May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month takes place every year in May. Of course, at Restore Counseling Services, every month is mental health awareness month! Nonetheless, we are ready to join any efforts that promote mental health and well-being.
How Can You Raise Awareness of the Importance of Mental Health?
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 by Mental Health America to raise awareness and educate the public about mental health conditions and the importance of overall well-being. Here are some simple and effective ways you can join the cause:
- Encourage Open Conversations: Create safe spaces for people to share their experiences and break the silence around mental health. Share your story or lend a supportive ear to someone else’s. This could be through support groups or informal gatherings.
- Promote Self-Care: Be a beacon of self-care and share ways you manage your mental health through mindfulness, exercise, and healthy eating. If therapy has been part of your regimen, share that, too.
- Share Personal Stories: If comfortable, share personal stories of recovery or support for loved ones with mental health conditions to inspire hope and reduce stigma.
- Support Mental Health Organizations: Raise funds for or volunteer with local and national mental health organizations like Mental Health America (MHA) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Resources for Mental Health Support
Navigating mental health struggles can feel overwhelming, but numerous resources are available to provide support and guidance. We’ve compiled a sampling of available resources for you to bookmark for yourself or to share via a link with someone you know.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime in the US and Canada to connect with trained crisis counselors. They offer confidential support for anyone in distress.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 in the US, 686868 in Canada, or 85258 in the UK to connect with a crisis counselor via text.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then press 1. Offers 24/7 confidential support for veterans and their loved ones in crisis. You can call, text, or chat online.
- Lancaster County, PA Crisis Intervention: Call 717-394-2631.
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call 1-800-273-8255.
- Lancaster County Warm Line: Not in crisis but need someone to talk to? Call the Lancaster County Warm Line at (717) 945-9976 to discuss problems, talk about your day, or ask questions about recovery and wellness strategies.
- For the LGBTQ+ Community:
- The Trevor Project: Provides 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ young people. They offer a helpline, online chat, and text support at 866-488-7386.
- Trans Lifeline: A hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender individuals, offering crisis support and resources. Call 1-877-565-8860 (US) or 1-877-330-6366 (Canada).
- SAGE LGBT Elder Hotline: Connects LGBTQ older adults with friendly responders for support and crisis response.
- The AAKOMA Project: A resource hub for youth and young adults of color and their families to find help and manage mental health.
Mental Health Services in Lancaster County, PA
At Restore Counseling Services, we help meet the mental health needs of Lancaster Countians in four school districts and two offices. We partner with individuals, supporting them as they journey toward improved mental well-being.
Contact us today for more information about scheduling appointments in one of our school districts, offices, or via telehealth.