Hotline for depression and anxiety


SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA

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  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

    Also visit the online treatment locator.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.

The service is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

English and Spanish are available if you select the option to speak with a national representative. Currently, the 435748 (HELP4U) text messaging service is only available in English.

In 2020, the Helpline received 833,598 calls. This is a 27 percent increase from 2019, when the Helpline received a total of 656,953 calls for the year.

The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.

The service is confidential. We will not ask you for any personal information. We may ask for your zip code or other pertinent geographic information in order to track calls being routed to other offices or to accurately identify the local resources appropriate to your needs.

No, we do not provide counseling. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.

  • Suggested Resources

    What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families
    Created for family members of people with alcohol abuse or drug abuse problems. Answers questions about substance abuse, its symptoms, different types of treatment, and recovery. Addresses concerns of children of parents with substance use/abuse problems.

    It's Not Your Fault (NACoA) (PDF | 12 KB)
    Assures teens with parents who abuse alcohol or drugs that, "It's not your fault!" and that they are not alone. Encourages teens to seek emotional support from other adults, school counselors, and youth support groups such as Alateen, and provides a resource list.

    After an Attempt: A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member After Treatment in the Emergency Department
    Aids family members in coping with the aftermath of a relative's suicide attempt. Describes the emergency department treatment process, lists questions to ask about follow-up treatment, and describes how to reduce risk and ensure safety at home.

    Family Therapy Can Help: For People in Recovery From Mental Illness or Addiction
    Explores the role of family therapy in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse. Explains how family therapy sessions are run and who conducts them, describes a typical session, and provides information on its effectiveness in recovery.

    For additional resources, please visit the SAMHSA Store.

Last Updated: 08/30/2022

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

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Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.

The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health. These reports and detailed tables present estimates from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Alcohol

Data:

  • Among the 133.1 million current alcohol users aged 12 or older in 2021, 60.0 million people (or 45.1%) were past month binge drinkers. The percentage of people who were past month binge drinkers was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (29.2% or 9.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (22.4% or 49.3 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (3.8% or 995,000 people). (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 15.1% (or 5.9 million people) were past month alcohol users. Estimates of binge alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in the past month among underage people were 8.3% (or 3.2 million people) and 1.6% (or 613,000 people), respectively. (2021 NSDUH)
  • In 2020, 50.0% of people aged 12 or older (or 138.5 million people) used alcohol in the past month (i.e., current alcohol users) (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among the 138.5 million people who were current alcohol users, 61.6 million people (or 44.4%) were classified as binge drinkers and 17.7 million people (28.8% of current binge drinkers and 12.8% of current alcohol users) were classified as heavy drinkers (2020 NSDUH)
  • The percentage of people who were past month binge alcohol users was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (31. 4%) compared with 22.9% of adults aged 26 or older and 4.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Excessive alcohol use can increase a person’s risk of stroke, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, cancer, and other serious health conditions
  • Excessive alcohol use can also lead to risk-taking behavior, including driving while impaired. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver daily

Programs/Initiatives:

  • STOP Underage Drinking interagency portal - Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking
  • Talk. They Hear You.
  • Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts
  • Talking with your College-Bound Young Adult About Alcohol

Relevant links:

  • National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
  • Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance
  • Alcohol Policy Information Systems Database (APIS)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Tobacco

Data:

  • In 2020, 20. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 57.3 million people) used nicotine products (i.e., used tobacco products or vaped nicotine) in the past month (2020 NSDUH)
  • Among past month users of nicotine products, nearly two thirds of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (63.1%) vaped nicotine but did not use tobacco products. In contrast, 88.9% of past month nicotine product users aged 26 or older used only tobacco products (2020 NSDUH)
  • Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, often leading to lung cancer, respiratory disorders, heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses. The CDC reports that cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths each year in the United States
  • The CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health reports that more than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking cigarettes

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use data:

  • In 2021, 13.2 million people aged 12 or older (or 4.7%) used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. The percentage of people who vaped nicotine was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (14.1% or 4.7 million people), followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (5.2% or 1.4 million people), then by adults aged 26 or older (3.2% or 7.1 million people).
  • Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 11.0% (or 4.3 million people) used tobacco products or used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. Among people in this age group, 8.1% (or 3.1 million people) vaped nicotine, 5.4% (or 2.1 million people) used tobacco products, and 3.4% (or 1.3 million people) smoked cigarettes in the past month. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Among both middle and high school students, current use of e-cigarettes declined from 2019 to 2020, reversing previous trends and returning current e-cigarette use to levels similar to those observed in 2018
  • E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, or pregnant women, especially because they contain nicotine and other chemicals

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Tobacco
  • Tips for Teens: E-cigarettes
  • Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Settings
  • Synar Amendment Program

Links:

  • Truth Initiative
  • FDA Center for Tobacco Products
  • CDC Office on Smoking and Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: E-Cigarettes

Opioids

Data:

  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 3. 3% (or 9.2 million people) misused opioids (heroin or prescription pain relievers) in the past year. Among the 9.2 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 8.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers compared with 1.1 million people who used heroin. These numbers include 574,000 people who both misused prescription pain relievers and used heroin in the past year. (2021 NSDUH)
  • Among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 3.4% (or 9.5 million people) misused opioids in the past year. Among the 9.5 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 902,000 people used heroin (2020 NSDUH)
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Understanding the Epidemic, an average of 128 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose

Resources:

  • Medication-Assisted Treatment
  • Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
  • TIP 63: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Criminal Justice Settings
  • Opioid Use Disorder and Pregnancy
  • Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants
  • The Facts about Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction
  • Pregnancy Planning for Women Being Treated for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Tips for Teens: Opioids
  • Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Grants
  • Tribal Opioid Response Grants
  • Provider’s Clinical Support System - Medication Assisted Treatment Grant Program

Links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Opioids
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Heroin
  • HHS Prevent Opioid Abuse
  • Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network
  • Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network

Marijuana

Data:

  • In 2021, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug, with 18. 7% of people aged 12 or older (or 52.5 million people) using it in the past year. The percentage was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (35.4% or 11.8 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (17.2% or 37.9 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (10.5% or 2.7 million people).
  • The percentage of people who used marijuana in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (34.5%) compared with 16.3% of adults aged 26 or older and 10.1% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2020 NSDUH)
  • Marijuana can impair judgment and distort perception in the short term and can lead to memory impairment in the long term
  • Marijuana can have significant health effects on youth and pregnant women.

Resources:

  • Know the Risks of Marijuana
  • Marijuana and Pregnancy
  • Tips for Teens: Marijuana

Relevant links:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana
  • Addiction Technology Transfer Centers on Marijuana
  • CDC Marijuana and Public Health

Emerging Trends in Substance Misuse:

  • Methamphetamine—In 2019, NSDUH data show that approximately 2 million people used methamphetamine in the past year. Approximately 1 million people had a methamphetamine use disorder, which was higher than the percentage in 2016, but similar to the percentages in 2015 and 2018. The National Institute on Drug Abuse Data shows that overdose death rates involving methamphetamine have quadrupled from 2011 to 2017. Frequent meth use is associated with mood disturbances, hallucinations, and paranoia.
  • Cocaine—In 2019, NSDUH data show an estimated 5.5 million people aged 12 or older were past users of cocaine, including about 778,000 users of crack. The CDC reports that overdose deaths involving have increased by one-third from 2016 to 2017. In the short term, cocaine use can result in increased blood pressure, restlessness, and irritability. In the long term, severe medical complications of cocaine use include heart attacks, seizures, and abdominal pain.
  • Kratom—In 2019, NSDUH data show that about 825,000 people had used Kratom in the past month. Kratom is a tropical plant that grows naturally in Southeast Asia with leaves that can have psychotropic effects by affecting opioid brain receptors. It is currently unregulated and has risk of abuse and dependence. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that health effects of Kratom can include nausea, itching, seizures, and hallucinations.

Resources:

  • Tips for Teens: Methamphetamine
  • Tips for Teens: Cocaine
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse

More SAMHSA publications on substance use prevention and treatment.

Last Updated: 01/05/2023

Online Psychological Emergency Service

Press Center

EventsAnnouncements

Events Announcements

Psychologists of the Crimean branch took part in internal training

News 17 January 2023, 17:18

Psychologists of the Ural branch passed a monitoring psychodiagnostic examination

News January 13, 2023, 10:10 am

Psychologists of the North Caucasus Branch conducted classes on the culture of safe behavior at school No. 5 in Pyatigorsk

News January 13, 2023, 10:07

Psychologists EMERCOM of Russia will take part in the All-Russian online lesson "About the most important"

Announcements September 6, 2022, 16:29

August 19 - the final of the All-Russian competition "Human Factor. Professional League»

The final stage of the All-Russian competition in first aid and psychological support «Human factor. Professional League" will be held on August 19, 2022 as part of the "III International Fire and Rescue Congress" on the basis of the "Congress and Exhibition Center" Patriot ".

Announcements August 4, 2022, 15:31

The Center for Emergency Psychological Assistance of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia will take part in the International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2022" ".

Announcements 29 July 2022, 18:03

You can consult with the psychologist of the service in the "Personal Account" section. nine0003

Consultations in the "Personal Account" section are not published in the public domain on the site and are provided only to registered users

Log in to your personal account Register

Questions to a psychologist

Ask a psychologist a question

Author: Artyom

01/17/2023 08:42

Depression

Hello, my name is Artyom, I'm 18. I don't know what to do next. I was tired of everything, I lost interest in everything that surrounds me, I stopped feeling anything for anyone. For the last two years I have not lived, I exist. Everything around me became somehow gray, unpleasant. Everything has become disgusting for me, I can’t find myself in this life, I can’t understand why I appeared, I associate myself with something like an empty container that flows with the flow. Eternal reproaches, stress and depression, failures in studies, love, in a team. Everyone dislikes me, shuns me. It got to the point that they tell me directly that I am nothing of myself, and there was no point in being born. How should I proceed, please answer

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Answer: Service Consultant

17.01.2023 12:22

Hello, Artem!

For the last two years you have been overwhelmed by the indifference and senselessness of the environment, you feel empty and indifferent. Frequent reproaches from the outside, criticism and failures made me lose faith in myself. The current situation bothers you, but at the same time there is a desire to correct it, which is a significant step towards solving the problem! Thank you for finding the strength in yourself and asking for help! nine0005

In your appeal, you say that you have been experiencing this condition for the past two years. Try to answer yourself the question, what could cause this condition? Perhaps some stressful event led to a loss of meaning and devastation.

You say that you have ceased to feel anything for anyone, but at the same time you are hurt by the opinion of society, that is, it is not indifferent. This is likely to happen if there is an unsatisfied childhood need for acceptance and love. Rejection or punishment from childhood in response to the child's objectionable behavior forms a rejection of the true personality in favor of a false self that others will like. Then, this habit is repeated in relationships with others. nine0005

It is important to develop sensitivity to yourself, your emotions, desires and needs, without looking at others. To bring the true Self into relationships with other people, and work with fears and attitudes that interfere. You need to find resources that you can rely on in a difficult situation. Try to answer yourself the following questions: what knowledge, skills and abilities do you have? Your life experience, values, character, qualities, faith are resources. They can also be your hobbies, interests, hobbies. Think about which of your close people (relatives, friends, acquaintances) you could confide in and talk about what worries you? Which of them could give you emotional support? If you think that there are none, then you can always call the round-the-clock, free and anonymous hotline of our service +7 (495) 989-50-50, where you will receive emergency psychological assistance.

For a more effective treatment of your problems, you can seek advice from a psychologist at the place of residence, where a specialist will consider your problem at a deeper level and direct you to its solution.

Best regards, Elena. Chris0045 Service Consultant

01/17/2023 15:40

Hello, Chris Well, it's all over..

Chris, sometimes even one confidential conversation with a person who is ready to listen and hear and support you can change the situation, give hope for the best. When we are in a gloomy state of mind, it is really, very difficult for us to objectively assess the problem situation, our capabilities, solutions, to see a life perspective, and of course, in this situation, a professional view from the outside is very important. nine0005

Find an opportunity to call our psychological help line or the emergency medical and psychological help line +7 (499) 791-20-50 (24 hours), and if you are still a teenager, then number 8 (800) 200-01-22. Say everything that worries you, what your heart hurts about and hear you and provide possible support and help.

Best regards, Vyacheslav.


Author: Sofia

01/17/2023 01:37

I am

Hello, my dad died, I am very bad help me

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Reply: Service Consultant

01/17/2023 16:20

Hello Sophia

I am sorry for your loss. You are now going through a very difficult period in your life, you are going through the bitterness of the loss of a loved one, your dad. There is no understanding how to survive this loss ...

Sofya, in such a difficult situation, your feelings, your experiences, are expected and inevitable, since the day of your dad's death, probably very little time has passed to fully accept that he is no more. The loss of a loved one is always hard to endure, and especially a loved one. It often happens that a person does not want to let go of a loved one, does not want to put up with the fact that he is no longer there, that he cannot be returned ... In this situation, I want to tell the departed so much more about his feelings for him, how important he was and so bitter that there is no such possibility ... and, probably, it can never be enough. But, unfortunately, death is a part of our life, and it does not ask whether a person is ready to leave or not ... This is what you have to put up with ... What you are experiencing now is grief that goes on as usual and it is very important that you understand how this can happen. nine0005

Sophia, in such a situation, support is very necessary, the opportunity to talk about what is happening in the soul and to be heard. Do you have such an opportunity? In this situation, it is very important for you to talk about it now ... If there are no people in your environment who can provide quality support, you can call our psychological helpline or other helplines available to you. Be sure to find such an opportunity, it is very important for you! You will be able to talk about your dad, who he was for you and what he was, and you will definitely be listened to and supported, advised on what can be done to alleviate your painful condition and cope with thoughts that disturb you. If you believe in God, in the immortality of the soul, in the fact that earthly life has a continuation in another, better world, where we can once again meet with departed loved ones, then this can help you find a bright hope that supports you. Go to church, confess, pray, and this will help dispel fears, doubts and bring peace to your soul. Also, I can recommend reading the book by Michael Newton "The Journey of the Soul", it is interesting because it is based on the research of a man of science - a hypnotherapist. nine0005

Sincerely, Vyacheslav


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Psychological help hotline

Psychological help hotline

Get help

Get quick support and take care of your mental health

Everyone at least once in their life has faced a situation from which it is difficult to find a way out on their own. This is emotional burnout, depression, problems in relationships with loved ones. The hotline gives BestDoctor users the opportunity to seek emergency help and discuss with a specialist a worrying problem: from personal growth and increased anxiety to conflict with parents or colleagues. nine0005

Our psychologists can help you reduce your stress levels and give prompt advice to improve your mental health.

About the product

Why do we need a hotline?

The timely help of a professional psychologist is the first and most important step towards accepting the problem and the desire to find the right and effective solution as soon as possible. Our specialists are ready to advise you on these issues:

Mental health recovery

Problems of personal growth and self-determination

Unsatisfied career expectations

The onset of the age crisis

Emotional experiences and burnout

Strong stress and depressive state

Conflicts in the family or in relations

Problems of adaptation in the team

Relations between parents and children

9000 *If you are found in a difficult life situation or experiencing suicidal feelings, we recommend that you contact the single all-Russian helpline - 8-800-2000-122 as soon as possible. nine0005

Restoration of mental health

Problems of personal growth and self -determination

Unsatisfied career expectations

The onset of the age crisis

Emotional experiences and burnout

Strong stress and depressive state conflicts in the family or in relations

Problems of adaptation in the group

Relationships between parents and children

*If you are in a difficult life situation or are experiencing suicidal experiences, we recommend that you contact the unified all-Russian helpline as soon as possible - 8-800-2000-122. nine0005

Restoration of mental health

Problems of personal growth and self -determination

Unsatisfied career expectations

The onset of the age crisis

Emotional experiences and burnout

Strong stress and depressive state

Conflicts within the family and marriage

Conflicts in the family or in relations in relations in relations

Relationships between parents and children

*If you are in a difficult life situation or have suicidal thoughts, we recommend that you contact the Unified All-Russian Helpline at 8-800-2000-122 as soon as possible.


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