Unprecedented Times
We are certainly living in unprecedented times! We are living in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, which has led to an economic crisis, an employment/jobs crisis, a housing crisis, a school crisis, a healthcare crisis (and 180,000 deaths to date), all creating anxiety, stress and a mental health crisis.
At the same time, or because of the times, we are confronting the realities of racial and social injustices that are deeply rooted in the fabric of our country. The killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and countless others before them, are painful reminders of our country’s failure to address the racial injustices that have existed since the days of slavery, through Jim Crow and segregration, to the myriad ways discrimination plays out in housing, education, income and overall quality of life for people of color in our country today.
And to top all of this off, our country seems divided about how to interpret what is happening with the pandemic and the racial and social injustices in our community. Tensions are high and people are reacting strongly within this current climate.
It should be of no surprise, then, that so many of us are struggling with anxiety, depression, feelings of being overwhelmed, and hopelessness. Now, more than ever, we need access to supports and resources to deal with our feelings and to achieve behavioral health wellness.
The five behavioral health organizations that make up Horizon Healthcare Partners (HHP) - Community Care Alliance, Newport Mental Health, Thrive Behavioral Health, Tides Family Services and CODAC - remain committed to serve all Rhode Islanders in need of mental health and substance use disorders help during these turbulent times.
A few important things to remember during these unprecedented times are:
First, it’s ok to feel what you are feeling. There is nothing normal about what is going on in our world and country right now and we all need to remember, it’s ok not to be ok. Please give yourself permission to feel sad, angry, depressed, frustrated, hopeless, worried, or what ever your emotions currently are. The question to ask yourself is, “Do I need support or help working through the emotions I am feeling?” Most of us find that support or help from another, whether that is a friend, family member or a professional, is incredibly helpful.
Secondly, it’s not a weakness to seek help. Related to knowing it’s ok to not be ok, is understanding that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. Give yourself permission to ask for the help you need and find those in your life who will support you getting the help you need. When you are feeling troubled emotionally, that is the time to reach out and get support. Now is not the time to pretend everything is ok, when it is not. Now is the time to ask for the help you need.
And lastly, it is important to remember that you are not alone and there is help available. After you give yourself permission to acknowledge that your feelings are normal, it is important to know that you are not alone in feeling what your are feeling and there is help available. Again, it is important to identify your support network – family, friends, neighbors, faith community and more. It is also important to try to assess if you need to reach out to a professional therapist, BH Link call center or your local community mental health center. Check out the resource pages on the www.hhpartners.org, www.bhlink.org or www.bhddh.ri.gov websites for where you can find support and help.
As singer/songwriter Dolly Parton stated, “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” So true! We can’t undo what has got us to this particular moment in time but we can surely do the best we can to take care of ourselves and the ones we love and that includes taking care of our mental health wellness too. You deserve it, we all deserve it!
Stay safe, wear your mask and practice social distancing!