The words how to live mentally healthy and stay mentally healthy might sound like empty buzzwords with no meaning, especially if you are struggling with mental health and feel as if you have nowhere to turn for help. We want you to know that help is available.
Since 1949, we continue to observe Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S. The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) states:
“Together, we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness.”
What Mental Health Care Helps
Mental health care, such as counseling, can help with:
- Depression and low mood
- Anxiety and stress
- Grief and loss
- Problematic thoughts and behaviors
- Problems at work or school
- Problems at home
- Low confidence or self-esteem
- Negative self-talk
- Self-harm
- Drug or alcohol misuse or abuse
- Thoughts about self-harm, death, or suicide
Learn more about the Benefits of Caring for Our Mental Wellness.
Psychological needs are a part of our fundamental needs in life, and obtaining mental health care is a crucial part of attending to and nurturing what we require: belongingness and love, esteem, and self-actualization (achieving one’s full potential).
Self-Care Helps
People often turn to self-care when attempting to meet personal basic needs, and this is necessary for our well-being. But we must redefine self-care, as not something that is luxurious, or costly, but as taking care of oneself, which also includes the basics (hygiene, eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep).
Our focus on self-care must be defined based on how we care for our entire self, including our mental health. And we must do this together, both as an individual effort and in our communities to advocate for ourselves and for the many others that we love.
Barriers to Mental Health Care
We are a part of the Community Service Boards (CSBs) located in Region Five, also known as the Greater Tidewater Hampton Roads Areas of coastal, Southeastern Virginia.
We, and all CSBs in the state of Virginia, advocate removing the barriers, which include racism, bias, and discrimination in treatment settings that individuals seeking help for mental illness encounter. These CSBs are available to each individual residing in the state of Virginia…regardless of finances, race, stigmas, or other existing real barriers. At WTCSB, like all other CSBs within our state, we are a public community health agency that provides the resources for mental health care, including affordability for all, which eliminates lack of access and reduces stigma and cultural factors.
If you do not reside in the state of Virginia, here are several ways to locate public community health care options:
- NAMI supports an article published by U.S. News & World Report, Low-Cost Options for Every Budget, which includes where to find mental health support on a budget, as well as helplines that are often resources that can “help you work through a challenging situation or provide support in a pinch.”
- Find your local NAMI location by state. Once you identify your state NAMI locations, you can search for and contact your local office to obtain support and program information.
- SAMSHA offers FindSupport.gov, for locating health care or support, as well as how to set up an appointment, types of treatment and providers, and how to help someone you care about with mental health, drug, or alcohol use.
We believe in moving forward, together.
We Are Here to Help
We offer a variety of counseling services that can help you manage and understand your mental health and to work through and solve the problems that you have in your life. We are here to help you feel better in life – today, tomorrow, and ongoing!
We are a Community of Hope
We’re here and ready to connect 24/7. We make access to professional, high-quality, wrap-around care affordable, convenient, and easy – including Same Day Access for crisis intervention.