loss, Death and Grief: tips for teachers and parents.”

What’s Your Grief | Online information on the different types of grief and loss, coping skills, locating resources, and finding support and supporting someone who is grieving.  Also provides resources for professionals.

Cancer Specific Resource

Kids Konnected | 800-899-2866 Provides complimentary counseling, summer camps, bereavement workshops, and cancer educational tools for children and teens who have a parent with cancer or have lost a parent to cancer.

Grief Support Groups

Gary’s Place for Kids | 949-348-0548 Provides ongoing grief support for children, ages 3 – 18 and their families, who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to a death, enabling them to express and process their feelings, reach grief adjustment, and lead productive lives. South Orange County location.

KIDSAID | An email support group that provides a safe place for kids to help each other deal with grief and loss. It provides opportunities to share and view artwork and stories, and for parents and kids to ask questions and find answers. Additional information is provided on the parent site www.GriefNet.org.

Bereavement Camps for Kids

Camp Erin | The largest nationwide network of bereavement camps for children and teens ages 6 – 17 who have experienced the death of someone close to them.

Comfort Zone Camp | A free year-round bereavement camp for children 7 – 17 years old held year-round in California, and other states.

Be Well OC | Provides a comprehensive App Library with a multitude of free or low-cost wellness resources.

Create a Personal Stress-Management Plan for Teens | Create a personalized stress management plan so we are as prepared as possible to handle life’s challenges. This template, designed with input from young people, can be personalized. It draws from the full plan published by The American Academy of Pediatrics in Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings.

Creating your Personal Stress-Management Plan | A 10-point plan that you can personalize to help you manage stress by tackling the problem, taking care of your body, and dealing with emotions.

Helping Teens Learn to Cope | Information for parents on how to support your teen in developing positive coping strategies for hardships and stress in life. Includes information on strengthening relationships, building coping skills and creating a stress management plan.

Mindfulness for Teens | Information, tools, and resources to help you get started on incorporating mindfulness activities in your daily life.

Stressed Teens | Teaches mindfulness skills and provides tools for those in their pre-teen years through young adulthood.

Mission Hospital Adolescent After School Program  | 949-364-4246 The Aspire program is an Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Program at Mission Hospital for adolescents aged 13 to 17. Most insurance accepted.

Strength in Numbers OC | A high school club in South Orange County that allows students to connect with each other, opening up the lines of communication, and share real-life experiences.

Teen Line | 310-855-4673 or text “TEEN” to 839863 between 6:00pm-9:00pm PST to get support from teens. Use the APP to vent, share, and get support from teens and see what other teens are posting.

The JED Foundation | Dedicated to protecting emotional health and preventing suicide by empowering teens and young adults with skills and support to grow into healthy, thriving adults. Includes information for teens, young adults, parents, community members, schools, and colleges/universities. Provides specific suggestions for teens who are worried about themselves or others as well as information about specific mental health issues and steps to improve emotional wellness.

Set to Go | Provides information for students, families, and high school educators about the social, emotional, and mental health challenges related to the transition out of high school to college or straight to careers. Offers specific information, tools, and guidance on college selection including a “Right Fit” Tool, planning for your mental health care, managing stress, strengthening life skills, mental health substance use, and making transitions.

ULifeLine | A mental health resource center that offers college students information about mental health issues and resources on their college campuses. It also offers a confidential mental health screening tool.

These fact sheets help parents talk with their teens about potential health risks for drugs and alcohol during the teen years. Some of them may surprise you. The tip sheets provide conversation starters and advice for answering teens’ most common questions.

Alcohol | Fact Sheet | Tip Sheet

E-cigs and vapes | Fact Sheet | Tip Sheet

Marijuana | Fact Sheet | Tip Sheet

Prescription drugs | Fact Sheet | Tip Sheet

High School Parent Resource Guide contains all of these fact and tip sheets in a useful guide to prepare you for conversations with your child.

Guía de Recursos para Padres la cúal le proverá información acerca los efectos del alcohol y otras drogas en el desarrollo del cerebro al joven. Esta guía le permitira tener una conversación abierta y honesta con su adolescente.

Middle School Parent Resource Guide discusses how the transition from elementary to middle school is one of the biggest milestones in a child’s life. Learn about the adolescent brain and the effects that alcohol and drugs have on it, as well as how the perceived need to be “perfect” affects youth mental health.

Family Agreement is a helpful tool to begin an open dialog with your teen. By signing this agreement, you agree to listen to their thoughts and help problem-solve ways to avoid situations involving drugs and alcohol.

Prescription Safety Guide provides ways to reduce the risks of pain and anti-anxiety medications for adolescents as well as which ones pose the most risk.

Student Athlete Fact Sheet is a sheet that explains why despite its many benefits, sports participation is associated with greater substance use.