Start with the free help closest to you: your pastor, trusted friends, and a call to 211 to find local services. If your family is in crisis, call or text 988 at any hour. It is free and confidential, and you can reach out about someone you love.

For guidance, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine offers free support and referrals on weekdays, and NAMI's free eight-session Family-to-Family class is taught by family members who have been there. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) runs a free National Helpline, and its FindTreatment.gov site can point you toward state-licensed care.

If your child is enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), that coverage includes mental health care. Real support never comes with pressure to change who your child is.

Quick Takeaways

• Free help exists, and you do not need insurance to ask for it.

• 988 is free, confidential, and open around the clock, including for parents worried about a child.

• NAMI offers a free helpline and free classes for family members.

• Medicaid and CHIP cover mental health care for eligible children and teens.

• Support that divides your family is not support at all.

Start Close to Home

Your first free resource may be the people already around you. A pastor, small group leader, or fellow parent can pray with you and listen without judgment. Pastoral care is not the same as counseling, and a good pastor will know when to point you toward a licensed professional.

CT4F has gathered several starting points in its list of free faith-based alternatives to conversion therapy for Christian parents. These options help you stay rooted in your faith while you learn how to stand by your child.

Free Help by Phone, Text, or Chat

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988, or chat online through the 988 Lifeline. It is available 24/7, and your conversations are free and confidential. You can reach out for a friend or loved one, not only for yourself.

NAMI HelpLine

The NAMI HelpLine is a free, confidential service. Call 800-950-6264 or text "NAMI" to 62640, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. It offers emotional support, information, and resource referrals. It is not a crisis line, so use 988 in an emergency.

211 and SAMHSA

Dial 211 to reach confidential local referral help, including for mental health. SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), is free, confidential, and open 24/7 for referrals and information. SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov lets you search anonymously for state-licensed care near you.

Free Classes for Parents

NAMI Family-to-Family is "a free, 8-session educational program" for family members and friends of people facing mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression. It is "taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there." Learning alongside other parents can ease the isolation many Christian families feel. CT4F's overview of mental health research notes that major medical groups see parental acceptance as a key protective factor for kids.

Low-Cost Care When You Need a Counselor

Medicaid and CHIP

InsureKidsNow.gov explains that Medicaid and CHIP offer free or low-cost coverage for children and teens, including "services to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental health symptoms." Call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669) to check eligibility.

Community Health Centers

Federally funded health centers must "serve everyone, even if they cannot pay" and adjust fees by income and family size, according to HRSA. Many have therapists and social workers on staff.

What Free Support Should Never Cost You

Be cautious of any offer, free or paid, that promises to change who your child is. Today that pressure often comes as talk or prayer, but it is still "conversion therapy" by another name. The true cost lands on your relationship with your child. Pressure to change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves can lead to depression, anxiety, and trauma, as CT4F outlines in the risks and harms of "conversion therapy". A solution that divides families is not a solution at all.

If you are unsure how to begin the conversation at home, CT4F's parent-to-child script offers words you can use tonight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can Christian parents find free support?

Start with your pastor and church community. Then call 211 for local services or the NAMI HelpLine for information and referrals.

Is 988 only for people thinking about suicide?

No. The 988 Lifeline supports anyone facing mental health struggles or emotional distress, and you can reach out about someone you love.

Does Medicaid cover counseling for kids?

Medicaid and CHIP coverage includes mental health services for eligible children and teens. Visit InsureKidsNow.gov or call 1-877-543-7669.

What is NAMI Family-to-Family?

A free, eight-session class for family members and friends, taught by trained family members who have been there.

Is free "conversion therapy" safe?

No. A free price tag does not change the harm, and major medical associations oppose these practices.

Sources and Further Reading

Free Helplines and Referrals

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: free, confidential support by call, text, or chat

• NAMI HelpLine: free support, information, and referrals

• 211: confidential local referrals, including mental health services

• SAMHSA National Helpline: free, 24/7 treatment referral and information

• FindTreatment.gov: SAMHSA's search tool for state-licensed care

Free Classes and Low-Cost Coverage

• NAMI Family-to-Family: a free eight-session program for families

• InsureKidsNow.gov: Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children and teens

• HRSA: what federally funded health centers must offer

CT4F Resources for Families

• Faith-based alternatives to conversion therapy: 7 free resources for Christian parents

• Risks and harms of conversion therapy

• Parent-to-child script: words for starting the conversation at home