Crisis Hotlines

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
  Linea Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis: 988
  For Deaf & Hard of Hearing: Dial 711, then 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text “START” to 741-741
• Trevor Project, LGBTQ support: 866-488-7386 or Text “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200
• The Steve Fund, for young people of color: Text “STEVE” to 741-741
• Trans Lifeline, Transgender support: 877-565-8860 (English & Spanish available)
• Military/Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, press 1

Crisis Walk-In Services

• Local hospital emergency room — The closest ER to North Park University is Swedish Hospital, 5140 N California Ave, Chicago, (773) 878-8200.
• The Living Room: Forever Hope — 4423 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, (773) 537-3601. Available 7 days a week, 2:00 pm—9:00 pm. The Living Room, run by Threshold Community Mental Health agency, is a mental health crisis center meant as an alternative to an emergency room visit/traditional psychiatric hospitalization. The Living Room model is uniquely staffed entirely by peers. (Please call before going to verify hours of operation.)
• The Living Room – Rincon Family Services – 3710 N Kedzie, Chicago (773) 992-8011. Available Monday-Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. A walk-in mental health crisis center meant as an alternative to an emergency room visit/traditional psychiatric hospitalization. The Living Room model is uniquely staffed by peers with lived experience of mental illness. (Please call before going to verify hours of operation.)
• The Welcoming Center — 5215 N. California Ave, Suite F101, Chicago, (Next to Au Bon Pain), (773) 561-5809. Walk-in Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am –7:00 pm. The Welcoming Center is a walk-in mental health clinic for adults (18+) that offers counseling, case management, and psychiatric appointments. The Center is staffed with a team of nurses, social workers/counselors, peer specialists, and advanced practice nurses, and is, in part, meant for those in mental health crisis.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) — DBSA offers in-person and online support groups for people living with a mood disorder as well as friends and family. Parents who have a child living with depression or bipolar can join the online community for parents, the Balanced Mind Parent Network.National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. The Chicago chapter has a website at namichicago.org.

• Emotional Support Hotlines through NAMI.
• NAMI HelpLine — 800-950-NAMI (6264) Monday–Friday, 10 am – 6 pm EST for mental health resources.
• NAMI Resource Library — Provides an extensive list of in-person and online support groups and other mental health resources.

ULifeline — Online resource for college mental health.

Various Online Support Groups:

• 7 Cups — Free online text chat with a trained listener for emotional support and counseling. Also offers fee-based online therapy with a licensed mental health professional. The service/website is also offered in Spanish.
• Emotions Anonymous — Offers online mental health peer support meetings in the US and globally, as well as via chat, Skype, or phone.
• Support Group Central — Offers group video meetings led by trained facilitators on numerous mental health topics for free or low-cost.
• The Tribe Wellness Community — Free, online mental health peer support groups including Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, HIV/AIDS, LGBT, Marriage/Family, OCD, and Teens.
• SupportGroups.com — Features 200+ online support groups.
• For Like Minds: Online mental health support network to connect with others living with or supporting someone with mental illness, substance use, or a stressful life event.
• 18percent — A free, peer-to-peer online support community for anyone living with a mental health issue.
• Psych Central — Offers online mental health resources, quizzes, news, an “Ask the Therapist” function, and online support communities.

Apps

Various mental health-related apps for Android and iOS

Newer apps to check out:

• HearMe.app — An app to connect with a trained, empathetic HearMe Listener in real-time about any topic in your life. Share and talk over text about your problems, your doubts, your celebrations, your joy.
• Nod — An app to reduce the impact of loneliness on young people’s well-being.
• Lyf — A virtual support group community that lets you create or join discussion groups. Lyf also has a team of licensed psychologists on the platform 24/7 to answer questions and provide feedback for free.
  

Navigating your health insurance to access health care, including mental health care, can be daunting. Utilize this Guide to Accessing Mental Health Counseling to help you through the process. After viewing the guide, view this video for assistance navigating a health insurance website.Counseling Support Services staff are also available to help you through the process as well as to access other mental health related services and resources in the community.North Park also has a new resource to assist students in locating mental health providers in the community called ThrivingCampus. You may access the tool independently or with assistance from one of our counselors. northpark.thrivingcampus.com 

Local North Park/Chicago Resources

The Kedzie Center — Mental health services regardless of ability to pay for those living with the boundaries of the North River Expanded Mental Health Services program, which includes residents of Albany Park, North Park, Irving Park, and Sauganash areas. Services available in English and Spanish.
4141 N Kedzie Ave, Suite 2, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 754-0577
thekedziecenter.org

Cook County Health, Provident Hospital, Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Services Counseling and psychiatry for individuals with or without health insurance. Patients without insurance may be able to apply for the hospital’s Carelink charity care.
500 E 51st St
Chicago, IL 60615
(312) 572-2000
cookcountyhealth.org

Erie Family Health — Mental, physical, and dental health care regardless of ability to pay.
Erie Foster Avenue Health Center
5215 N California, 7th Floor
Chicago, IL 60625
(312) 666-3494

Howard Brown Health — Mental and physical health care for the LGBTQ community regardless of ability to pay.
4025 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 388-1600
howardbrown.org

National Resources

Rise Above the Disorder — Connects users with resources for finding a therapist, answering mental health questions, and applying for grants to cover the cost of therapy.

SAMHSA Treatment Locator or (800) 662-HELP(4357) — Find alcohol, drug, or mental health treatment facilities and programs around the country.

Federally Funded Health Centers — Community health centers offering a sliding scale fee that serve underserved areas or populations.

National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics — Provides a range of medical, dental, pharmacy, vision, and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals.

HelpWhenYouNeedIt — An online service that connects users to private and public resources, including local mental health & substance use treatment and free clinics.

Open Counseling — An organization that connects people with counseling they can afford.

Open Path or Call or Text (800) 268-2833 — Non-profit nationwide network of mental health professionals that provides mental health care at a reduced rate to individuals, couples, children, and families in need. Requires an initial, one-time membership fee of $59.

Theravive — A network of licensed and professional clinical counselors, therapists, and psychologists who strive to make mental health care safe, affordable, and accessible.

ACPE — Find pastoral counseling from a trained minister, rabbi, priest, imam, etc. Usually, free of charge.

Other Resources

State of Illinois Application for Benefits Eligibility — Apply for and manage State of Illinois benefits, including healthcare (Illinois Medicaid and All Kids), food, and cash assistance.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance — DBSA offers in-person and online support groups for people living with a mood disorder as well as friends and family. Parents who have a child living with depression or bipolar can join the online community for parents, the Balanced Mind Parent Network. The local Chicago chapter is at dbsa-gc.org.

National Alliance on Mental Illness — NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives. The Chicago chapter has a website at namichicago.org.

• Emotional Support Hotlines through NAMI.
• NAMI HelpLine — 800-950-NAMI (6264) Monday–Friday, 10 am – 6 pm EST for mental health resources.
• NAMI Resource Library — Provides an extensive list of in-person and online support groups and other mental health resources.

ULifeline — Online resource for college mental health

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) – Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research.

International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) – IOCDF aims to increase access to effective treatment through research and training, foster a hopeful and supportive community for those affected by OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and the professionals who treat them, and fight stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Anxiety Network The Anxiety Network provides resources and information for those who are dealing with anxiety and how to cope with it.

Local Resources

The Awakening Center – 3523 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, (773) 929-6262, awakeningintake@gmail.com

Eating Recovery Centers – Multiple Chicago locations; Also offers many free support groups.

The Renfrew Center – Northbrook, IL – northern suburb of Chicago

National Resources

National Institute of Mental Health– NIMH provides facts about eating disorders, treatment options, and the latest mental health research.

National Eating Disorders Association– NEDA is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting those impacted by eating disorders.

• • Contact the Helpline– Call: (800) 931-2237 Monday – Thursday 11am – 9pm ET; Friday 11am – 5pm ET. Text: (800) 931-2237 pilot hours Monday – Thursday 3pm – 6pm. Standard text messing rages may apply. Also, an online chat

Eating Attitudes Test – EAT-26 is a self-report measure of symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders with anonymous feedback.

MEDA – Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association provides education about eating disorders and their causes.

National Alliance for Eating Disorders – A non-profit organization dedicated to the outreach, education, early intervention, support, and advocacy for all eating disorders. Also offers free in-person and online support groups.

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration is committed to improving prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for mental and substance use disorders.

National Institute on Drug Abuse – NIDA is the lead federal agency supporting scientific research on drug use and its consequences.

Start Your Recovery Easily digestible, relatable information for people who are facing substance use issues — and for their support networks, too.

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a 12-step program for men and women who have a drinking problem, supporting each other to overcome their addiction. Chicago Area AA, 24-hour Helpline, and to find a Chicago area meeting – (312) 346-1475

Al-Anon: program of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics, whether or not the alcoholic recognizes the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help. Al-Anon and Alateen meetings

Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) is a 12-step program designed to help people who are addicted to narcotic drugs stop using drugs and find new ways of living. To join a meeting, visit the website

Celebrate Recovery – This faith-based addiction recovery program is a Christ-centered 12 step recovery program for individuals suffering from alcohol and substance abuse.

Cocaine Anonymous: A program for individuals wishing to overcome their cocaine addiction. Find a meeting in the US.  Illinois Area of Cocaine Anonymous, (312) 834-DRUG (3784)

Illinois Tobacco Quitline: The Quitline’s counselors composed of nurses, respiratory therapists, and tobacco-cessation specialists provides guidance in lung health and disease-related comorbidities in addition to tobacco cessations to individuals wanting to quit tobacco or tobacco-related products.

1-866-QUIT-YES (1-866-784-8937)
Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Smokefree.gov:  Intended to help you or someone you care about quit smoking. The information and professional assistance available on this website can help to support both your immediate and long-term needs as you become, and remain, a non-smoker.  

Center for Disease Control and Prevention: National tobacco cessation program providing education on serious long-term health effects from smoking and secondhand smoke exposure.

National Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222, Provides information about the prevention and treatment of drug overdoses, including alcohol poisoning.

Community Resources

Mujeres Latinas En Accion, Chicago — Counseling, Advocacy, 24-hour crisis line: (312) 738-5358.

Center on Halsted — Free or low-cost counseling services specializing in working with LGBTQ individuals. (773) 472-6469.

KAN-WIN —Provides multi-lingual free counseling and legal advocacy for Asian-American and Asian immigrant survivors or sexual or domestic violence. 24-hour hotline: (773) 583-0880.

Apna Ghar — Counseling, advocacy, and emergency shelter provided across immigrant communities. 24-hour crisis line: (773) 334-4663. Text hotline: (773) 899-1041. Email: help@apnaghar.org

Life Span — Legal services, advocacy, and counseling for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. For counseling: (847) 824-0382. For legal services: (312) 408-1210.

City of Chicago Office on Domestic Violence — Information, options, counseling, legal and shelter services. 24-hour, confidential, multilingual helpline: (877) 863-6338. TTY: (877) 863-6339.

Sexual Violence

Resilience — Formerly Rape Victim Advocates. Crisis intervention counseling, individual and group trauma therapy, and medical and legal advocacy. (312) 443-9603. Email: info@ourresilience.org

Greenlight Family Services — Formerly Porchlight Counseling. Free counseling for individuals assaulted in college. Phone: (773) 750-7077, Text: GCHOPE to 31996

Metro YWCA — Sexual Violence Support Services (SVSS). Rape crisis hotline: (888) 293-2080 (Metropolitan Chicago area); (630) 971-3927 (DuPage County); (708) 748-5672 (South Suburbs).

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) — Victim services and public education. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE(4673) or online live chat hotline.

Relationship Violence

SHALVA — Free domestic violence services serving the Jewish community. 24-hour crisis line: (773) 583-HOPE (4673)

Between Friends, Chicago — 24-hour helpline, counseling, and legal assistance. 24-hour crisis hotline: (800) 603-4357.

City of Chicago Office on Domestic Violence — Information, options, counseling, legal and shelter services. 24-hour, confidential, multilingual help line: (877) 863-6338. TTY: (877) 863-6339.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline — Hotline, resources and support
1-800-799-SAFE(7233). TTY (800) 787-3224. Also an online chat.

What’s Your Grief – promotes grief education, exploration and expression in both practical and creative ways.

• • • Podcast – A practical and engaging way to discusses a wide range of grief related topics from theory to coping skills.

HealGrief – is a social support network that provides tools and resources to guide one’s journey with grief into a healthy personal growth.

• • • Actively Moving Forward – AMF is a national network specifically to address the needs of grieving young adults. Also, Tips for Grieving College Students.

Open to Hope is an online forum that aims to bridge the gap between loss and recovery by supporting people who have experienced loss by offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery.

The Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Chicago that specializes in working with grieving families and individuals.

Related Readings

• How to go on living when someone you love dies. Rando, T.A. (1991).
• Understanding your grief: Ten essential touchstones for finding hope and healing your heart. Wolfelt, A.D. (2004).
• How to mend your broken heart: Overcome emotional pain at the end of a relationship. McKenna, P. & Wilbourn, H. (2005).
• When Bad things Happen to Good People. Kushner, H.S. (1981).
• How to Survive the Loss of a Love. Bloomfield, H.H. Colgrove, M., & McWilliams, P. (2000).
• The Healing Power of Grief. Miller, J. (1978).
• I wasn’t ready to say goodbye: Surviving, coping, and healing after the death of a loved one. Noel, B. & Blair, P.D. (2000).
• Recovering from the loss of a sibling. Donnelly, K.F. & Toomey, M. (2000).

For immediate and emergency housing, the online Homeless Shelter Directory provides information on homeless shelters and other social services throughout the country.

Consult 211.org or dial 211 from any cell or landline for a list of shelters in your area.

National Mental Health Consumer’s Self-Help Clearinghouse is a nationwide directory to locate local consumer-driven services, including housing. The website maintains a search function for a directory of local CDS (consumer-driven services).

The Salvation Army — emergency shelter to long term housing assistance, as well as many other social services.

Help When You Need It —An online service that connects users to listings nationwide of private and public resources for food pantries and stores that accept food stamps. They also help with connection to assisted living facilities, domestic violence and homeless shelters, mental health & substance use treatment, free clinics, legal and financial assistance.

Application for food assistance through the State of Illinois

Greater Chicago Food Depository — Find a food pantry, soup kitchen, shelter, or mobile program in the greater Chicago area.

Foodpantries.org — Search for food pantries in your area.

Health Care

Healthcare.gov — View and sign up for healthcare plans. Even if open enrollment is over for the year, healthcare.gov will see if you can enroll in commercial insurance because of certain qualifications. It will also see if you qualify for Medicaid, which you can enroll in at any time. Application for Medicaid in the State of Illinois.

The Assistance Fund — For those who qualify for financial support, service provides patient advocates to assist in securing financial assistance for co-payments, prescriptions, deductibles, premiums, and medical expenses. Spanish-language translation service also available.

Medication Assistance

Needy Meds or (800) 503-6897 — Offers a HelpLine and website information on financial assistance programs to help defray the cost of medication. Website also offered in Spanish.

RX Assist — Provides an up-to-date directory of free and low-cost medicine programs and other ways to manage medication costs.

RX Hope — A free patient assistance program to assist people in need in obtaining critical medications.

Many pharmaceutical companies also have prescription assistance programs.

State of Illinois Application for health care, food assistance, and cash assistance.

Need Help Paying Bills — Provides information on assistance programs, charity organizations, and resources that provide help paying bills, mortgage, and debt relief (financial, rent and government assistance).

Aunt Bertha — An online resource that connects users to free and reduced cost local resources such as medical care, food, housing, transportation, and more. Website also offered in Spanish.

211.org or dial 211 from any phone (mobile or landline) to search for contact information by zip code. Service refers callers to community organizations that offer emergency financial assistance. Website also offered in Spanish.

Help with Bills — Provides information about government programs that help with bill payment, temporary assistance, jobs/unemployment, credit, etc. Website and Helpline also offered in Spanish.

Utilities

ComEd –  Offers flexible payment arrangements. The ComEd Customer Care Team is available 7 am – 7 pm, M–F at (800) 334-7661.

Nicor Gas — Nicor has energy assistance programs and grants. There is also a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that provides qualifying households with monetary relief for energy bills that do not need to be paid back.

Internet, Computers, Wi-Fi

Access by AT&T — A wireless home internet plan for low-income households for $5– $10/month. At least one person of your household should receive SSI or SNAP benefits to be qualified.

Comcast Internet Essentials — An internet plan for $9.95/month. You may qualify if you are eligible for public assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI. There is also an option to purchase a computer for $149.99.

Spectrum Internet Assist — Provides internet to low-income families, students, and seniors for $14.99/month.

PCs for People — refurbished desktop & laptop computers, low-cost internet, and affordable computer repair services for eligible individuals and nonprofits.

FreedomPop.com — A wireless and virtual network that offers free and affordable internet as well as phone service.

NetZero.net — A broadband internet company that provides low-cost internet service.

needhelppayingbills.com — Free clothing closets, furniture banks and school supplies in Chicago.

The Salvation Army stores — Low-cost clothing and household items.

Goodwill stores — Low cost clothing and household items.