May
is National Mental Health Month. “Mental Health Month is an important time to promote
mental wellness for all,” said Jamie Samboceti, Deputy Director of El Dorado County
Behavioral Health Services. “Another goal of the campaign is to reduce the
stigma sometimes associated with mental illness and share information about local
mental health resources.”
Studies
show that nearly one in five people in California report needing help with a
mental or emotional health problem. According to Samboceti, there should be no
shame in seeking help. “Anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges
are extremely common. Most people diagnosed with a mental illness can
experience relief from their symptoms by getting help,” said Samboceti.
Everyone
in the community can support the goal of optimal mental health by:
- Connecting with family and
friends to feel supported, valued and understood
- Staying physically active; when
the body is moving, stress-reducing hormones are released
- Connecting to others in the
community to feel a sense of belonging and purpose
- Seeking professional help to feel
better during times of stress and difficulty in coping
- Understanding the signs and
symptoms of someone in emotional distress, and supporting them in seeking
help
- Accessing support services such
as the National Friendship Line at (800) 971-0016, National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 or nationwide Crisis Text Line at
741741
The
Behavioral Health Division of the El Dorado County Health and Human Services
Agency provides crisis services, including operating a 24-hour crisis line for
residents, and is a response partner with emergency response agencies during
traumatic community events. Behavioral
Health also conducts assessments, and provides adult and contracted children’s
outpatient services, case management and groups for residents who meet the
criteria for specialty mental health services. Wellness Centers through
Behavioral Health also offer free peer support groups, information, lifeskills
trainings and assistance for those seeking a supportive environment. In
addition, the Division also coordinates mental health prevention programs and
trainings in the community (such as “Mental Health First Aid”).
The
public is invited to join the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and the Behavioral
Health Division on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, for the reading of a Proclamation
declaring May as Mental Health Month in El Dorado County.
To
reach Behavioral Health staff regarding general information, the outpatient
clinic and Wellness Center, call (530) 621-6290 on the West Slope of El Dorado
County or (530) 573-7970 in South Lake Tahoe.
For crisis services, call (530) 622-3345 on the West Slope and (530)
544-2219 in South Lake Tahoe.
For
more information about programs and services of El Dorado County Behavioral
Health, please visit www.edcgov.us/mentalhealth
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