*In the event of a mental health emergency, please call 911 or go to your local emergency department for immediate assistance.
*I am not a medical professional, nor can I provide sound medical advice. These are tips and resources for you to find help that you need.
How often do you look at your teen or another child and remember back to those carefree days when you were living your best life?
How often do you remember the times you felt lonely, anxious, sad, and feeling like you didn't fit in?
Adults sometimes forget that teens and children may not have to pay bills or worry about "adult" things, but often are dealing with emotions their developing brains are not ready to handle on their own. Today's teens are dealing with stress due to the pandemic, Hurricane Ian and its effects, news about national and international events ... all while navigating school, social lives, family, and extracurriculars.
In fact, one in six children ages 7 to 16 experience some kind of mental health disorder, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, or NAMI. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we'd like to provide you with some resources, both nationally and locally.
Having a safe space, whether that's with you or another trusted adult, is vital for children so they can talk through their emotions and what they are going through on a day-to-day basis.
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Have you checked in on the mental health of your child or a child who you care about?
Started a conversation with them about how they're coping with the uncertainty of the world around them?
Found out how they feel about the uncertainties of their future?
Inquired about how they feel about growing up and their bodies changing?
Have you done a check-in with them recently?
Now is your time!
Before you begin that conversation, though, make sure you're using language in a way that destigmatizes mental health issues. A child in need of help is a lot more liable to ask for that help if they don't have the fear of being pegged as "crazy." When a child has a solid support system of friends, family, and others who care about them and are open to talking about mental wellness, the outlook can be much brighter.
Our children (and you) need to know: You are not alone.
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List of mental health resources and support organizations
Here are resources you or your child can reach out to for more information.
*Organizations are listed alphabetically*
National Resources:
Black Mental Health Alliance
Annually, BMHA provides over 600 referrals to individuals seeking licensed culturally-competent clinicians for behavioral and mental health treatment.
Crisis Text Line
The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information. Text “HELLO” to 741741.
Disaster Distress Helpline
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. Call or text 800-985-5990.
DomesticShelters.org
Provides a list of domestic abuse shelters around the United States.
FORGE
FORGE is a national transgender anti-violence organization.
IMAlive
This nonprofit's focus is suicide intervention, prevention, awareness, and education.
Lifeline Chat
The Lifeline is a free, confidential online crisis service that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline connects people to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals.
National Center for Transgender Equality
The nation's leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people. Call 202-642-4542.
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP)
A national network of service organizations working with LGBTQ people who have been victims of domestic violence.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 888-628-9454; After July 16, 2022, dial 988.
The NW Network
Organization specializing in providing resources for LGBTQ victims of domestic violence, the NW Network also maintains an extensive “resource clearinghouse.”
Project Semicolon
Project Semicolon is an anti-suicide movement and a way for people to show support for those dealing with mental health and suicide. The semicolon itself is used to link two thoughts together in writing. Project Semicolon explains it as "when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life." This led to the slogan "Your Story Isn't Over" for the group.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
SAMHSA offers referrals for substance abuse and mental health treatment 24/7, 365. Call 800-662-HELP (4357).
Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested from police since day one. The organization is run by and for trans people. Call 877-565-8860.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project offers suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ youth. Call 866-488-7386.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Resources for Mental Health and Addiction, as well as insurance Help.
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Here are local resources you or your child can reach out to for more information. Organizations are listed alphabetically.
Abuse Counseling and Treatment
Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. (ACT) is a private, not-for-profit agency committed to serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. ACT provides services to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual preference or handicap. Call (239) 939-3312.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Lee County's Alcoholics Anonymous support groups and help. Call (239) 275-5111.
Area Agency on Aging of SW Florida
To help aging adults achieve greater independence through awareness of resources and access to qualified service providers. Call (239) 652-6900.
Center for Progress and Excellence
Offers services at no cost! They also have a Mobile Crisis Hotline available 24/7: 844-395-4432.
CHADD
CHADD of Lee County provides information and support for adults, parents with AD/HD children, and educators and other interested professionals. Call (239) 466-1167.
Children’s Home Society
Array of services includes family and individual counseling, child abuse prevention and intervention services, home-based services, help for pregnant teens and first-time mothers, residential and group homes, adoption and foster care services, mentoring programs, family preservation. Call (239) 334-0222.
David Lawrence Center (Collier County)
Their mission is to provide life-saving and life-changing behavioral health care through education, prevention, intervention, and treatment available to all. Call (239) 455-8500.
Doctor Piper Center for Social Services
Seeks to enhance the social and economic well-being of those 50+ individuals who reside in Southwest Florida and make a positive impact in the lives of frail elderly, at risk youth, special needs children and our communities. Call (239) 332-5346.
Eden of Florida
Eden’s services include early intervention, individualized education, group residences and employment opportunities, as well as a comprehensive outreach component that offers expertise and assistance to parents and professionals in the greater autism community. Call (239) 992-4680.
Family Preservation Services of Florida
Provides offers home based, school based and community based counseling and social services as alternatives to institutional or office based treatment programs. Call (239) 332-8009.
Home Base SWFL
Local resource for veterans.
Lee County Coalition for a Drug Free SWFL
Empower parents to raise strong, drug free children. Call (239) 573-8747.
Lee Health Pediatric Behavioral Health
Did you know that Lee Health has a Pediatric Behavioral Health Department? They serve children ages 5 - 18.
LifeStance Health
LifeStance provides mental health treatments to those suffering from a variety of mental health disorders using psychiatry, psychology and therapy services.
Mental Health Court Lee County
Coastal Behavioral Center. Call (239) 656-3461.
National Alliance for Caregiving
They offer a free handbook, Circle of Care: A Guidebook for Mental Health Caregivers.
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry Counties
Serves residents across Southwest Florida with free mental health support, online and in-person support groups, resources and education.
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Collier County
Their vision is to ensure that all persons with mental illnesses receive the help they need in developing resilience and are assisted in working toward their recovery.
NAMI of Lee County
Self-help, support, and advocacy organization of Consumers, Family Members, and Friends of people with mental illnesses. Call (239) 337-9024.
Narcotics Anonymous Gulf Coast Region
Serves recovering addicts. Call (866) 389-1344.
Pace Center for Girls Lee County
Offers year round counseling and academic services for girls ages 12-17 who are at-risk for juvenile delinquency, failing or dropping out of school, running away from home and experiencing difficulty at home. Call (239) 425-2366.
Psychotherapeutic Services Fort Myers FACT Team
Call (239) 337-9024.
Salus Care
Provides mental health advocacy and quality services for our community. Call (239) 275-3222.
Salvation Army
Assisting those who are homeless, abused or disadvantaged in pursuit of its goals. Call (239) 334-3745.
Senior Substance Abuse Program
Presentations for people 55 and over. Call (239) 656-3461.
SWFAS (Southwest FL Addiction Services)
Provides effective, affordable and comprehensive care to individuals and families impacted by addiction. Call (239) 332-6937.
Vocation Rehabiltation Division
Works with people who have physical or mental disabilities to prepare for, gain or retain employment. Call (239) 278-7317.
**This is not an all-inclusive list of local resources. You can find more from the below resources, amongst the national resources in this article.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Mental Health Association of SWFL
- Start Your Recovery
- Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness
- Wink News' article
- Say this, not that.
- Lee & Collier County Community Resources
- NAMI Lee Local Resources
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