Mental Health Month: The Importance of Early Interventions

If you or someone you know is struggling, early mental health interventions create better outcomes.

Trigger Warning: Discussion of gun violence

Many are shocked and saddened by the recent mass casualties from the shooting that took place on May 24th, 2022 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Questions still abound as to what led the 18-year old’s violent actions. Reports from family members say that they did not see any previous signs of violence, although messages from the assailant were found documenting that his actions were premeditated.

Nothing happens inside of a vacuum. Whether we see them or not, signs of mental distress and trauma pile up until they reach a point of spilling over. While not everyone who experiences a mental health crisis lashes out violently, in order to prevent future tragedies from happening it is vital that we discuss how early mental health interventions can help. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, here are some resources available to you:

Crisis Hotlines: whether dealing with a crisis big or small, the SafeUT app is a chat and tip line aimed particularly at providing support to teens, parents, and educators. It keeps information confidential and can help connect people to licensed counselors to offer support to those in need. Counseling topics can include depression & anxiety, suicide prevention, drug & alcohol problems, self-harm, loss & grief, bullying & cyber bullying, relationship difficulties, and any life challenge. Learn more at safeut.org.

Outpatient mental health: discussing your mental health struggles with a mental health professional in therapy is a great way to address your mental health challenges, learn coping skills for how to manage your symptoms, and process past experiences that may be contributing to your condition. Many insurances offer coverage for outpatient therapy if you are given a mental health diagnosis. For those who do not have health insurance or have a high insurance premium, some therapists offer a sliding scale based on how much a patient can afford.  To help make mental health services accessible to those in need, here at Day One we have our Charitable Mental Health program, which offers qualifying clients therapy for $0-30 per session. For more information, or to apply, visit www.dayonecharity.org/what-we-do

Medication: Medication is another resource that can help people deal with mental health challenges. This is a common treatment strategy to help manage anxiety and depression symptoms. Some people are weary of medication for fear of the side effects they might have. Additionally each person reacts to each medication differently, and medications do not always have an instantaneous effect. Some take up to a few weeks for the body to adjust to for the person to notice a difference. For some it takes time to figure out the most effective medication and dosage to treat their symptoms. While finding the right medication may take time, it can be an effective way to manage mental health symptoms. If you are interested in pursuing medication to help with your mental health challenges, consult with a doctor. Many people choose to combine medication and therapy to address their mental health symptoms.