With the world changing in the face of a public health emergency, we want to remind our community to stay safe and healthy. This means not only monitoring physical health (read the CDC’s latest recommendations for staying healthy here), but also maintaining your mental health in times of increasing stress and uncertainty. Below we have detailed some key areas to focus on and tips to aid in reducing this crisis’ toll on mental health. Remember, if you find yourself having a mental health emergency, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 for 24/7 support.
If you have appointments scheduled with your therapist, you should make every effort to attend those appointments. Call your therapist and set up an online session utilizing Skype, FaceTime, or a similar video calling app if you don’t want to leave your home. If you need a therapist in light of recent events, there are online counseling services that can connect you with licensed mental health professionals without the need for in-person visits.
Take all your prescribed daily medications, and contact your doctor if you have concerns or are running low on medicine. Many pharmacies offer drive-thru and online delivery options if you are looking to reduce exposure.
Check-in on your friends and make sure they are looking after their mental health. In times of social-distancing and event cancellations, it’s easy to start feeling alone. A simple phone call or video chat is an easy way to show you care without potentially risking physical health.
Remain hopeful. The world is changing, but things will not always be like this. Focus on the good days and try not to let yourself become overwhelmed by headlines & news stories. Do what you need to do to remain mentally healthy and stay alive.
The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation is here for you. We have cancelled our upcoming programming & events, but we remain committed to providing resources to our community and working to stop suicide. Check out our resources page for information and prevention resources. Furthermore, we will continue to monitor our emails and respond to inquiries as they arise. We are here to help our community stay mentally healthy.
