Resources

As we journey through life there will be problems, some big, some small, some anticipated and others presenting themselves unexpectedly. How we manage these events will determine the quality of life we experience, the level of stress we incur and the amount of joy we allow

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems.  Visit the U.S. Government website to understand more about mental health ... [ website ]

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency ... [ website ]

Since 1908, MHC has been a leader in advocating for improved, expanded and accessible mental health services. Community-based services have proven to be effective in helping people with mental health conditions achieve recovery in the community. As a leader in the mental health movement, MHC is committed to ensuring people have access to the services they need when they need them to achieve whole health and wellness. ... [ website ]

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities ... [ website ]

NAMI Connecticut provides support, education, and advocacy for all Connecticut citizens affected by mental illness ... [ website ]

Relationships come in many forms: Parent-Child, Couples (committed, separated or divorced), Work Colleagues, Friends and Acquaintances, Bosses, institutions (police, governments, etc.) and most importantly, one's self. Because relationships are often mirrors to oneself they offer some of the best personal growth opportunities in life ...

We understand that the human family is in crisis, and that all individuals are capable of and deserve compassion. It is our mission to reach out to families in order to help create and maintain greater love and health in relationships. We are committed to an ongoing program of research that increases the understanding of relationships and adds to the development of interventions that have been carefully evaluated ... [ website ]

A loss, whether it is of a parent, child, sibling, friend, partner, pet, job or opportunity, may call in a period of grief, sadness, anger or depression. Managing such a period requires an emotional understanding and acceptance.

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross developed the Five Stages of Grief and introduced them in her 1969 book "On Death and Dying," then later refined them further with her coauthor David Kessler. The five stages of grief were originally used specifically to talk about the way a person tends to react to news of a terminal illness. But they've come to be recognized as a normal part of grieving when talking about all kinds of loss, including death and dying ... [ website ]

Signs of depression include lack of energy, excessive sleep, withdrawal, and inability to focus and make simple decisions. In more extreme situation depression can lead to thoughts of suicide.

Founded in 1979, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research ... [ website ]

Suicide, especially among teens and young adults remains a serious problem. Information on prevention, awareness and support can be found below.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger because of thoughts of suicide please call 911 now. There is help for you. Stay on the phone with the operator and wait for help to arrive. Suicide is never the answer, getting help is the answer. Suicide.org is a 501c3 non-profit organization and website If you are suicidal, have attempted suicide, or are a suicide survivor, you will find help, hope, comfort, understanding, support, love, and extensive resources here ... [ website ]