If you are interested in finding supportive services in addition to professional counseling, look for these options in your community:

Hotlines and warmlines

• Hotlines and warmlines provide immediate support by telephone for people in emotional crisis and people with mental health conditions. Where hotlines provide emergency support and crisis intervention, warmlines provide assistance, comfort and referral services. Hotlines and warmlines can be lifesaving, they provide referral to help and care, and they are comforting because they are anonymous and easily accessible by telephone. 
  • PRS CrisisLink, with funding from the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB), offers a 24/7 suicide prevention phone line and text line. Anyone can call 703-527-4077 or text "CONNECT" to 855-11 and a PRS CrisisLink volunteer will respond within minutes. These crisis lines are a free service available to anyone in the community, all ages. Learn more about the service on PRS CrisisLink's website.
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
  • Parent Support Line (Dept. of Family Services) is a great resource for parents and caregivers of children. Staff can help with parenting advice, support, and tips to help navigate emotional and relational parenting issues. Language support is available. The support line is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 703-324-7720 or BuildingStrongerFamilies@fairfaxcounty.gov.
  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’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.
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

Drop-in centers

• Drop-in centers are generally run by people with mental health conditions for their peers, offering a safe, accepting place to go for company and support. Drop-in centers may organize activities such as support groups or trainings, but they may also be more informal gathering spots.
  • The CSB sponsors multiple Peer-Run Recovery Centers where people in recovery from mental health challenges and substance abuse can find hope, healing and the tools they need to reach their goals.

Support groups

• Support groups and other supportive services may meet at various places in your community such as churches, schools or government buildings.
  • You can find information about support groups on the internet, on bulletin boards at local mental health centers and restaurants, or by asking other people with similar conditions. Some support groups also meet anonymously online, posting on forums or using email to stay in touch. Support groups should either be free or should have a very low cost to cover food or activities (like $5 a meeting). 
  • Family Support Part­ners are paraprofessionals who provide peer support to families of children, youth and young adults with behavioral health issues. Family support partners are trained parents of teens or young adults with mental health issues, who are experienced in navigating systems to access services. This service is provided at no cost to families, thanks to a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and partnerships with Virginia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Counties of Fairfax and Loudoun. 
  • The CSB offers a resource of recovery groups, including Heads Up and Talk It Out parent and teen groups, which are currently being held virtually.
  • NAMI Northern Virginia offers a variety of family support groups.  https://www.meetup.com/naminorthernvirginiaconnectiongroups/
  • Formed Families Forward Hosts Stronger Together peer-to-peer support groups.
  • Mental Health America offers a guide to find a support group (http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/find-support-groups).
  • The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse (http://www.mhselfhelp.org/) maintain listings of support groups on a broad range of mental health topics, as well as a Directory of Consumer-Driven Services (http://www.cdsdirectory.org/) that includes peer-run organizations throughout the United States that offer a variety of supportive services and activities.