May is Mental Health Awareness Month

As we continue to weather the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen an understandable rise across the board in mental health issues: stress, anxiety, substance abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation, to name a few. Isolation from supports and an inability to engage in regular routines and self-care activities can be painful, and can lead to numbness and depression.

This week, we want to share some information on how to identify mental health symptoms, share statistics and safety tips for preventing suicide prevention, and provide resources for mental health and suicide prevention. 

• Here's a list of common symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and risk factors for suicide.
• This slide presentation shares suicide prevention statistics, myths, and realities in the era of COVID-19
• The National Association for Mental Illness provides information, resources, and access to online and telephone support groups. 
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance offers online support groups for individuals facing depression, bi-polar, and anxiety. They also offer groups for friends and families of people struggling with these mental health issues. It's free to register, completely anonymous and confidential, and no webcam is necessary.
• The National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides free, 24/7 phone support to somebody in distress, as well as prevention and crisis hotlines for individuals who are struggling, or their friends and family. The number is 1-800-273-8255.
• Samaritans of Boston, a local suicide prevention advocacy and support group with its own network of resources, is currently offering Virtual Safeplace Meetings for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. 
• The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention is an advocacy group that offers a resource library of articles and information relating to suicide.
• Ted Talks offer a variety of interesting talks and presentations about mental health and suicide prevention.  Here is a curated playlist on mental health, and a highlighted talk on Mental Health in the Black Community.

Please reach out to us at the Employee Assistance Program at 617-635-2200 if you feel you are suffering from mental health symptoms like those described above, counselors are available to speak with you and help you.

Be well, and be safe.