Get Support for Youth

We’re here for you

Feeling stressed, anxious, left out, or just not like yourself?

The NAMI Chicago Helpline is ready to support you

Our local team of trained specialists will listen without judgment, help you make an action plan, provide emotional support, and connect you to mental health resources.

The helpline is:

Local

Free

Confidential

Hablamos Español

Our Helpline is here for you:

9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

When you’re feeling

What happens when you reach out?

No pressure. No judgement. No scripts.

When you text, call, or chat:

A real person will respond

They’ll listen – really listen

If you’re interested, they’ll share local resources and community support

You can share as much or as little as you want

It’s completely confidential

You can reach out for yourself or someone else

We’re here to help you figure out what to do next.

You might be:

Dealing with stress, anxiety, or a tough day

Feeling alone or overwhelmed

Worried about a friend and not sure how to help

Trying to say the right thing or do the right thing

Just needing someone to talk to

Not ready to talk?

That’s OK. You can take things one step at a time. Check out the tips below to help you manage whatever’s on your mind.

I’m feeling anxious

Take a box breath. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, and breathe out for 4. This calms your nervous system.

Need to de-stress? Try listening to calm music or breaking your tasks into smaller chunks.

Find your calm song. Find a song that calms you and turn it on anytime you need help relaxing.

Try a short meditation. Many guided meditations take 10 minutes or less and are proven to reduce anxiety. Try apps like Headspace or Calm, or search for free clips on YouTube.

I’m stressed about school

Express the stress. Talk, text, or write about the stress you feel and what’s causing it. That release can really help.

Get a go-to breathing exercise. Two that are proven to combat stress are box breathing (breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, breathe out for 4) and the double inhale (two quick inhales, then a slow exhale).

Put on your calm song. Research found that students who listened to relaxing music were able to recover more quickly after a stressful situation.

I had a really bad day

Figure out what you need the most right now.

Need a mood boost? Get outside, visit a park, or try a walk or a run for an immediate pick-me-up.

Need to de-stress? Try listening to calm music or breaking your tasks into smaller chunks.

Feeling lonely? Find a reason to text or call someone. Maybe you share something you know they’ll like or say something that made you think about them.

Connect with someone you trust. Talking through a tough day helps you de-stress. Reach out to a friend or family member, just to chat.

Looking for another kind of support?

Find your support system

NAMI Chicago offers support groups online and in person for people 18+ to connect, share their experiences, and feel less alone, as well as family groups for those supporting someone in their lives.

Do you or a friend need immediate help?

You are important. If you or someone you know is considering harming themself or others, you can text, call, or chat the 988 Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and every day of the year.