May is Mental Health Awareness Month. If you are living with a mental health condition, you are not alone. Nearly half of all Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime during their life, and in any given year, nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition.
Who experiences mental health issues? It could be the neighbor who smiles and waves every time he sees you, the friend who is always quick with a joke and a laugh, or the person you see that looks carefree and happy. You cannot always tell if someone is hurting inside, so it is hard to know if someone you care about needs help. The most important thing you can do is pay attention. For some common warning signs to look for, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For warning signs that a person may be suicidal, visit the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH).
Despite how common mental health conditions are, there is still a stigma against those with such challenges. And there is a gap in access to services. The below locations provide mental health services of varying kinds to the people in our community:
Suicide Hotline: If anyone is feeling like they want to end things or you know someone who displays the warning signs, please reach out for help. Please call the Alachua County Crisis Center at 352-264-6789. Outside of Alachua County, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact Peaceful Paths. Call 352-377-8255 or text 352-727-0948, 24/7.
The Partnership for Strong Families has resource centers located within the Library Partnership and Cone Park branches which can help families find services, including ones related to mental health. Call the Library Partnership Resource Center at 352-334-0160 or the Cone Park Resource Center at 352-334-0456.
Florida Recovery Center provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Their phone number is 855-265-4372.
Helping Hands Clinic provides free mental health and health care, along with many other services, to all poor and homeless persons. You can call them at 352-519-5542.
Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. provides inpatient and outpatient care, for addiction or for mental health issues, on a sliding scale. Call at 352-374-5600.
Veterans can take advantage of mental health services provided by the Vet Center (not to be confused with Veterans Affairs). Call 352-331-1408 or during after hours, holidays, and weekends, 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387).
To learn more about mental health issues, click on the following covers and titles to bring you to our catalog, where you can place a hold on the book or check which branch closest to you has a copy in stock. Eligible cardholders can also go to Libby to check out any electronic copies we may own.
Mental health statistics are from Mental Health America.
Project Semicolon: Your Story Isn't Over
by
No one struggling with a mental illness is alone. You, too, can survive and live a life filled with joy and love. Project Semicolon began in 2013 to spread this message of hope. At once heartfelt, unflinchingly honest, and eternally hopeful, this collection tells a story of choice: every day you choose to live and let your story continue on.
Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles
Thirty-one young adult authors share their own struggles with mental illness, ranging from such topics as neurodiversity and addiction to OCD and PTSD.
The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health
by
There is an unaddressed Black mental health crisis in our world today. In The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, psychologist Rheeda Walker offers a comprehensive guide to help African Americans combat stigma, increase awareness around mental illness, practice emotional wellness, and get the best care possible for Black people in an unequal system.
Are U Ok?
by
Get answers to your most common questions about mental health and mental illness, including anxiety, depression, bipolar and eating disorders, and more. Are u ok? walks readers through the most common questions about mental health and the process of getting help from finding the best therapist to navigating harmful and toxic relationships. In the same down-to-earth, friendly tone that makes her videos so popular, licensed marriage and family therapist and YouTube sensation Kati Morton clarifies and destigmatizes the struggles so many of us go through and encourages readers to reach out for help.
Parenting Children With Mental Health Challenges
by
Drawing on her own experiences and those of other parents, plus tips from mental health professionals, Vlock suggests ways of parenting smarter, partnering better, and living more fully and less fearfully in the shadow of childhood psychiatric illness. Offers overwhelmed readers guidance, solidarity, and hope.
Perfectly Imperfect Stories: Meet 28 Inspiring People and Discover Their Mental Health Stories
by
Meet 28 icons, including pop star Ariana Grande, Hollywood icon The Rock, sporting hero Serena Williams, and even royalty, Prince Harry, and discover how they have dealt with mental health issues to live inspiring lives. So whatever you are going through, learn why it's ok to not be ok with these perfectly imperfect stories.