Resources
Wellness and mental health resources
About These Resources
As a part of the EPI-CAL Lived Experience Advisory Council’s efforts to make meaningful change for individuals who experience psychosis, council members have created a list of wellness and mental health related resources.
Disclaimer: EPI-CAL and the Lived Experience Advisory Council did not create the content of these resources. They are provided for informational purposes only and their inclusion is not an endorsement by EPI-CAL or the Lived Experience Advisory Council. The experience of mental health, psychosis, and extraordinary states are vast and varied. The resources provided are intended to reflect that but are not all encompassing. Not every resource will resonate with everyone. Recovery is a journey and all experiences are unique. Use the information provided as is best for you.
To report a broken link or unavailable resource click here.
About the Lived Experience Advisory Council
The Lived Experience Advisory Council advises on EPI-CAL matters and aims to make meaningful change for individuals across California who experience psychosis. Council members are California residents, 18 years or older with lived or living experience of psychosis or something that could be labeled psychosis. By including additional lived experience voices, EPI-CAL can better understand service user perspectives and needs across the wide range of California communities we serve.
To learn more, email the LEI Team at: LEITeam@health.ucdavis.edu
Interested in joining the EPI-CAL Lived Experience Advisory Council? Click here to apply!
Filter by Topic
Click tags to filter resources. Select multiple tags to show resources matching any of them. Click "All" or click a selected tag again to clear.
These resources include research, lived experience articles, and lived experience stories.
Narratives from individuals experiencing visions, perceptual changes, felt presences, and more. Includes personal strategies used for each experience shared.
Narratives from individuals who provide their understanding and interpretation of “Negative Symptoms.”
Community and online forum with supportive articles, information and resources on Schizophrenia
Information and perspectives on voice-hearing, including ways to support those hearing voices.
Personal account of Eleanor Longdon and voice-hearing.
These resources list organizations, groups, respites, and agencies that are developed by, staffed by, and run by Peers (people self-identified with lived experience).
CAMHPRO is a consumer-run, statewide organization consisting of successful consumer-run organizations, and individual consumer members or peers.
Cal Voices is a consumer-run organization which focuses on mental health advocacy, peer support, and recovery.
Share is a consumer-run non-profit organization which supports housing needs, mental health needs, and other forms of support in the Los Angeles County area.
Bay Area Hearing Voices Network is a mutual-aid peer community which supports those who hear voices and experience other perceptual events.
Provides information on peer-based wellness strategies and support services in the Alameda area.
Online resources with potential for in-person or virtual events regarding mental wellness support.
POCC website currently being updated; The POCC is a peer-run effort that provides advocacy and support for the Alameda county area.
Offers services through peer-run programs for those experiencing distress in the Los Angeles area.
Students with Psychosis is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers student leaders and advocates globally through community-building and collaboration. They facilitate in-person programming at the local and regional levels, supplemented by over 160 hours of monthly virtual programming, all provided at no cost to their student leaders and advocates.
Hearing Voices Network USA is comprised of 20 other international sectors and support individuals who experience hearing voices.
A network of individuals with lived experience of distress provides resources for individuals in the United Kingdom.
An organization that provides support resources, training, highlights lived experience research, and advocates for peer-run wellness strategies.
Location: Santa Cruz
“A six-bed house which serves as a respite and a voluntary opportunity for individuals to learn to use relationships to move out of old roles and patterns. Staffed by “peers,” (people with lived experience of mood swings, consuming fears, voices, visions, etc.) who have learned to be with some discomfort, the household provides an opportunity to experience what change feels like, and to learn new responses through relationships with each other. With the expectation that everyone is capable and inherently knows what they need, both paid staff and guests create a space for those qualities to surface.”
Location: San Jose
“A Peer Respite Home for Adults, Located in a historic Victorian home in South Downtown San Jose!”
Location: Long Beach
“Hacienda of Hope is a safe alternative to emergency hospitalization for individuals living with mental health challenges who are experiencing a stressful life event or crisis. This short-term respite home offers the space where peer-guests are able to stay for short periods of time (usually a few days) to work on their personal growth and wellness in a safe space free of charge.”
Location: Alameda
Location: Alameda
“Sally’s Place is named for Sally Zinman, a pioneer of the peer-led services movement. Her pivotal work spanning more than 40 years has been an inspiration to consumers and providers alike. Our systems are immeasurably better as a result of her advocacy and legacy.” This respite is serviced by trained staff with lived experience.
Location: North Carolina
“Offers a voluntary, unlocked healing alternative to emergency department and psychiatric hospitalization. Guests can rest, reflect, and connect through emotional distress or a mental health crisis. Your stay is free and you can maintain your connections to your family, community, work, and school.”
Location: Augusta, Bartow, Decatur, & White County
”Georgia's Peer Support and Respite Centers are peer-run alternatives to traditional mental health day programs and psychiatric hospitalization.”
Location: Vermont.
Two bed home as a residential crisis respite/hospital diversion, peer-run and short-term.
Location: Massachusetts (Wildflower)
The first peer-respite opened in Massachusetts, Afiya provides a space where individuals can find healing support and balance in a community setting.
Location: Massachusetts
Karaya provides peer-run healing support to individuals needing respite. To inquire about their services, click the link below and click on “request respite.”
List of Bay Area peer support groups
Peer-facilitated support groups for individuals in mental distress in the San Diego area.
Bay Area Hearing Voices Network is a mutual-aid peer community which supports those who hear voices and experience other perceptual events.
PEERS provides information on peer-based wellness strategies and support services in the Alameda area.
Support groups and community forums.
A free online recovery tool that offers online meeting spaces for individuals who would like support with substance recovery.
This site provides information on how to find support groups and links to places to start looking
A forum with stories from individuals with the lived experience of a Schizophrenia diagnosis.
Peer-facilitated support groups for individuals in mental distress
These resources provide support for urgent or immediate distress needs.
The San Diego Access and Crisis Line
Contact: 888-724-7240; to text 741741
A phone number to call and text for crisis support services.
988
Contact: Call 988
designated as the three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis Lifeline and increase the accessibility of the Lifeline for individuals beginning July 16, 2022. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States.
Online chat and text line information for the National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis Lifeline
Online chat, text, or call to talk to trained counselors (LGBTQ young people)
These resources support LGBTQIA+ identities, as well as those exploring their identities.
Large searchable database of resources and including both National and California specific resources.
List of California LGBTQ Centers these community spaces offer services, community, and support to individuals who identify as LGBTQ.
“The Bay Area LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Resources list is a curated digital guide meant to provide valuable, trustworthy, and up-to-date mental health resources specifically tailored to the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community residing in the Bay Area.” Although Bay Area Focused, the list also includes some National Resources.
“Founded in 2011, Queer LifeSpace (QLS) is a nonprofit counseling agency that provides affordable, evidence-based mental health services to the LGBTQIA+ community in the Bay Area. We also run an internationally-recognized clinical training program for the next generation of queer-affirming therapists.”
“Low-cost individual therapy and free support groups/group therapy as well as training and consultation for clinicians, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and educational institutions.”
Provides confidential peer support services
Crisis line & resources for LGBTQ young people, peer support, advocacy and more
Advocacy for LGBTQ young people with resources and toolkits
List of Mental Health Resources in the LGBTQ+ Community
List of LGBTQ Centers both nationally and internationally; These community spaces offer services, community, and support to individuals who identify as LGBTQ.
These resources provide culturally humble and racially-specific support.
This is the statewide organization for Urban Indian communities and support health, wellness, and culturally centered services.
“At Sacramento Native American Health Center, we aim to create a compassionate space where you can open up, explore possibilities for change, and take steps to recover and heal.”
Bay Area based health center which services the Native community as well as other underserved communities.
Location: San Diego
The UIHP holds the membership of ten Urban Indian Health Programs in California. 8 of them are linked below.
“LACDMH’s American Indian Counseling Center (AICC) seek to provide Native American families and children a safe place where mental well-being is fostered, reconnection with cultural heritage is enhanced, and respect for diverse tribal backgrounds is honored. AICC is committed to helping members of the Native community regain a sense of pride through envisioning hope, promoting empowerment, and strengthening community fellowship.”
Provides a list of all California health programs which directly and intentionally service Native populations.
“AMHC aspires to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide.”
“Together, we can heal through education, training, and advocacy.”
“We are a nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise awareness of mental health within the Chinese community through advocacy, education, research, support, and services.”
StrongHearts Native Helpline is a 24/7 safe, confidential and anonymous domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, offering support and advocacy.
“We work with individuals, organizations, and communities around the country based on our philosophy of La Cultura Cura (LCC) or transformational health and healing. LCC philosophy continues the teaching of our ancestors who reinforced the importance of sacred values, traditions, and interconnected relationships as the foundation of cultural strength.”
Mental health resources, including crisis lines, support options, and therapy platforms.
These resources contain information specific to asking for, receiving, or understanding more about work and school accommodations.
A PDF toolkit which offers ways to support the inclusion of students with early psychosis into higher education.
Leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations
These resources provide direct links to information on rights for individuals navigating mental health and housing systems.
A PDF handbook that describes rights of individuals in mental health facilities.
Information on and ways to construct Psychiatric Advance Directives in California.
Legal Advocacy unit which fights for the integration and rights of people in California with all types of disabilities.
Location: Alameda
Provides public benefits advocacy for free for those who are disabled and unhoused.
Location: East Bay; Berkeley
Supports Black and indigenous communities and women of color through free services, advocacy, and education.
Information on national psychiatric advance directives.
These resources provide information for working professionals on ways to support individuals in immediate distress.
These resources contain stories and personal accounts from those with lived experience of psychosis.
The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn Saks
Living with Voices: 50 Stories of Recovery
Community forum, articles, and lived experience
Community supports
Online support space for individuals who experience a diagnosis of Schizophrenia.
Online support space for individuals who experience a diagnosis of Bipolar.
Online support space for individuals who experience a diagnosis of Depression.
Online support space for individuals who experience a diagnosis of Postpartum Depression
Blog posts about mental health written by various authors.
Stories as told by individuals with lived experience of first episode psychosis and recovery.
“The 'Rethink Psychosis' hub is designed to help disseminate experiencer-led resources and knowledge. The hub hosts both non-research and research projects, active and completed. The hub is maintained by Nev Jones and Shannon Pagdon.”
These resources provide age-appropriate information and support.
“Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches adults who regularly interact with young people how to help youth experiencing mental health challenges in both crisis and non-crisis situations, as well as how to recognize risk factors and warning signs of mental health concerns. This training gives adults the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to youth, and connect them to the appropriate care.”
“A series of free, evidence-based video and print resources that caregivers and educators can use to teach their kids critical mental health and coping skills. The project was born of an innovative partnership between the state of California and the Child Mind Institute.”
“An Emmy-nominated and Anthem Award-winning video series, based on mental health research, created to make important mental health skills available to preschool children (age 3 to 5).”
“A series of free videos and print resources with practical, evidence-based information and skills to address your most common parenting challenges.”
Services bay area youth ages 5 - 17.
Provides clinical care services for youth
Information on early psychosis
Information on early psychosis signs in young people
These resources provide information for unhoused individuals.
Location: San Diego
Resources for individuals looking for housing
These resources focus on advocates and ways to advocate.
Advice on ways to support those experiencing early psychosis.
Information on other NAMI factions throughout California.
Information on other NAMI factions throughout the United States.
Information and resources on ways to support the dissemination of education about mental health.
National organization dedicated to promoting mental wellness.
“IDONTMIND is a mental health nonprofit with a mission to inspire open conversations about mental health.”
A resource that seeks to inspire hopeful and healing conversation about suicide
Mental health support with music
“Our goal is to build a world that enables good mental health for all. By working with trusted partners who share our vision for a better world, we’re taking vital steps to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and increase support for mental health around the world.”
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing focuses on unifying the voices of “organizations that deliver mental health and substance use recovery services in America.”
These resources are for those seeking emotional and mental health support in live-time via phone or text services. Please note: warmlines are not crisis lines.
These resources provide information on ways to find support, help, and treatment services.
County of San Diego Information line
Contact: Dial 211
Services and information for Medi-Cal related programs
UC San Diego’s early psychosis treatment program.
A list of mental health facilities and clinics in California
“We provide behavioral health services across California with the goal of promoting wellness, recovery, and resilience. Guided by our principles of People, Culture, and Growth, we are dedicated to fostering hope and supporting lasting change.”
Behavioral health service offices and contact information for San Diego.
“The Mental Health Plan (MHP) in each county is responsible for providing or arranging for the provision of Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in their county. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health services, please contact your county MHP (see below list) for more information about SMHS.”
Confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking mental health and substance use treatment in the United States and its territories
can search for therapists, psychiatrists, online therapy, treatment centers, and support groups by location with many additional filters available
“Inclusive Therapists is a social justice and liberation-oriented mental health directory, community, and resource hub. We offer a safer, simpler way to find a therapist, counselor or coach committed to collective liberation and healing: Racial, 2SLGBTQIA+, Neurodivergence, and Disability Justice.”
“The Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) is a learning health care system for early psychosis.”
“The Early Psychosis Intervention Clinic (EPIC) is a specialized treatment program for patients who are currently experiencing a psychotic episode or who have received a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder within the past two years.”
“A list of comprehensive care programs focused on early psychosis recovery and clinical high-risk for psychosis.”
For Sonoma County, low cost mental health services.
These resources are apps that can be downloaded to phones, tablets/iPads, or other devices.
oscER - an app for navigating psychiatric crisis situations in San Diego County
App to help manage the urge to self-harm
App to help overcome anxiety
A list of apps with wellness activities and services.
These resources include information on clubhouses and events
List of clubhouses in California
Clubhouse Directory