Resources available for people facing mental health challenges

Oct. 19—MOSES LAKE — While discussions about, and awareness of, mental health are more common than they used to be, much may remain unknown.

To help remove any unknowns, Mental Illness Awareness Week was October 3-9 and coincided with additional related events, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA) websites. And, Oct. 10 was World Mental Health Day.

Besides that, the Grant County Health District provides a list of resources for people struggling with mental health issues at granthealth.org.

The COVID-19 pandemic has added stress to people's already stressful lives, and in some cases made it more difficult to find local resources. However, there is support, and help finding resources, that are only a phone call away. Help is available by text, too.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255, is accessible 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It's a network of more than 180 local mental health crisis centers, and helps connect people suffering a crisis with local resources.

Mental health support also is only a text away. The Crisis Text Line provides access to mental health counselors 24 hours per day, seven days per week. People can text HOME to 741741 to access its services.

Washington teens can call or text 866-833-6456 to access Teen Link, where they can talk to other teens. The Teen Link website, www.teenlink.org, also has a list of resources where teens can find help for the challenges they're facing, from substance abuse to stress, relationships to eating disorders to signs of mental illness.

Washington residents also can access Crisis Connections, a network of volunteers and professionals who help people facing crisis, whether it's emotional, physical or financial. Its workers help people connect with the services they need. Its emphasis is on King County, according to its website, but it serves people statewide. It has a 24-hour crisis line, 866-427-4747. (That's 866-4-CRISIS.)

There are also resources for people coping with stress caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Washington Listens, 833-681-0211 or waportal.org/partners/home/WaListens, offers support and connects people with resources to help them cope.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

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