Get help
You Are Not Alone—and You Do Not Have to Find the Next Step by Yourself
Find immediate crisis resources, learn how to explore ongoing mental-health support, or request non-emergency help navigating available options.
BAF is not an emergency service, and website requests are not monitored continuously.
A clearer path to support begins here.
Choose the help you need
Immediate crisis resources
If There Is Immediate Danger or a Crisis
Contact local emergency services or a verified crisis resource now. Do not wait for a response from BAF, and do not submit the non-emergency support form below.
We do not detect your location. Please confirm a service is right for you before calling.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24 hours a day, every day
Anyone calling from the United States
Languages: English and Spanish; interpretation for other languages
Source: 988lifeline.org · Last verified 2026-07-20
Emergency services (911)
24 hours a day, every day
Use when there is immediate danger to life
Source: United States national emergency number · Last verified 2026-07-20
If those options are not available to you
- Call your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency department.
- Use the verified international directory below to find another service.
BAF does not operate these third-party crisis services. Availability and eligibility may vary, and BAF publishes a resource only after it has been verified.
Finding care
Finding Support Can Begin With One Clear Step
There is no single correct way to begin. The right path depends on the person's needs, location, available services, cost, urgency and preferences.
- 01
Understand the Need
Consider whether you are seeking counseling, psychiatric care, youth support, substance-use treatment, family guidance or general information.
- 02
Explore Available Options
Look for qualified providers, community services, telehealth or approved referral resources available in your location.
- 03
Ask Practical Questions
Confirm cost, insurance or payment arrangements, location, availability, language and telehealth requirements.
- 04
Prepare for the First Conversation
Write down the main concerns, how long they have been present and the questions you want to ask.
- 05
Act Immediately When Safety Is at Risk
Do not wait for a routine appointment or a website response when someone may be in immediate danger.
BAF support
What BAF May Help You Navigate
Where support-navigation capacity exists in your region, BAF can help you understand options and possible next steps. Being clear about the limits matters just as much.
What BAF may help with
- Understanding the kinds of support that exist and what they involve
- Locating approved public resources in your region
- Preparing questions to ask a provider or service
- Understanding how telehealth appointments usually work
- Understanding how a referral process is typically arranged
- Pointing to an independent provider or partner where a relationship already exists
What BAF does not provide through this page
- Emergency or crisis response
- Diagnosis of any mental-health condition
- Medication advice or prescribing
- Guaranteed referrals, appointments or provider acceptance
- Guaranteed financial assistance for treatment
- Continuous monitoring of this website or its forms
- A replacement for licensed clinical care
Supporting someone
You Do Not Need Perfect Words to Be Supportive
Listen without judgment, take concerns seriously and help the person connect with an appropriate trusted adult, qualified professional or emergency resource.
Listen calmly
Give the person time and attention. You do not have to have answers to be helpful.
Avoid minimising or arguing
Take what they say seriously, even if it is hard to hear or hard to understand.
Encourage appropriate support
Help them think about a trusted adult, a qualified professional or a service that fits their situation.
Act immediately when safety may be at risk
If there may be immediate danger, contact emergency services or a verified crisis resource straight away.
Friends, family members and peers are not expected to diagnose, provide therapy or manage a crisis alone.
When to seek support
Changes Worth Paying Attention To
One sign alone does not confirm a mental-health condition. Persistent, worsening or safety-related changes may be a reason to speak with a qualified professional.
- Withdrawing from relationships or usual activities
- Persistent sadness, fear or hopelessness
- Significant changes in sleep or appetite
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Increasing difficulty managing daily responsibilities
- Noticeable changes in behaviour, thinking or functioning
Signs that call for urgent action
Statements or behaviour suggesting immediate danger, suicide, self-harm, violence, severe confusion or an inability to remain safe require urgent action — not a website form.
- Talking about death, suicide or feeling like a burden
- Threats or acts of harm to self or to other people
- Severe confusion or disconnection from reality
- Being unable to stay safe without help right now
This guidance is general information, not a diagnostic checklist. Reviewed by BAF clinical advisory reviewer · Last reviewed 2026-07-20
Non-emergency support
Request Non-Emergency Support Navigation
Use this form only when there is no immediate danger. BAF may help explain available options or practical next steps where support-navigation services are available.
Do not use this form for an emergency or immediate safety concern.
This form is not monitored continuously. Use immediate crisis resources now if someone may be in danger.
Your information
Privacy, Safety and Clear Boundaries
BAF handles support requests under defined privacy and safeguarding procedures rather than making blanket promises about confidentiality.
Minimum necessary information
We ask only for what is needed to understand and route a non-emergency request. Please do not send medical records, identification documents or payment details.
Restricted access
Requests are accessed only by authorised BAF personnel responsible for support navigation or safeguarding. They are not sent to a general marketing list.
Safeguarding escalation
Where a request suggests a risk to a child, a young person or an adult at risk, BAF may take further action under its approved safeguarding procedures.
Clear retention
Requests are retained for 24 months and then deleted, unless a safeguarding record requires longer. You may ask us to correct or delete your request.
Get help FAQ
Questions People Often Ask
Only questions with answers BAF can verify are published here.
Is BAF an emergency or crisis service?
No. BAF does not provide emergency response and this website is not monitored continuously. If there may be immediate danger, contact local emergency services or a verified crisis resource.
Can BAF diagnose a condition or prescribe medication?
No. BAF does not diagnose, prescribe or give medication advice. Those decisions belong with a licensed clinician who has assessed the person directly.
Can BAF help me find a therapist or psychiatrist?
Where support-navigation capacity is available in your region, BAF may help you understand the types of services that exist, what questions to ask and how referrals usually work. BAF cannot guarantee a specific provider or appointment.
Does submitting the form guarantee an appointment?
No. Submitting a request does not guarantee a provider, an appointment, financial assistance or any particular outcome.
Can BAF help with the cost of treatment?
BAF does not guarantee financial assistance through this page. Where a programme with confirmed funding is open, it is described on the relevant programme page.
Can I ask for support on behalf of someone else?
Yes. The form asks whether you are seeking help for yourself or for someone else. Please only share what that person would be comfortable with, and seek their agreement where possible.
What information should I include?
A short description of the kind of support you are looking for, the country or region involved and how you prefer to be contacted. Please leave out clinical histories, records and identification documents.
How is my information handled?
Your information is handled according to BAF's privacy and safeguarding procedures, and accessed only by authorised personnel for the purpose of responding to your request.
What should I do while waiting for a response?
Continue with any care already in place, keep a trusted person informed, and use crisis or emergency services immediately if the situation changes and safety is at risk.
How do I help someone who may be in immediate danger?
Stay with them if it is safe to do so, remove immediate means of harm where you can, and contact local emergency services or a verified crisis resource straight away. Do not wait for a website response.
Are BAF support services available in every country?
No. BAF works in Nigeria, the United States and with diaspora communities. Availability varies, and some requests can only be answered with general information.