Think of five children you know . One of them may suffer from a serious debilitating mental illness . If this child is your own , finding answers to the question `` How can I help my child ? '' can be daunting and overwhelming . According to the National Institute of Mental Health ( NIMH ) , 20 % of Americans under the age of 18 live with or have experienced a seriously debilitating mental disorder . And unfortunately many of those suffering from mental illness ultimately choose suicide as the way out . According to the Centers for Disease Control , suicide is ranked as the 10th leading cause of death in Americans over the age of 10 . Gesine Sauter , a licensed mental health counselor at the Karen Horney Clinic in Manhattan , says suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people ages 15-24 . But there are ways to help and resources available if you feel a loved one might be suicidal . `` If you detect any of the risk factors and you are concerned about someone , always directly ask if he or she feels suicidal . You do not plant any suicidal thoughts or bring the other [ person ] closer to taking action . Just the opposite : being asked can be the first step or chance for the suicidal individual to experience a sense of relief just by being able to share some of his or her anguish and feeling less alone , '' Sauter says . While a diagnosis of mental illness or disorder of any level of severity can seem overwhelming to a parent , there are resources available to support families on their journey through diagnosis and treatment . Here are just a few : . The Balanced Mind Foundation offers support and for parents and guardians of children with mood disorders . The nonprofit provides online support groups , a professional resource directory , and a family helpline where families can submit questions to trained parent volunteers . They have twenty-eight support groups listed on their website that address the needs of all ages from toddler to what they call `` transition age '' or in their twenties suffering from depression or bipolar disorder as well as their family members . The goal of the Balanced Mind Foundation is to see these children thrive in spite of their disorders because they are receiving the proper care and support they deserve . The National Alliance on Mental Illness ( NAMI ) provides a Peer-to-Peer Recovery Educational program geared toward healthy living strategies and skill-building resources for adults . The course is free , confidential and led by trained individuals in recovery from mental illness . They also facilitate a discussion group called Teen Consumers , which provides a healthy environment for teens to discuss their diagnoses and treatments . NAMI has a support group for parents of teens with mental illness , as well . The nonprofit 's website also provides a state-by-state directory of local support groups . NAMI offers an information hotline for general information , referrals and support : 1-800-950-6264 . Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m . ET on weekdays . The Autism Society 's approach is to focus on each individual child 's needs . They preach a message that no method is the right method for all children diagnosed with autism . Their goal is to provide parents with many options and different avenues of advice and support . The Autism Society created Autism Source , a comprehensive database of local professional services . Visitors to the website can explore a wide range of resources , including housing needs , medical professionals and educational services . The Treatment Advocacy Center is a nonprofit that works to promote policies that support people with severe mental illness . The website features a link that connects these families and individuals to treatment options , legal resources and crisis response strategies . The Arc is a national community-based organization that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities , including autism , Down syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome . In their mission statement , the team from the Arc promotes a people-first approach and `` believes that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are defined by their own strengths , abilities and inherent value , not by their disability . '' The strive to make those affected and their families ' lives better through policy , support systems and education .
National Institute of Mental Health : 20 % of U.S. adults suffer from a mental illness . For families affected by mental illness , there is hope and resources for help . The Alliance on Mental Health provides support groups for children and parents .