Seeking Help: Resources for Clinical Anxiety, Mental Health Issues, and Addiction

Overview

Finding resources for clinical anxiety, mental health concerns, and addiction can be extremely challenging. This page provides resources for UCSF community members, the general public, and crisis assistance related to these topics. 

About

Orange phone and cord

 

Overwhelming anxiety is understandable when you are experiencing a crisis. This can be exacerbated if you previously struggled with mental health issues, substance use, or have a history of abuse. 

It’s important to do all you can with self-care and support from friends and family. But when you feel you need professional help, you should not hesitate to reach out. Thankfully there are a number of resources available and referrals to providers when needed. 

If your distress is impairing your ability to function, or putting you or others at risk, you should reach out as soon as possible. If you feel lonely and isolated, depressed, cannot sleep, or if your eating has changed dramatically (for example, if you have no appetite or are binge eating), reach out! 

The Department of Psychiatry offers a wide variety of clinical and social support services at our locations across the Bay Area, including Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital external site (opens in a new window) , the San Francisco VA Health Care System external site (opens in a new window) , Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center external site (opens in a new window) , UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals external site (opens in a new window)  in Oakland and San Francisco, and a number of community-based clinics and programs. We are committed to maintaining and expanding our ability to help those in need of assistance through the use of telehealth services, as well as continuing in-person care when appropriate.  

In addition to these services, here are some other important local resources for support. 

Resources for UCSF community members

  • Parnassus/Mount Zion: (415) 353-1941 
  • Mission Bay: (415) 514-4200 
  • UCSF Police Department external site (opens in a new window) : Provides timely responses to those experiencing crimes, including dating violence, domestic violence, sex offenses, and stalking. The UCSF Police Department encourages community members experiencing an emergency to immediately call 911 or (415) 476-6911. Members who are not experiencing emergencies can call (415) 476-1414. The UCSF Police Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. 
  • UC Health plan mental health resources: All of the UC Health plans for employees, postdoctoral scholars, residents, and fellows have expanded virtual options for behavioral health services in response to COVID-19. 

Resources for all (public and UCSF)

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A LIFE-THREATENING MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM. 

  • La Casa de las Madres external site (opens in a new window) : Available 24 hours a day and responds to requests for assistance from domestic violence survivors. It can be reached by phone at (877) 503-1850 for adults or (877) 923-0700 for teens, as well as text message at (415) 200-3575. La Casa’s drop-in counseling center is closed at this time, but its shelter remains open. 
  • Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Victim/Witness Program: (510) 272-6180. Pays for medical and counseling/therapy services, lost wages etc, due to acts of violence including sexual assault. To be eligible must have police report filed. 

Am I drinking too much?

Alcohol use disorder

Problem drinking that becomes severe is given the medical diagnosis of alcohol use disorder external site (opens in a new window)  (AUD). AUD is a chronic relapsing brain disorder characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite negative social, work-related, or health consequences. 

An estimated 15 million people in the United States have AUD. Approximately 5.8 percent, or 14.4 million adults, in the United States ages 18 and older had AUD in 2018. This includes 9.2 million men and 5.3 million women. Adolescents can be diagnosed with AUD as well, and in 2018, an estimated 401,000 adolescents ages 12–17 had AUD. 

To be diagnosed with AUD, individuals must meet certain criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Under DSM–5, the current version external site (opens in a new window)  of the DSM, anyone meeting any two of the 11 criteria during the same 12-month period receives a diagnosis of AUD. The severity of AUD — mild, moderate, or severe — is based on the number of criteria met. 

To assess whether you or a loved one may have AUD, here are some questions to ask. In the past year, have you: 

  • Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer than you intended? 
  • More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t? 
  • Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the aftereffects? 
  • Experienced craving — a strong need, or urge, to drink? 
  • Found that drinking — or being sick from drinking — often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems? 
  • Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends? 
  • Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink? 
  • More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unsafe sex)? 
  • Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout? 
  • Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before? 
  • Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, nausea, or sweating? Or sensed things that were not there? 

If you have any of these symptoms, your drinking may already be a cause for concern. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health professional can conduct a formal assessment of your symptoms to see if AUD is present. However severe the problem may seem, most people with AUD can benefit from treatment. 

Ultimately, receiving treatment can improve an individual’s chances of success in overcoming AUD. The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator external site (opens in a new window)  can help you recognize and find high quality treatment for alcohol use disorder. If you drink excessively, seek medical help to plan a safe recovery as sudden abstinence after heavy, regular use can be life-threatening. 

If you are not ready to seek treatment, consider using “harm reduction” — or a set of strategies intended to reduce the harm that alcohol may cause you and your loved ones. These strategies include things like never drinking on an empty stomach, alternating between alcohol and water or other non-alcohol drinks, and never driving when you are drinking (you might even consider giving your keys to someone). Reducing the amount you drink is important, but remember that if you are a heavy drinker (especially if you get shaky when you don’t drink), then you shouldn’t stop suddenly without medical supervision. 

Talk with your doctor to determine the best course of action for you. For more information and options for support, see our resource listings below. 

 

Resources for substance abuse and addiction

Harm Reduction Coalition external site (opens in a new window) : Helpful info for substance-using populations and those that provide them with care.

Crisis assistance for health care and frontline workers

Additional mental health resources

  • Talkspace external site (opens in a new window) : A fee-for-service enterprise that can pair you with an online licensed therapist, offering you 24/7 access to a licensed mental health professional from the comfort of your home via text message or video. Prices range from $65–$99 per week depending on communication mode. Talkspace does take some forms of insurance. 
  • Headspace external site (opens in a new window) : Headspace offers confidential, around-the-clock emotional support and guided self-care through your smartphone. Coaches are available to chat anytime, at a moment's notice—whether it's the middle of the night, a weekend or a holiday.