Together Apart: Mental Wellness in Appalachia
Mental Wellness
Health Insurance Alert: If you have lost your health insurance due to the pandemic or other significant life changes have happened, you may be eligible for affordable coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). President Biden expanded enrollment starting Feb. 15 to May 15, 2021. Go to Healthcare.gov to take a survey to see if you are eligible for ACA Health Insurance Enrollment, Medicaid and/or children’s health insurance.
In this issue of Together Apart, we share resources for concerns about mental and behavioral health and the additional burdens faced during the COVID pandemic. Space does not allow this list to be exhaustive, but we hope it helps.While many things contribute to mental well-being, life experiences such as trauma and abuse can weight heavy on us. The social isolation that many of us have experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic are a source of distress and depression for many. For young people, the isolation can be harmful especially if their problem is not regarded as OUR problem as communities.NAMI (National Association on Mental Illness) Tennessee, in an Internet posting “The Costs of Social Isolation: Loneliness and COVID-19” wrote, “The dizzying spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as the ensuing social distancing restrictions and public health interventions, have contributed to an epidemic of another sort: loneliness.”We are particularly concerned to lift up attention to the emotional well-being of children and adolescents. In our region, we have some of the highest percentages of Adult Prevalence of Mental Illness but there are high rates of young people with mental health issues not receiving treatment, Tennessee ranks very low in access to care. In some categories, we were making progress but in others, particularly that of access to prevention and treatment of children and teenagers, we can do better.
Federal and State Government Help
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Hotline. SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357). ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-696-6775. Free, confidential, 24 hour, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to state services or other appropriate intake centers in their states and connect them with local assistance and support.Kentucky Government provides detailed contact list for crisis services. http://dbhdid.ky.gov/dbh/documents/crisis-resources.pdfTennessee GovernmentTennessee Statewide Crisis Phone Line 1-855-CRISIS-1 (1-855-274-7471)Virginia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Website. https://www.virginia.gov/agencies/department-of-behavioral-health-and-developmental/West VirginiaHelp 4 WV Provides an extensive resource list for crisis help https://www.help4wv.com/resources
Mental Health Social Services and Advocates
Mental Health AmericaMHA provides an extensive range of resources in prevention and treatment.Dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives #B4Stage4. • In crisis? For 24/7 Support: ✉️ Text MHA to 741741 / Call 800-273-8255Mental Health Association of East TennesseeThe Peer Recovery Call Center (PRCC) will work with you to find the best treatment and support resource available to you. Give us a call! 865-584-9125 or email us at info@mhaet.com.Mental Health Association of Kentucky 859-684-7778 http://www.mhaky.orgNAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provides a range of support services and is located in communities throughout Central Appalachia:NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 M-F, 10 am – 6 pm, ET. Or in a crisis, text "NAMI" to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counselingNAMI Kentucky namiky@namiky.org. http://www.namiky.orgNAMI Cumberland River Serving Rockcastle, Jackson, Laurel, Clay, Knox & Whitley.NAMI Hazard Serving Letcher, Leslie Perry, Knott, Breathitt, Owsley Lee, and Wolfe.NAMI Morehead Serving Eastern KY.NAMI Somerset Serving Pulaski, Wayne, Russell, McCreary, Taylor, Green, Casey, Adair, Cumberland Clinton/ NAMI Winchester/Clark CountyNAMI Tennessee [800] 467-3589 NAMI TN Helplinedstewart@namitn.org, http://www.namitn.orgNAMI of Knoxville/Mental health service in Knoxville, Tennessee (865) 329-9925NAMI Virginia HelpLine for Information & Resources: info@namivirginia.org or 1-888-486-8264 (804) 285-8264namivirginia.orgNAMI New River Valley, VA, naminrvva@gmail.comNAMI Roanoke Valley, http://www.namiroanokevalley.usNAMI West VirginiaNAMI Greater Wheeling namigreaterwheeling@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.namiwheeling.orgNAMI New River Greenbrier Valley, WV
NAMI Basics Leader Training
You can receive training in how to respond to family, friends and associates who are facing mental health issues: NAMI Basics Leader Training “This training is to teach family members and loved ones how to teach the NAMI Basics classes to other parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with a mental health condition. The next Statewide Zoom Program Leader Training is March 26-28, 2021. This is a Virtual Zoom Training. Contact: Denise Stewart at NAMI TN at 800-467-3589, ext. 313 or dstewart@namitn.org for information about these trainings.”
Professional and Volunteer Community Support Services
Frontline professionals and first responders, health care workers, and others who have been out there assisting others but often need help, too, National Association on Mental Health provide an online service to find confidential help: https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals. You can also call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-NAMI or in a crisis, text "NAMI" to 741741Healthcare Worker Emotional Support Line 1-888- 642-7886 Military Hotline 888-457-4838National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK) Línea nacional de prevención del suicidio, En Español, telefono 1-888-628-9454Therapy Aid Coalition, a volunteer network, will assist with counseling – details at https://therapyaid.org/TTY Hearing and Speech Impaired 1-800-799-4889
LGBTQ+
LGBT National Hotline 888-843-4564 The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) National Hotline provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat, and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States, anonymous and confidential.LGBT National Youth Talkline 800-246-7743, (youth serving youth through age 25): We provide a safe space that is anonymous and confidential.SAGE Elder LGBTQ+ Hotline 877-360-5428Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860 “by and for trans people with a goal to provide trans peer support and care for our community”
The Trevor Project: (866) 488-7386, crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
Contact walter@appalachiancommunityfund.org with corrections or updates.
APPALACHIAN COMMUNITY FUND
1405 E Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 379179
865.523.5783
