Making Mental Health Resources Known

 

Mental Health Resources For All

Do you or your friends, family, or loved ones know where and how to find the mental health resources that you might need? And if so, how did you find out about those resources? 

It may come to shock some but mental health resources aren’t always advertised as much as they should be. But why? As previously stated in my previous uploads, mental health resources are almost usually impacted by the lack of funding necessary to advertise them to the public. Those who know about those resources or have access to them will often not use them as they feel they don’t need to seek help. But what about those people who actively don’t know about the resources available to them?

Keeping It Short & Lending A Helping Hand

The purpose of this post is to make a listing of sources that are accessible nationwide for individuals struggling with mental health or for people to share them with those who may need them in the long run. Most people may not be aware of the different types of resources given in a variety of ways and that not all of them require leaving your house if transportation is an issue. Some resource methods include phone, online, and in-person services. 

If you or a loved one is in need of the following resources, please let their resources be known to them. It is better to reach out now before it’s too late. Be the difference, make a difference. 

US Available Resources Over The Phone/Online:

• 988 Mental Health Emergency Hotline (updated number since 2022): Call 988 and it will connect you to a crisis counselor regardless of your location in the United States. 
• 911 Emergency: Call 911 for any type of medical or life-or-death emergency. 
• National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI): Available M-F 10am-10pm ET Call 1-800-950-NAMI or text HELPLINE to 62640. 
• Disaster Distress Helpline: Free & Multilingual. Call or text 1-800-985-5990
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-Talk (1-800-273-8255) or call 988 or www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org 
• Crisis Text Line: Text REASON to 741741. Calls available in English AND Spanish 
• Self Harm Hotline: Call 1-800-DONT-CUT (1-800-366-8288)
• The Trans Lifeline: Call 1-877-565-8860. Staffed by transgender people for transgender people. 
• International Suicide Prevention Directory: findahelpline.com
• Veterans Crisis Line: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net 
• Psychologist Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us.therapists
• GoodTherapy.org: https://www.goodtherapy.org/find-therapist.html
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration(SAMHSA):Call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): http://www.hrsa.gov Find information on finding affordable healthcare, including health centers that offer care on a sliding fee scale. 
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America: https://members.adaa.org/page/FATMain
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: https://www.dbsalliance.org/wellness/treatment-options/finding-a-health-care-provider/ 
• Mental Health America: https://www.mhanational.org/finding-therapy 
• National Alliance of Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Individuals-with-Mental-Illness/Finding-a-Mental-Health-Professional 

Why It Matters & How You Can Help 

As previously stated, it is important to allow yourself and those around you to know about what resources are available. For this blog, the main purpose was to allow for people to know what is available but also for those who come across this page to also comment other resources they might know. I was able to provide a list of resources but as a community, let us expand our list. As a society, we must do what is possible to lend each other a helping hand. Comment below any available resources you might know and any helpful links. We can help everyone! 

You Are Not Alone: Mental Health For All

 

Mental Health Has No Race

One may assume that mental health is something that is limited to only affecting a targeted group of individuals; however, that is not the case. Mental Health issues do not limit themselves to challenging a select group of individuals but can impact many different people. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by the age of 14 and 75% begins by the age of 24. These are two relatively notable instances as both ages typically mark different landmark changes in human life. The age of 14 signals the typical start for an adolescent to start high school and the age of 24 signals the shift for most college students to shift from graduation to working in the “real world”. 

The Breakdown Of Different Demographics 

Percentage of Mental Illness For All US Adults 

According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), the demographic with the most reported mental illness issues are white adults reporting 22% of all US adults followed closely by American Indians and Alaskan Native adults who report around 19% and Hispanic/LatinX Adults with 18%. The latter half of the spectrum contains Pacific Islanders and Black adults at 17% and Asians at the bottom of the list with 14%. 

Anxiety Attacks All

The largest percentage of mental illness is reported to be found in those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community with around 44% of any mental illness. But why? Quite a bit of this stems from the fact that as an ever-changing society, not everyone is as welcoming and open to accepting new things or things that are different. One of the highest reported mental illnesses affecting any group of people is anxiety which, according to NAMI, makes up about 19% of all mental health issues reported in the United States. Though the percentage is less than a fifth of the total population, it is the highest reported mental health illness with many others following shortly after. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are faced with triggers for anxiety such as fear of being themselves, being able to truly express themselves, and the possibility of being shunned by not only their families but society as a whole. 

Following anxiety is depression as being the second highest reported mental illness alongside PTSD following shortly after. 

Most Common Mental Illnesses in US Adults

Where Do We Stand?

Though one can assume these numbers represent all Americans, the truth stands in the fact that not all Americans will seek out a professional diagnosis or seek out resources that are available to them because they either feel as though they themselves are the problem, or the resourced just aren’t there for them to be offered and help them. This is a common problem found in the US as a whole. 

If you know someone who could be suffering from any mental health issues or are at risk of harming themselves, please assist them and guide them to understanding their situation and offering the resources available. 

Attached is a link to a list of all available resources for those who may be suffering, are at risk, or need any form of assistance. Protect the ones you love.