At MHC, we know that everyone is facing something. We also know that when we practice self-care, we can strengthen our resilience and our ability to deal with life’s challenges. For Mental Health Awareness Month 2023, we are partnering with Yoga in Our City and taking the time to give back to ourselves. Join us each Sunday in May for #SelfCareSunday! Today we’re sharing about reaching out as a tool for self-care.
Self-care is all about the everyday routines we can build to take care of our minds and bodies. Whether you like to go on a hike, love up on your pet, or curl up with a good book, taking time to care for yourself will go a long way towards improving your mental health. We asked Yoga In Our City instructor Ann Dilorenzo what self-care means to them, “Self-care involves conscious awareness and active participation in the physical, mental, and spiritual engagement of things that humans do in their time,” Ann said.
The best way of supporting one that is struggling is to be proactive in obtaining necessary supportive resources. Similarly, knowing these resources is helpful for yourself, so you know the options available to you. Taking action for your mental health can look different for everyone. Some of the options available to you are to take a free and confidential online mental health screening. Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. A screening is not a diagnosis, but a helpful tool in determining your next steps.
Reaching out doesn’t have to be online or over the text. You can phone a friend or family members, and if you can’t or don’t feel comfortable explaining your feelings to them, make it really clear that you are reaching out because you are in need of support. Oftentimes, we find it difficult to convey what’s bothering us into the correct words, and it may seem like there is no point to talking when you aren’t sure what you would say. The truth is, there are people out there who are willing to listen, just knowing that you would like to be listened to. There is no shame in reaching out to a warm line, a crisis line, an action line, or phoning a friend to say, “I need some help.”
Keep reading to learn about different resources, and consider adding a few to your phone or contact book.
Contact 9-8-8
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
Mental Health America offers this Connect With Others resource, where you can search through different local and national support services, support groups, live support chats and more. Check it out here: https://screening.mhanational.org/connect/
Crisis Text Line
What is the Crisis Text Line and how can it benefit me? Crisis Text Line is free, anonymous, and provides 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text HOME to 741-741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform.
Action Line (DMHAS)
What is ACTION and how can it benefit me? The Mission of the ACTION line is to not only offer immediate support to individuals in moments of distress or crisis, but to also ensure continuum of care through linking individuals with available services and supports in the community. The ACTION line (Adult Crisis Telephone Intervention and Options Network) is a centralized phone number answered by 2-1-1 staff trained to offer an array of supports and options to individuals in distress, including: telephonic support, referrals and information about community resources and services; warm-transfer to the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) of their area; and when necessary, direct connection to 911. The ACTION line is free and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year (24/7/365) with the availability of multilingual staff or interpreters as needed. The centralized line is available to provide after-hours coverage for mobile crisis providers throughout the state. Visit: https://uwc.211ct.org/actionline/ for more details.
SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727)
Get general information on mental health and locate treatment services in your area. Speak to a live person, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
National Helpline treatment referral and information service: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Treatment Locators
Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator: https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/
Find a Health Center: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
Warm Lines
Warm Lines are telephone support services staffed by people who have experience/expertise with mutual support. These lines are not crisis lines and the days/hours of operation vary. To locate a local warm line in CT, visit: https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/Programs-and-Services/Advocacy/Warm-Lines
You can practice your self-care with Yoga In Our City all summer long, and on May 27th Yoga in Our City will be back in parks near you! Join the kickoff event and visit yogainourcity.com to learn more and find free classes near you!
This year, MHC invited Connecticut residents to demonstrate their self-love through our #LetsFaceIt campaign. Gifts from the campaign help to support the launch of The Art of Wellbeing, an arts and wellness program at the Hispanic Health Council’s (HHC) Family Wellness and Cultural Heritage Center in downtown Hartford. A donation to the #LetsFaceIt campaign is an investment in the safe and welcoming environments for those we serve and it’s an investment in our future.
Join us by setting up a fundraising page or making a donation today!
Stay in touch with us on social media @mentalhealthct and keep up with our blog posts so you don’t miss a #SelfCareSunday in May!
