What is mental health?
Your social, emotional and psychological well being are all important components of mental health.
Mental illness affects millions of Americans each year and can manifest in a number of ways. If you have changes in your mood, thinking or behavior, an inability to complete normal tasks, be productive, or engage with others, you may be experiencing a mental illness.
Use the link below to learn more about the types of mental illness, the causes and how it can affect your health in the long term.
Mental Health Resources
If you need immediate help:
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’re committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
Crisis Text Line: Text “hello” to 741741
Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
Baltimore Crisis Response Inc (BCRI): Call 410-433-5175
Trained counselors provide mental health and substance use information and referrals, supportive counseling, suicide crisis intervention and adolescent crisis intervention. They also dispatch emergency assistance and link callers with more intensive BCRI and community services. The Hotline operates as the gateway to BCRI’s Mobile Crisis Team.
UHS Mental Health – For any urgent mental health concerns after hours or on the weekend, please call 410-955-1892 and follow the instructions to speak with a mental health professional.
If it is an emergency, always dial 911 or head to the nearest emergency department.
On campus resources:
UHS Mental Health
Through the UHS Mental Health program, we offer a variety of high quality outpatient mental health services to Hopkins students, residents, fellows, and trainees. We provide psychiatric assessment and treatment, including medication evaluation and medication management, and individual therapy. The UHS Mental Health team consists of five psychiatrists, a licensed psychologist, five licensed social workers, and support staff. Our Mental Health Director is Dr. Elizabeth Kastelic.
To make an appointment: call 410-955-1892
Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program (JHSAP)
The JHSAP program offers numerous services to graduate students, including short-term counseling, crisis response, relationship support, school-life coaching and adjustment, educational workshops and dean/faculty/staff-student consultations. Visits to JHSAP are free, and you are not limited to the number of times you may access services. Spouses, partners and children are also able to access services at JHSAP. Call 443-287-7000 or check out their website for more information.
JHU — TimelyMD
Mental Telehealth is a convenient way for Johns Hopkins University students to receive 24/7, no-cost mental health support through TalkNow (talk about anything, anytime) and Scheduled Counseling for common issues and concerns that can be safely and accurately discussed and treated virtually. All you need is an internet connection.
External Resources
- 44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country
- Maryland Psychological Association – Comprehensive list of resources available
- 60 Digital Resources for Mental Health – At Social Work License Map, we have compiled a comprehensive list of resources for anyone seeking information about and/or help for a range of mental health issues.
- Calm: Mindfulness meditation app that includes soothing sounds and peaceful pictures, along with guided meditation and sleep stories (free premium access for JHU users)
- Destress Monday: An online initiative providing information and reminders to support a positive start to the week and reduce stress overall.
- JED Foundation is a non-profit that focuses on emotional health and suicide prevention for young adults.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Psychology Today
- SilverCloud: Online, confidential mental health resource that offers 24/7 access to interactive learning modules that teach cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques (free to full-time students & trainees)
- Maryland 2-1-1
- AddictionResource.net: A drug and alcohol abuse hotline aims to help individuals who are addicted to drugs or alcohol and provide them with information related to addiction and treatment. These hotlines are confidential, free, and exist to help those suffering from addiction even if they feel hopeless about recovery.
COVID-19 Specific Resources
- CDC – Coping With Stress
- Coping with COVID Webinar Series
- JED Foundation – Managing Mental Health During COVID-19
- Managing and understanding mental health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic: HUB article by Dr. Dani Fallin, a mental health expert from BSPH
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – COVID-19 resource and information guide