Support your mental health and wellness
Your mental health not only affects how you feel, think and act, it also determines things like how you handle stress and relate to others. That’s why it’s so important you receive support for your mental health from childhood and adolescence throughout adulthood. Learn more about adult mental health below and tips for self-care.
Types of mental health disorders
- Anxiety Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Self-Harm
- Schizophrenia
Finding Services
Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs)
- Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or have a mental health disorder
- Adults with a serious mental illness or chronic mental illness
- Children and youth with a serious emotional disturbance
- Any of the above who have a co-occurring disorder, including but not limited to substance abuse, intellectual disability, a developmental disability, brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, or another disability or special health care need
CMHCs provide the following services:
- Outpatient services
- Twenty-four hour emergency services
- Day treatment, partial hospitalization, or psychosocial rehabilitation services
- Community support services
- Consultation services
- Education services
Click here to find your local CMHC.
Support and assistance is available through Live Chat, by calling (855) 581-8111, or by texting (855) 895-8398.
Regional Resources
- Providing access to a full array of services including crisis services, inpatient and outpatient mental health services, and daily living supports
- Funding core services for individuals who meet regional eligibility criteria
- Connecting individuals to services and supports
Find your MHDS Regional CEO contacts here.
MHDS Regions have established regional websites that provide more information on the services and supports available in their counties. Regional websites are available below:
- Central Iowa Community Services
- Cross Mental Health Region
- County Social Services
- Eastern Iowa MHDS Region
- Heart of Iowa Region
- MHDS Services of the East Central Region
- Care Connections of Northern Iowa
- Polk County Health Services
- Rolling Hills Community Services
- Sioux Rivers MHDS
- Southern Hills Regional Mental Health
- Southwest Iowa MHDS Region
- Mental Health Agency of Southeastern Iowa
Support and assistance are available through Live Chat, by calling (855) 581-8111, or by texting (855) 895-8398.
Crisis services and other immediate resources
- Your Life Iowa provides information and referral, counseling, crisis service coordination, and linkages to crisis screening and mental health services 24 hours a day.
- Crisis Screening is a process to determine what crisis response service is appropriate to resolve the presenting crisis.
- Crisis Stabilization Community-Based Services are short-term services provided where the individual lives, works or socializes, designed to de-escalate a crisis and stabilize an individual following a mental health crisis.
- Crisis Stabilization Residential Services are short-term living arrangements designed to de-escalate a crisis and stabilize an individual following a mental health crisis.
- Mobile Response is an on-site, face-to-face mental health service for individuals experiencing a crisis. Mobile response staff are able to intervene wherever the crisis is occurring.
- 23 Hour Observation and Holding is a secure and protected, medically staffed, psychiatrically supervised treatment environment where eligible individuals can stay up to 23 hours.
- Warm Line is a telephone line staffed by individuals with lived experience who provide nonjudgmental, nondirective support to an individual experiencing a crisis.
Support and assistance is available through Live Chat, by calling (855) 581-8111, or by texting (855) 895-8398.
Mental health first aid
Find more information on MHFA here.
Support and assistance is available through Live Chat, by calling (855) 581-8111, or by texting (855) 895-8398.
Self-care Checklist
- Take a walk outside
- Drink a glass of water
- Make yourself a meal that you enjoy
- Re-read one of your all-time favorite books
- Give someone a compliment – and then compliment yourself too
- Play with a pet
- Listen to a favorite music play list
- Take a hot shower or bath
- It is okay to say no - give yourself permission to choose how you spend your time, resources or energy
- Think about 10 things you are thankful for
- A couple times a day spend a few minutes stretching and breathing deeply.
- Reach out to a trusted friend or family member
- Take a short break for coffee or tea
- Start on a project you have been wanting to begin for a while
- Watch your favorite movie
- Write yourself a letter about a few things that are bothering you - then throw it away
- Treat yourself to dinner
- Call us at Your Life Iowa
Source: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Support and assistance is available through Live Chat, by calling (855) 581-8111, or by texting (855) 895-8398.
Want to find help on your own?
Your Life Iowa is always here to help you find resources near you. However, we understand that sometimes you’d like to look for help on your own. Our map will let you do just that.
Would you like a mental health professional to contact you?
Fill out a simple contact form and a professional will reach out to you.
Are you, friends or family with someone who needs help with his or her mental health?
Find out how Your Life Iowa can provide support for them -- and you.