Minority: defined as “any small group in society that is different from the rest because of their race, religion, or political beliefs, or a person who belongs to such a group.”

This includes racial minorities as well as sexual minorities.

Mental health in minority communities can often considered taboo, perhaps because of culture/religion or the lack of resources available for these communities. Additionally, underrepresented communities face numerous obstacles in obtaining mental health care, making treatment very challenging to access for oppressed communities, and the repercussions are numerous.

Almost 50% of all Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) as well as the LGBTQ+ suffer from mental health issues. This percentage has increased as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

During the first COVID-19 quarantine, many people were stuck at home with their families/roommates, which can cause many issues such as abuse, isolation, and loneliness. If a person caught COVID-19, they were isolated from the people and began to feel like a contamination to the people they lived with. As a result, an increase in depression and anxiety was recorded, as well as substance use.

To combat this increase in mental health struggles, it is vital to know warning signs of mental illness, substance abuse, and suicide.

If ANY of these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK

• Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741

• Bay Area

  • Alameda

    • Crisis Support Services Of Alameda County

      • https://www.crisissupport.org

      • 24 HOUR CRISIS LINE: 1-800-309-2131

    • Mobile Crisis Team: 

      • 510-891-5600 (M-F, 8-6)

  • Santa Clara

    • Santa Clara County Suicide & Crisis Hotline

      • https://bhsd.sccgov.org/programs-services/suicide-prevention-crisis 

      • 1-855-278-4204 

    • Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services

      • Crisis Text Line

      • Text RENEW to 741741

    • Mobile Crisis Response Team

      • 1-800-704-0900 Press 2

  • Marin

    • Marin County Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU)

      • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

      • 415-473-6666

    • Crisis Text Line

      • Text MARIN to 741741

    • Mobile Crisis Response Team 

      • 415-473-6392

• California

  • For Non-Crisis Emotional Social Support:

    • Mental Health Association San Francisco (MHA SF)

      • California Peer-Run Warm Line

      • https://www.mentalhealthsf.org/peer-run-warmline/

      • 855-845-7415

• USA Nationwide

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

    • https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

    • 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255

  • Call or Text 988  **Starting July 16, 2022

    • https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/

  • Teen Line

    • https://www.teenline.org

    • Call: (800)-TLC-TEEN from 6PM-10PM

    • Text: Text “TEEN” to 839863 from 6PM-9PM

  • National Sexual Assault Hotline

    • https://www.rainn.org/

    • 800-656-4673

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline 

    • 800-799-7233

  • National US Child Abuse Hotline 

    • 800-422-4453