A List Of Helpful Resources For Wellness, Mental Health, And Caregiving

March 10, 2021

This has truly been an unprecedented time for our world.

We realize COVID-19 has unset our communities; our workplaces; and our entire lives. Because of this, many are now dealing with factors connected to their mental health. Thankfully, there are many great entities that can offer help.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health circumstances, below is a list below of helpful resources.

We hope that this list is helpful and a great guide to empowering you and/or your loved ones. Please note that the resources provided are for informational purposes only. Additionally, the list is not comprehensive and does not constitute an endorsement by Bridgewater Interiors, LLC. We would like to thank the National Institute of Mental Health for the information below.

For Getting Immediate Help in a Crisis

Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger or go to the nearest emergency room.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454
The Lifeline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline connects callers to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.

Crisis Text Line
Text “HELLO” to 741741
The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information.

Veterans Crisis Line
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text to 838255
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that connects veterans 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a trained responder. The service is available to all veterans, even if they are not registered with the VA or enrolled in VA healthcare. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can call 1-800-799-4889.

Disaster Distress Helpline
Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746
The disaster distress helpline provides immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. The helpline is free, multilingual, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency.

View the NIMH 5 action steps for helping someone in emotional pain infographic to see how you can help those in distress.

And if you would like more information on mental health and wellness, check out this interesting read: Mental wellness statistics 2022: Being kind to your mind

For Finding a Health Care Provider or Treatment

Treatment for mental illnesses usually consists of therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Treatment can be given in person or through a phone or computer (telehealth). It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start when looking for mental health care, but there are many ways to find a provider who will meet your needs.

Primary Care Provider: Your primary care practitioner can be an important resource, providing initial mental health screenings and referrals to mental health specialists. If you have an appointment with your primary care provider, consider bringing up your mental health concerns and asking for help. Here are some resources to find a provider below.

SAMSHA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
American Psychiatric Association Foundation Find a Psychiatrist
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder
American Psychological Association Find a Psychologist
Local Health Centers for Substance Abuse Services
Buprenorphine Treatment Practitioner Locator
Opioid Treatment Program Directory by State Providing Medication-Assisted Treatment

Federal Resources: Some federal agencies offer resources for identifying health care providers and help in finding low-cost health services. These include:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): For general information on mental health and to locate treatment services in your area, call the SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). SAMHSA also has a Behavioral Health Treatment Locator on its website that can be searched by location.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): HRSA works to improve access to health care. The HRSA website has information on finding affordable healthcare, including health centers that offer care on a sliding fee scale.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): CMS has information on its website about benefits and eligibility for mental health programs and how to enroll.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) MedlinePlus: NLM’s website has directories and lists of organizations that can help in identifying a health practitioner.
Mental Health and Addiction Insurance Help: This website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers resources to help answer questions about insurance coverage for mental health care.

National Agencies and Advocacy and Professional Organizations: Advocacy and professional organizations can be a good source of information when looking for a mental health provider. They often have information on finding a mental health professional on their website, and some have practitioner locators on their websites. Examples include but are not limited to:

State and County Agencies: The website of your state or county government may have information about health services in your area. You may be able to find this information by visiting their websites and searching for the health services department. Here are some entities below.

Insurance Companies: If you have health insurance, a representative of your insurance company will know which local providers are covered by your insurance plan. The websites of many health insurance companies have searchable databases that allow you to find a participating practitioner in your area.

University, College, or Medical Schools: Your local college, university, or medical school may offer treatment options. To find these, try searching on the website of local university health centers for their psychiatry, psychology, counseling, or social work departments.

Help for Service Members and Their Families: Current and former service members may face different mental health issues than the general public. For resources for both service members and veterans, please visit the MentalHealth.gov page Help for Service Members and Their Families page or the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ mental health page. Additionally, The Mesothelioma Veterans Center may be a good resource. It provides free educational resources, support, and information to anyone that may have questions about asbestos-related diseases. To find out more about The Mesothelioma Veterans Center, click here.

For Finding Caregiving and Other Information

If you are seeking information on caregiving, www.caring.com would be a great site to visit.

If you are a caretaker and seeking some support and encouragement, this guide called, “A Caregiver’s Guide to Coping with Stress and Burnout” might be very helpful for you. The article also reveals information on paying for senior care, respite care options, as well as shares a list of helpful resources and planning tips for caregivers.

Further, here some other resources available regarding caregiving:

– Nursing Home Abuse Justice is dedicated to educating seniors and their loved ones who may be victims of the widespread abuse and neglect found in many nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Seniors are at high risk of developing depression in nursing homes, and if staff aren’t adequately trained on mental health interventions, it poses severe health risks to residents and diminishes their quality of life. To learn more about Nursing Home Abuse Justice, click here.

– AssistedLiving.org is dedicated to enhancing the lives of older adults by compiling comprehensive research, the latest studies, and real-world insight from experts, caregivers, and seniors into easy-to-understand, actionable guides and resources. They recently created a guide about common mental health conditions in seniors and housing options for those impacted. The resource also discusses the benefits of assisted living for seniors living with mental health disorders. To view the guide, click here.

← Previous Article Next Article →