resources
Why is Mental Health Important?
Mental health is a part of our overall well-being, shaping our thoughts, emotions, and actions, influencing how we manage stress and relationships throughout our lives. Mental Health issues can range from mild to severe, (affecting nearly one in five adults), often driven by genetics, life experiences, and family history, and which include disorders like anxiety and depression. Recognizing early signs, such as changes in behavior and mood, is crucial. Effective management involves a combination of using medication and therapy and receiving additional support from other resources and health care systems. Key strategies can include following a treatment plan, staying in touch with a primary care physician, self-education, self-care, and building a support network for improved mental well-being. - MentalHealth.gov
Let’s face it, no one wants to talk about mental health . If you, or a loved one, are struggling with mental health, it’s common to feel different from other people or to feel like no one else understands. Many people are afraid to share their feelings with coworkers because of a fear of being judged, or worse, losing their job. Even friends and family are often left in the dark, unaware of how symptoms from depression and PTSD truly impact our daily lives. If you find yourself in a situation like this, you may have experienced stigma surrounding mental health. Stigma is an unfair mark of shame placed upon a condition that we are embarrassed about, like mental health, and one that we often place on ourselves. McLean: Putting People First in Mental Health
How to recognize a mental health disorder?
Where can I find information specific to teens and young adults' mental health?
NAMI is proud to introduce the Teen & Young Adult (T&YA) HelpLine: A free nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals, and support to teens and young adults. Our T&YA Specialists are young people who understand what you're going through because they have been through stuff, too. They are experienced and well-trained. They care and want to help you find a way forward. Reach out by phone, text, or chat – For information or to chat with a specialist, visit NAMI Teen and Young Adult Helpline or text “Friend” to 62640 and immediately connect with a HelpLine Specialist trained to provide resources, information, and support. If you are a teen or young adult with questions about mental health, call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) to speak with a NAMI HelpLine specialist.
Article offering tips for parents on how their relationships help mitigate negative effects of excessive social media use – Gallup - Parenting Mitigates Social Media-Linked Mental Health Issues
Social Media and Youth Mental Health. This Advisory describes the current evidence on the impact of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents. It states that social media is insufficiently safe for children and adolescents and outlines immediate steps we can take to mitigate the risk of harm to children and adolescents. - Current Priorities of the U.S. Surgeon General
Where can I find immediate help in case of a mental health crisis?
Crisis Text Line is a nonprofit organization that provides free, 24/7 crisis support via text messaging. It offers confidential and immediate assistance to individuals in crisis, allowing them to reach out for help by sending a text message. Trained crisis counselors are available to respond to these texts and provide support for various issues, including mental health crises, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other challenges. - Text "STEVE" to 741741 for free.
Like any other health crisis, it's important to address a mental health emergency quickly and effectively. This NAMI guide outlines what can contribute to a crisis, warning signs that a crisis is emerging, strategies to help de-escalate a crisis, available resources and so much more. You can Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text "HelpLine" to 62640 – NAMI Navigating a mental health crisis guide
Where can I find a therapist?
Therapy for Black Girls is an online platform focused on promoting the mental well-being of Black women and girls. It also helps find trusted, culturally responsive therapists to provide support and help navigate life. https://therapyforblackgirls.com/
Search for treatment: Confidential and anonymous resource for locating treatment facilities for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories. - https://findtreatment.gov/locator
Where can I find support groups or other in-person resources?
Sista Afya is a community-based mental wellness organization that focuses on the mental health and well-being of Black women in the United States. The organization offers various mental health resources and support services specifically tailored to the unique experiences and needs of Black women. Sista Afya provides a range of programs and activities, including support groups, workshops, and online resources, to promote mental health awareness and self-care within the Black women's community. They aim to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and create a safe and inclusive space where Black women can openly discuss and address their mental health concerns. https://www.sistaafya.com/
Where can I find online support for mental health that I can trust?
The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a grassroots organization that focuses on providing support and resources for queer and trans people of color in the field of mental health and therapy. The network aims to address the specific needs and challenges faced by queer and trans individuals of color by connecting them with culturally competent and affirming mental health professionals. https://nqttcn.com/en/
The BMHA (Black Mental Health Alliance) is a community-based organization with a track record of providing a wide range of services, such as school-based mental health support, youth tobacco education, fatherhood programs, summer camps, after-school activities, and HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives. Their programs and training efforts focus on various important topics, including historical and race-based trauma, structural racism, cultural competence, mental health stigma, social determinants of health, and mental health within the Black community. https://blackmentalhealth.com/about-us/
The Steve Fund is committed to promoting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. They recognize that many young individuals from diverse racial backgrounds are currently struggling academically, facing emotional distress, and sometimes even encountering significant risks due to insufficient understanding and action regarding mental health factors specific to their populations. In response, the organization is actively working to address these issues and provide support. https://stevefund.org/
Share your story - Sharing a story about your mental health challenges can help in your own recovery as well as offer encouragement and support to others with similar experiences. NAMI has developed multiple presentations to help you in sharing your story with your community. Visit the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for more information. - https://www.nami.org/get-involved/share-your-story
The Black Emotional and Mental Health (BEAM) Collective is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mental health and emotional well-being of Black communities. BEAM focuses on addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by Black people, particularly in the United States, and works to provide resources, training, and support to individuals, communities, and organizations. https://beam.community/
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by actress Taraji P. Henson in honor of her father, Boris Lawrence Henson, who struggled with mental health challenges. The foundation's mission is to raise awareness about and provide support for mental health issues within the African American community. https://borislhensonfoundation.org/
Where can I find a therapist?
According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness and feeling like everything is an effort. Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those with more financial security. NAMI Black/African American resources on mental health