Blog
Holiday Mental Health Resources
The holidays are supposed to be a joy-filled season, but they tend to be stressful and taxing for those impacted by mental illness. Dealing with mental well-being is an important part of overall good health and remains a priority. We must take extra care to be mindful of our mental health to maintain our overall health and wellness at all times. As we are in the midst of the holiday season, we would like to provide holiday mental health resources for Pennsylvanians struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, isolation, and other stressors. Check-in with yourself, be honest with yourself and your support network about how you are feeling, and if you need someone to talk to or a little extra support, help is available.
MENTAL HEALTH
- Persad Center — (412) 441-9786
Persad was created as an affirming counseling center to help LGBTQ+ people cope with the social discrimination they experienced and to receive professional counseling services without prejudice about their identity.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 988
The hotline is staffed 24/7 by trained counselors who can offer free, confidential support.
- Crisis Text Line — Text “HOME” to 741741
- Office of Advocacy and Reform (OAR)– (717) 787-3302
A group of volunteers focused exclusively on setting guidelines and benchmarks for trauma-informed care across the commonwealth.
SUBSTANCE USE
- Get Help Now Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
A toll-free helpline maintained through the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) connects callers looking for treatment options for themselves or a loved one to resources in their community. Calls are anonymous and available 24/7.
- Naloxone Standing Order
Naloxone is still available to all Pennsylvanians through Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine’s standing order. Carrying naloxone on-hand at all times can be a life-saving action.
OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS
- SOLO: Strengthening Older Lives Online — View in English or Spanish
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s Council on Aging (PCoA) released an interactive guide with information and resources to help older adults cultivate a healthy mind, body and spirit amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
KINSHIP FAMILIES
- KinConnector — 1-866-KIN-2111
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who are finding themselves caring for children who lost parents or whose parents are not able to be their primary caregiver should know that help is available via the KinConnector helpline. The helpline is staffed by Kinship Navigators – compassionate, knowledgeable social service professionals prepared to help families locate, understand, and access resources that may be able to help them during the holiday season.
Taking control over your emotions is the best way to get over holiday blues.
- Have a verbal conversation with someone you trust. Think about someone that you enjoy being around, talking to, or care about, and call that person on the phone to have a heartwarming conversation about