Mental Health & Support Resources
You are not alone. Living with a chronic condition can be emotionally exhausting. If you're feeling overwhelmed, please know that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as caring for your eyes.
Likewise, if you're worried about someone else, reaching out with compassion can make a meaningful difference.
No one should have to face these challenges alone. We hope these resources provide support, encouragement, and hope.
If You Are Struggling:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone experiencing emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, or a mental health crisis. You don't have to be in immediate crisis to reach out—trained counselors are available to listen and help.
Call or text: 988
Website: 988lifeline.org
Crisis Text Line
Access to free, 24/7 support via text, web chat, or What’sApp.
Text HOME or CONNECT to 741741
Website: crisistextline.org/get-help-hub
My Safety Plan
Create a personalized safety plan to help you recognize warning signs, identify coping strategies, and know who to contact if you're struggling. A safety plan is most effective when it's created before a crisis, so it's ready if you ever need it.
Website: mysafetyplan.org
#RealConvo Guide - Reaching Out for Help
It can be hard to talk about your mental health, particularly if you’re struggling. But reaching out for help by having a #RealConvo with someone in your life is a necessary step to take in feeling better. This link offers straightforward guidance for having a conversation that can make all the difference.
Website: talkawaythedark.afsp.org/reachingout/
If You're Concerned About Someone Else:
5 Action Steps to Help Someone Having Thoughts of Suicide
This guide from the National Institute of Mental Health offers practical steps for recognizing warning signs, starting a conversation, helping someone stay safe, connecting them with support, and following up afterward.
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/5-action-steps-to-help-someone-having-thoughts-of-suicide
What to Do When Someone is at Risk (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Guidance for how to talk to someone who may be struggling with their mental health.
afsp.org/what-to-do-when-someone-is-at-risk/
Finding Support After a Suicide Loss:
Healing Conversations (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
This program can connect you with a trained volunteer who has also experienced suicide loss, for a confidential, one-time conversation by phone, video, or in person. The volunteers offer compassionate listening, understanding, and information about additional resources—they are not counselors, but people with lived experience who understand the unique challenges of suicide loss.
afsp.org/healing-conversations
After a Suicide Loss (SAVE)
Losing someone to suicide can bring a wide range of emotions, including shock, sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion. This resource from SAVE discusses common reactions to suicide loss and offers practical suggestions for coping and healing.
save.org/programs/suicide-loss-support/after-a-suicide-loss/
Living With the Grief of Suicide Loss:
This article from the American Association of Suicidology explores why grief after suicide can feel different from other losses, validates the emotions many people experience, and offers guidance for navigating the healing process and finding support.
suicidology.org/living-with-grief-for-suicide-loss-survivors/
The resources on this page are provided for educational and supportive purposes and are not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care.