LibGuides: Mental Health: Essentials

You're Not Alone

If you are having a medical emergency or are in immediate danger call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Are you or a loved one in crisis? Please always know there is help:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988, or chat online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: https://988lifeline.org/

SAMHSA’s National Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service that provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Send your zip code through text to 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you.

Important Conversations to Have

Warning Signs of Suicide The behaviors listed below may be some of the signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain Suicide is a major public health concern and a leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it can be preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can help save lives.

Information about Mental Health

CDC's Mental Health Fact Sheet An overview of mental health provided by the CDC.
Healthline's Mental Health Basics Discusses types of mental Illness, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
How can I help a loved one with a mental illness? If someone you care about is experiencing mental illness, it can be hard to know how to help. You might find their behavior confusing or frustrating, and they might not always react to your help in the ways you’d expect. Here are a few things you can keep in mind to be as helpful as possible—while taking care of yourself as well.
Mental Health 101 Information articles on mental health provided by Mental Health America.
Mental Health Brochures and Fact Sheets from National Insitituite of Mental Health NIMH offers brochures and fact sheets on mental disorders and related topics for patients and their families, health professionals, and the public. Printed materials can be ordered free of charge. Brochures and fact sheets are also offered in digital formats and are available in English and Spanish.
Mental Health By the Numbers Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact — and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and advocating for better health care.
Warning Signs and Symptoms Warning signs and symptoms of mental illness provided by National Alliance on Mental Health.

Resources

Helplines The free and confidential resources below can help you or a loved one connect with a skilled, trained mental health professional.
Find a Support Group A list of support group resources provided by Anxiety & Depression Association of America.
Finding a Mental Health Professional Plan An outlined plan from National Alliance on Mental Illness to assist with finding a mental health professional.
Find Treatment Find a provider treating substance use disorders, addiction, and mental illness.
Psychology Today: Find a Therapist Psychology Today's therapist database.
Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program (DONCEAP)
As an employee, you can utilize The Department of the Navy Civilian Employee Assistance Program (DONCEAP)

Employees can access services 24/7 through the web (https://magellanascend.com) or by phone 24/7 (1-844-DONCEAP) (844-366-2327)

Mental Health Apps

Calm Manage stress, balance moods, sleep better and refocus your attention. Guided meditation, Sleep Stories, soundscapes, breathwork and stretching exercises fill our extensive library. Practice self-healing and discover a happier you through Calm.
Headspace Headspace is everyday mindfulness and meditation, so you can make mindfulness a daily habit and be kind to your mind. Learn how to relax, manage stress, find your focus, and release tension in both the mind and body. Find the calm in everyday with Headspace.
MindShift CBT App Is anxiety getting in the way of your life? MindShift® CBT uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety. A new feature, the Community forum, now enables you to find and offer peer-to-peer support.
PTSD Coach The PTSD Coach app can help you learn about and manage symptoms that often occur after trauma. Features include: Reliable information on PTSD and treatments that work Tools for screening and tracking your symptoms Convenient, easy-to-use tools to help you handle stress symptoms Direct links to support and help Always with you when you need it

How am I Doing?... Do I Need Help?

My Mental Health: Do I Need Help?
An infographic from National Institute of Mental Health to assess symptoms and recognize when you may need to seek help.
Mental Health Screening Tools
Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Please note: Online screening tools are meant to be a quick snapshot of your mental health. If your results indicate you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, consider sharing your results with someone. A mental health provider (such as a doctor or a therapist) can give you a full assessment and talk to you about options for how to feel better.

Selected Books

It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine; Mark Nepo (Foreword by) In It’s OK That You’re Not OK, Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. Having experienced grief from both sides―as both a therapist and as a woman who witnessed the accidental drowning of her beloved partner―Megan writes with deep insight about the unspoken truths of loss, love, and healing. She debunks the culturally prescribed goal of returning to a normal, "happy" life, replacing it with a far healthier middle path, one that invites us to build a life alongside grief rather than seeking to overcome it.
Call Number: *Audiobook Available from Overdrive
ISBN: 1622039076
Publication Date: 2017-10-01
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff More and more, psychologists are turning away from an emphasis on self-esteem and moving toward self-compassion in the treatment of their patients—and Dr. Neff’s extraordinary book offers exercises and action plans for dealing with every emotionally debilitating struggle, be it parenting, weight loss, or any of the numerous trials of everyday living.
Call Number: Available by Request
ISBN: 9780061733529
Publication Date: 2015-06-23
The Book of Hope by Britt Pflüger; Jonny Benjamin A life-affirming and diverse anthology compiled by activist Jonny Benjamin, sharing 101 key figures' experiences of living with mental health conditions.
Call Number: Available by Request
ISBN: 9781509846399
Publication Date: 2022-08-14

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