Q&A: Where can I get help if I’m feeling depressed and thinking about self harm?

These Anonymous Questions were submitted by teens like you, and answered by KBFPC’s teen Peer Educators and trained adult staff.

Q: Where can someone get help if they are feeling depressed and have thoughts of self harm?

A: This is something that a lot of people need to know, and it’s also something that can be hard to talk about, so let’s talk about it.

It’s actually pretty common to have these kinds of thoughts and feelings, and it’s important to know that if you do, you haven’t done anything wrong. There are professionals who have lots of experience dealing with these issues, and they can help.

These feelings are common, and you haven’t done anything wrong.

Here are some resources that might help:

• If you feel safe doing so, talk to a family member or other trusted adult about what is going on.
• Find a counselor or support group at Homer’s “The Center” South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services.
• Call or text 988 or chat online with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to be connected to local mental health resources, or call the Alaska Careline directly at 877-266-4357.
• Call 911 in an emergency.
• Additional specialized resources for LGBTQ+ people are available via The Trevor Project for youth (chat/text, or call 1-866-488-7386), the LGBT National Hotline (select hours, call 888-843-4564), and the Trans Lifeline (call 877-565-8860).

These feelings are not easy, and it can be hard to ask for help. But talking to someone you trust can make things easier, and everyone deserves that support.