Mental Health Awareness Day

You Are Not Alone
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For 2022 Mental Health Awareness Day, Stonington joins towns and cities around the country to amplify the message of “You Are Not Alone.” It is critical that we all work to help in combating stigma, educating ourselves and others and ensuring we are prioritizing mental health needs.

The global theme this year is to make mental health & well-being for all a global priority.

Mental health is an issue that touches nearly everyone's life in some shape or form. 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year; and for 1 in 20 it is a serious mental illness. 

60% of youth with major depression did not receive any mental health treatment. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34. In Stonington, we have already had close to 20 suicide calls to our Police Department this year.

We know that we can and must do better.

For our part in Stonington, we have in place a number of resources thanks to our team at Human Services, our Police Department, schools and nonprofit community. We remain grateful for the new position we created to help improve our connection with residents in need, and work in close partnership with our Police Department.

In Stonington we want to do all we can take a proactive role in removing the stigma that is all too often linked with mental health issues and ensure residents are able to connect with the best resources available. If you have further ideas for us, or want to engage more on this topic please reach out anytime. 

Take Action

There are many ways you can help. A few ideas are outlined below. 

Support others. There are simple things that every person can say or do to help the people in their life who are struggling to get through the tough times. Here are tips for supporting others. Also know that when you take steps to help others, you are often also improving your own mental health. Another way to support others is by sharing your personal story with friends, family and even more broadly.

For Mental Health Awareness Day, consider using social media for a positive impact and share your story or message of support with  #NotAlone #MentalHealthMatters  and #WorldMentalHealthDay.

Self-care. Just like your physical health, we also need to focus on our mental health.

First, screening for mental health conditions should be just as normal as screening for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or any other chronic health condition. Taking a mental health screening is one quick way to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
 

You can also speak with your doctor, reach out to 211 or our team at Human Services.
 

Further, finding ways to decompress are critical to your mental health. Whether it’s a walk, gardening, reading, or calling a friend. Spending time in nature, on trails, and other open spaces is another effective way to cope. Join Hike Stonington to find more local spots and be part of a community initiative. More ideas for boosting your mental health can be found here.

Resources

Through the Town of Stonington residents are able to access individual and family counseling services at no cost.  Call us at Human Services (860) 535-5015 to schedule an intake appointment and be matched with one of our mental health professionals. 

Please also see here for a list of state resources, call us at human service or call 2-1-1 for assistance. The 211 hotline is available 24 hours a day. 

If you are concerned about a relationship and would like someone to talk to, call CT Safe Connect – (888) 774-2900.  Safe Futures is also available 24/7 via their confidential crisis line (860) 701-6001. Please know, you are not alone.