The Best Depression Resources and Organizations for Support and Treatment

If you’re experiencing loneliness, depression, or symptoms of a mental health condition, you don't have to feel alone. There are dozens of free and valuable resources available to you.

Many organizations can connect you to mental health professionals, support groups, and other free and easy-to-access information.

With more than 19.4 million Americans experiencing depression each year, it's important to end the stigma around mental health, instill early screenings, and make interventions and treatments available to all.

These are the best organizations for depression and other related mental health conditions.

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA)

If you or someone you know is in immediate need of a treatment referral for substance use disorder or mental health services, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) National Helpline. It is free, confidential, and open 24/7, 365 days a year.  

SAMHSA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is on a mission to reduce the impact of substance use and mental health concerns on American communities. The organization provides a wealth of services and information.  

One of their most useful features is the mental health treatment services locator, which directs you to an addiction or mental health treatment facility in your area. You can even narrow your search by services or languages to best suit your specific needs. 

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

While the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is best known for its advocacy work, it has also produced a large amount of information on mental health conditions, including signs and symptoms, treatment options, up-to-date statistics, and advanced research. 

NAMI works on many initiatives and programs to provide intervention, treatment, and financial support by working with government entities to ensure that mental health is included in healthcare policies.

The organization addresses various aspects of public policy with the goal of improving the lives of those affected by mental health issues. They are working to improve policies, from making early intervention possible to reducing the number of people jailed with psychiatric conditions. 

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)

If you want to find a therapist to help treat your depression, this is a great place to start. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is not a direct service organization, but it does maintain a large directory of mental health professionals, organized by location and speciality.

It also provides quality, current, research-driven information on depression in the form of books, brochures, blogs, and webinars. 

ADAA is a multidisciplinary professional organization that supports mental health professionals who work on anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders. It hosts an annual conference, as well as various industry events, and provides training, clinical fellow opportunities, peer consultations, and more to professionals. 

The organization’s goal is to improve patient care, build best practices, and implement evidence-based treatments through scientific innovation. When you support ADAA, you support the many professionals who are working on the ground to help address depression disorders.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

If you or someone you know is experiencing severe depression or suicidal thoughts, you can call the national helpline for free, confidential support at any time. Expert counselors are available 24/7 to speak with you. 

In addition to the helpline, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is actively involved in suicide prevention and crisis care. It offers a comprehensive list of therapists and support groups.

It also offers additional resources, such as a basic safety plan which can be utilized by loved ones in an emergency situation. You can read stories of suicide survivors on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website, which can help inspire you to seek help. 

American Psychological Association (APA)

The American Psychological Association (APA) is a great resource for those living with depression. It has a psychologist locator, which allows you to search for therapists by name or location. There is also a database of more than five million records, as well as APA's own journals, books, webinars, and articles on various aspects of psychology and mental health. 

If you are studying psychology, you can join the APA global community as an affiliate and get free copies of American Psychologist journal and Monitor on Psychology magazine. Affiliates can also get discounts on APA books, videos, journals, database access, and events. Membership fees range from $35 (high school students) to $67 (graduate school students). You can also get access to career support and professional networks designed for your educational level.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is America's federal agency for mental health and one of the largest research organizations in the world committed to the treatment and prevention of mental disorders. It provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date information on medical studies and treatments, making it a great resource for those with depression.

You can learn about the medications and psychotherapies that help treat depression and even join a clinical trial through NIMH. The organization provides brochures, fact sheets, and statistics on major depressive disorder in addition to many other mental health conditions. 

As the NIMH points out, “No two people are affected the same way by depression and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ for treatment. It may take some trial and error to find the treatment that works best for you.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Mental Health

Physical health and mental health go hand in hand, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resources on mental health. Your depression could be tied to a traumatic event, cancer diagnosis, health condition, or any other number of factors. 

If you want to learn how your health and mental health align, this is a great place to start. The CDC offers expert information and resources for prevention, management, and treatment of depression. It also shares helpful links to helplines, directories, and other beneficial organizations.

The CDC provides a free mental health quiz to debunk the myths and eliminate the stigma around mental health. It’s worth taking to see what you know and what you could learn more about. 

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) takes an integrated approach to wellness. It offers support and education for those with mood disorders and has more than 600 support groups and 200 chapters. The peer-based, wellness-oriented support services are available 24/7 online.

Some of the most useful tools are the DBSA Wellness Wheel and Wellness Tracker, which focuses on nutrition, substance use, medications and symptoms, mood, and more. They also have an “Ask The Doc” clinical panel, DBSA podcast, informational newsletter, brochures, and videos.

If you’re a parent of a child who has mood disorders, you can join the support community, Balanced Mind Parent Network (BMPN), to discuss treatment options and gain support from other parents who are sharing similar experiences. 

Mental Health America (MHA)

The Mental Health America (MHA) organization helps advocate for mental health prevention, early identification, and intervention. It runs fundraisers for mental health programs, raises awareness of mental health through public education programs, and leads initiatives, programs, and interventions for those struggling with depression.

MHA has unique programs, such as Life on Campus for college students and the Back to School Toolkit for students and educators. Its initiatives include “May is Mental Health Month,” “BIPOC Mental Health Month,” and “IDONTMIND” which focuses on leading discussions around mental health, therapy, and asking for help. 

MHA also has an interactive online space called Screening-to-Supports (S2S) for those wanting to take more control of their own mental health. The program includes referral information, mental health services, peer support, and do-it-yourself tools. 

Every year, the MHA hosts the Mental Health America Annual Conference and produces The State of Mental Health in America Report, which details key statistics on mental health and psychiatric conditions. They also publish brochures and fact sheets on depression and other mental health issues. 

If you’re interested in supporting or changing the legislation around mental health in America, then you can join the Mental Health America Advocacy Network. 

A Word From Verywell

While these are some of the best resources for depression, there are dozens of companies and nonprofits who are working to provide new information, new prevention strategies, and new treatments. If you’re feeling depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts and need immediate help, please visit our national helpline database. No matter what you’re going through, you don’t have to suffer alone.