Let’s Talk Support: Mental Health Resources in the San Ramon Valley That Truly Make a Difference
The San Ramon Valley is a great place to live, but even in the best communities, life can sometimes feel overwhelming. Between fast-paced work expectations, competitive school environments, family schedules that never slow down, and the pressure to keep everything looking “fine,” many adults, teens, and families end up quietly struggling.
That’s why local support matters. When care is close to home, easy to access, and built around your real life, you’re more likely to stick with it and actually feel better. And finding the right fit means choosing a therapist who feels comfortable, relatable, and genuinely safe to talk to.
Here’s what we will walk through together:
Mental health resources in the San Ramon Valley
Community and school-based support
How to choose the resource that fits you best
If you’re ready for support that feels personal and close to home, we’re here to help.
Mental Health Resources in the San Ramon Valley: Where to Start When You Need Support
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, or when someone you know is struggling, figuring out where to start can feel confusing. The good news is that the San Ramon Valley has essential mental health support options for individuals and families, and many of these resources are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Whether you’re living with mental health conditions, navigating a mental illness, or dealing with substance use challenges, there are free and confidential places to turn.
Beginner-Friendly Guide to Exploring Options
Check out clinic and local health-system services in our area: for example, Discovery Counseling Center of the San Ramon Valley offers individual, couples, family, and group work in San Ramon and Danville.
Browse public behavioral health services through Contra Costa Health Services; their “Get Care” page lists mental health access lines and treatment for mental and substance use disorders.
If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or reach Contra Costa’s 24/7 Access Line at 1‑888‑678‑7277.
What is a mental health resource?
It’s any support that helps people living with mental health conditions or mental disorders. This can include community programs, helplines, crisis counseling, NAMI groups, health center services, or national nonprofits.
How to Know What Type of Mental Health Support You’re Looking For
Therapy/individual, couples, family: for when you’re navigating stress, relationship shifts, trauma, feeling stuck.
Psychiatry/medical support: when a mental health condition or substance use disorder may require medication or more specialized care.
Groups: peer support, healing from trauma, mood or anxiety support, substance abuse and mental health combined programs.
School-based resources: for teens, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District wellness centers offer support for students.
Crisis services: for urgent help, suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a sudden mental health crisis.
Signs You or Someone You Know Might Benefit from Outside Help
Persistent low mood, anxiety, or irritability that lasts weeks and impacts daily life.
Changes in sleep, appetite, energy, or motivation that feel out of character.
Substance use is increasing, or you suspect substance use disorder paired with mental health issues.
Relationship or family strain you can’t resolve alone.
A teen or child showing withdrawal, big behavior shifts, failing grades, or talking about not wanting to live.
If any of this resonates, you’re not just being “dramatic,” you’re responding to real stress, and your life deserves support. We’re here to help you figure it out, connect you with trusted, local mental health professionals, and walk that first step together.
Community-Based Mental Health Resources in the San Ramon Valley
The San Ramon Valley has a surprisingly rich network of community-based support, and sometimes these spaces are exactly where healing begins. Local nonprofits and group programs give people living with mental health challenges a way to feel safely connected without pressure or formality. It’s support that feels human.
One of the most helpful places to start is NAMI Contra Costa, our local branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They offer free groups and mental health information for people affected by mental illness, caregivers, teens, and families. You’ll find support groups for grief, parenting, anxiety, depression, and people experiencing emotional distress related to big life changes or natural or human-caused events.
Local nonprofit organizations & resource centers
Discovery Counseling Center of the San Ramon Valley — a local nonprofit mental health clinic and training agency with a history in the community.
Rainbow Community Center — serves LGBTQIA+ folks and allies in the East Bay with social support groups and peer-led activities.
Contra Costa Crisis Center — offers 24/7 crisis helpline services, including for emotional distress and mental health crises, for people living in Contra Costa County.
Regional Center of the East Bay — provides services and supports for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Axis Community Health - offers integrated medical and behavioral care (Tri-Valley-wide, including nearby areas)
What resources can you use for mental health in the San Ramon Valley?
You can access NAMI Contra Costa groups, SRVUSD Wellness Centers, the Contra Costa Crisis Center, community health center programs, and local behavioral health services.
Local support groups & drop-in/accessible programs
Support groups via NAMI Contra Costa: they offer free peer and family support groups, including for those living with mental health conditions and caregivers.
Grief support groups via Contra Costa Crisis Center: e.g., “Attend a grief support group” page lists programs for survivors after suicide loss, parents who lost children, etc.
School-based wellness resources: for example, in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD), the students & families section lists crisis lines and community wellness links.
National nonprofits like SAMHSA and NIMH also offer a long list of resources and information, including national helpline numbers, treatment and support options, and secure websites that do not share sensitive information. These services are confidential and anonymous resources staffed by trained crisis responders and trained crisis counselors.
And truly, community connection matters. Sitting in a room with others who get it, hearing someone say “me too,” feeling less alone in your experience related to mental health, mental disorders, or mental health and substance use challenges that impact so many people living in the U.S. That kind of support is powerful. It helps you breathe a little easier and reminds you that you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.
Crisis and Immediate Mental Health Resources in the San Ramon Valley
When something feels urgent, your own emotional or psychological distress, or you’re worried about someone you know, it’s okay to act now. You don’t have to wait or figure it all out alone. Here are local-ready resources for when you need support right away.
Local crisis hotlines & immediate-response services:
For anyone in Contra Costa County experiencing a mental or emotional crisis, call the 24-Hour Access Line at 1-888-678-7277 through Contra Costa Health Services.
You can also call or text 988 (the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text “HOPE” to 20121 via the Contra Costa Crisis Center — free, confidential, 24/7.
For a broader look at services around the clock, you can dial 211 for the county’s resource line.
When to call 988:
You should call or text 988 right away if you or someone you care about is experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress, is self-harming, thinking about ending their life, or just can’t feel safe. Using 988 connects you to trained crisis counselors who will respond in real time and help you explore the next step.
Hospital & urgent psychiatric care options:
If someone is in immediate danger or very severe distress (for example, hearing voices, out-of-control behavior, or you feel unsafe), go to the emergency room. For example, San Ramon Regional Medical Center has a local emergency department in San Ramon.
What to do if someone is in immediate danger or severe distress:
Call 911 if a life is at risk.
Stay with the person, keep them safe if you can (remove any means of harm).
Call or text 988 or use the local crisis lines above.
Let them know you care and you’re there. Keep it simple: “You’re not alone.”
After the immediate crisis, help them connect to ongoing support, therapy, or a mental health provider.
Crisis moments are scary, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. Knowing who to call and where to go can make all the difference when things feel overwhelming or unsafe. If you ever find yourself unsure, scared, or worried about someone you love, reach out. There are people ready to help you in the very moment you need it.
When should I use a helpline?
Anytime you’re overwhelmed, scared, or someone you know is struggling. Helplines provide free, confidential crisis counseling and support to people experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress.
Need a Safe Place to Land? Your Support Team at Ritenour Counseling Is Here
At Ritenour Counseling, we’re real people who care deeply about the community we serve. When you walk through our door (or join us online), you’re met with warmth, honesty, and therapists who genuinely want to understand your world. Our team shows up as compassionate, relatable humans first and clinicians second, because connection is where healing truly starts.
We support individuals, kids and teens, couples, and families through whatever life is throwing your way. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, parenting challenges, or a major life transition, we’re right here with you. Our approach is collaborative, down-to-earth, and built around helping you feel safe enough to be yourself.
If you’re looking for support that feels personal, grounded, and close to home, we’d love to meet you. Reach out anytime to schedule a consultation, and let’s find the right therapist on our team for you.