- Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and wellbeing, and mental illnesses are common and treatable.
- While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.
- There are practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase resiliency regardless of the situations they are dealing with.
- It’s important to recognize your emotions and own your feelings, work to find the positive even when facing adversity or loss, reach out and try to connect with others, remove those people in your life who are bringing you down, and create healthy routines to take care of yourself.
- There are ways that everyone can be supportive of friends, family, and co-workers who are struggling with life’s challenges or their mental health.
- Living a healthy lifestyle and incorporating mental health tools to thrive may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes.
- Recognizing your feelings, finding the routines that lift you up, removing toxic influences and connecting with others can all help you on your path to recovery as you develop your own mental health #tools2thrive.
Texas Desert Rose Podcast
with Tammy Terrell and Jennifer Burrows
"So you want to be a mental health therapist?"
Message From Some of Our Community Agencies
While we are familiar with viruses like the common cold and the flu, the coronavirus (COVID-19) is new and presents a situation that none of us could have imagined a few short months ago. The fact that it is extremely contagious has resulted in business closures, social distancing, and quarantine measures which have disruptive our daily lives. It is more important now than ever to pay attention to mental health during this time of isolation and uncertainty.
Your concerns are valid
There are many reasons that you might be concerned or worried about COVID-19. Some of the most common are:
Getting sick
Passing the virus onto others, especially those that are high-risk
Adjusting to a new reality for an uncertain amount of time
Taking care of and supporting your family
Concern about the health of your friends and family
Financial stress
Not being able connect with friends and family the way you're used to
Shortages of certain common supplies
REALIZE WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL
One of the most frustrating things about COVID-19 is that so much about the virus and the limitations on where you can go are out of your control. However, there are things that you can control, and focusing on those things can provide you with some comfort. Some of the things you can control include:
YOUR MIND AND BODY
- Keep a healthy diet
- Exercise at home
- Get enough sleep
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol excessively
- Take care of your mental health
- Maintain self-care and personal hygiene
YOUR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT
- Your house, your bedroom, your closet, your kitchen - now is the time to clean and get organized
- Make responsible choices about when to leave the house and only go out if necessary
- Limit the number of people you come into contact with
- Work from home if you are able to
WHAT YOU CONSUME
- Don't overdo your news and information intake
- Get your information from reliable sources like the CDC or WHO
- Watch TV, movies, and videos that make you feel good
HOW YOU PREPARE
- Keep 2-4 weeks of food on hand
- Avoid overstocking on supplies that are in high demand so other people can have enough of the essentials too
- If you take medication, get refills and keep a month's supply at home if possible
HOW YOU PROTECT YOURSELF
- Regularly wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid greeting people by shaking hands, kissing or hugging
- Keep 6 feet of distance between you and anyone who is coughing or sneezing
HOW YOU PROTECT OTHERS
- Stay home if you are sick aside from getting medical care
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
signs of anxiety
It is normal to be worried and stressed during times of crisis. While worry is a part of anxiety, people with anxiety tend to experience more exaggerated feelings of worry and tension. Some common symptoms include:
Uncontrollable worry or dread
Stomach and digestion problems
Trouble with concentration, memory,or thinking clearly
Increased heartrate
Changes in energy and difficulty sleeping
Irritability and/or restlessness
In extreme cases of anxiety, people may experience a panic attack. Panic attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks at first, but usually go away when people are able to talk to someone else to calm their fears and practice deep breathing.
MANAGING ANXIETY
There are small things that everyone can do while practicing social distancing or self-quarantine to help reduce the amount of anxiety they are experiencing.
Ask someone to be your support buddy. Call, text, or video chat with as needed.
Exercise at home.
Use resources like online support groups or the Crisis Text Line (Text MHA to 741741).
Set boundaries with your phone.
Use a mindfulness or meditation app
Set a timer for every hour to get up and stretch or take a walk.
Create a new routine.
Take 10 deep breaths when you feel stressed.
WHEN ANXIETY WON'T LET UP
If you're taking steps to manage worry and anxiety during the COVID-19 crisis but they don't seem to be helping, there are additional resources you can take advantage of.
Mental Health Screening
If you feel like you are struggling with your mental health, visit mhascreening.org to check your symptoms.
It's free, private, and anonymous. Once you have your results, MHA will give you information and resources to help you start to feel better.
Find more information and resources about COVID-19 and mental health at mhanational.org/covid 19.
Crisis Hotlines and Textlines
If you're experiencing emotional distress related to COVID-19, crisis counselors are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Call 1-800-985-5990 or text "TalkWithUs" to 66746.
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, get connected to a local crisis center and get in touch with someone immediately.
Call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or text 11MHA"to 741741.
/mentalhealthamerica
@mentalhealtham
@mentalhealthamerica
/mentalhealtham
/mentalhealthamerica
www.mhanational.org
Mental Health Resources
| Organization | Phone # | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Texoma Community Center | (877) 277-2226 | www.texomacc.org |
| Dallas Metrocare Services | (877) 283-2121 | www.metrocareservices.org |
| Denton County MHMR Center | 800-762-0157 (24 hour) (940) 381-5000 |
|
| Health Services of North Texas | 800-974-2437 (940) 381-1501 |
www.healthntx.org |
| Grace Counseling | 800-972-0643 | grace-counseling.com |
| Helen Farabee Centers | 800-621-8504 (24 hour) (940) 549-4896 |
www.helenfarabee.org |
| National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 800-273-8255 | www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org |
| Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas | (214) 828-1000 800-273-8255 Both 24 hour |
www.sccenter.org |
| First Refuge Ministries | (940) 484-4384 | firstrefugeministries.org |
| Connections Wellness Group | (940) 222-2399 | connectionswellnessgroup.com |
| Youth & Family Counseling | (972) 724-2005 | |
| UNT Counseling & Human Development Center | (940) 565-2970 | www.coe.unt.edu/counseling-and-human-development-center |
| UNT Child & Family Resource Clinic | (940) 565-2066 | www.coe.unt.edu/child-and-family-resource-clinic |
| UNT Psychology Clinic | (940) 565-2631 | psychology.unt.edu/clinic |
| TWU Counseling & Family Therapy Clinic | (940) 898-2600 | www.twu.edu/counseling-family-therapy-clinic |
| UBH Denton (University Behavioral Health) | (940) 320-8100 1-888-320-8101 |
ubhdenton.com |
| Carrollton Springs | (972) 544-7980 | www.carrolltonsprings.com |
| Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator (SAMHSA) | findtreatment.samhsa.gov | |
| Veterans Crisis Line | 1-800-273-8255 (press 1) Text: 838255 |
www.veteranscrisisline.net |
If you are in crisis or your personal safety is at risk, please contact one of the resources listed below immediately (they are available 24/7), call 911, or visit your nearest Emergency Room.
Suicide/Crisis Prevention Lifelines
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas: (214) 828-1000 or 1-800-273-8255
Denton County MHMR Crisis Hotline: 1-800-762-0157
JED Foundation Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
JED Foundation Crisis Text Line: Text “START” to 741-741
Relationship Violence Helplines
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Denton County Friends of the Family Crisis Line: (940) 382-7273 or 1-800-572-4031
Abigail’s Arms (Cooke County Family Crisis Center): (940) 665-CURE (2873)
Wise Hope Shelter & Crisis Center Hotline: (940) 626-4855
Sexual Assault Helplines
National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Denton County Friends of the Family Crisis Line: (940) 382-7273 or 1-800-572-4031
Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center Hotline: (972) 641-7273
Veteran Resources
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1
Veterans Crisis Text Line: 838255
Veterans Confidential Crisis Chat: VeteransCrisisLine.net
You may also call 911 or visit your nearest hospital emergency room.
Additional community resource information can be found on the NCTC Community Resource and Referral List.
