Mind Your Mind: Mental Health Resources
More than one in five U.S. adults suffers from a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). This includes anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other conditions. The numbers for youth are especially sobering, with one in six kids experiencing mental illness, and suicide ranking as the second leading cause of death among 10-14-year-olds and third leading cause of death among those 15-24, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Everyone has bad days, but mental illness affects a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, or mood such that it deeply impedes their day-to-day life and often their ability to relate to others, NAMI explains. The pandemic further fueled demand for mental health treatment, including therapy, support groups, and medication for people of all ages. Although life is returning to normal in many ways, there is still an overwhelming need for care.
“Mental health challenges tend to lag events,” explains Beatrix Hurley, LMFT (beatrixhurley.com). “During the pandemic, we did our best to handle it in real time, but we continue to see more [issues] developing over time. I haven’t seen a slowdown, especially with teenage mental health needs.”
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to promote understanding of mental illness and reduce the stigma often associated with it. So we’re highlighting some of the region's incredible nonprofits dedicated to helping those struggling. “There is a very large need across the board for mental health care that can’t be met with the resources we have now, but these nonprofits are essential in helping meet demand in the community,” says Hurley.
Read on to learn about these organizations and the important work they do.
Everyone has bad days, but mental illness affects a person's thoughts, feelings, behavior, or mood such that it deeply impedes their day-to-day life and often their ability to relate to others, NAMI explains. The pandemic further fueled demand for mental health treatment, including therapy, support groups, and medication for people of all ages. Although life is returning to normal in many ways, there is still an overwhelming need for care.
“Mental health challenges tend to lag events,” explains Beatrix Hurley, LMFT (beatrixhurley.com). “During the pandemic, we did our best to handle it in real time, but we continue to see more [issues] developing over time. I haven’t seen a slowdown, especially with teenage mental health needs.”
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to promote understanding of mental illness and reduce the stigma often associated with it. So we’re highlighting some of the region's incredible nonprofits dedicated to helping those struggling. “There is a very large need across the board for mental health care that can’t be met with the resources we have now, but these nonprofits are essential in helping meet demand in the community,” says Hurley.
Read on to learn about these organizations and the important work they do.
The Infant Parent Center (infantparentcenter.org) offers pregnancy and postpartum support, baby wellness programs, and therapy for young children. The organization, which recently moved its main office from Cameron Park to Shingle Springs, also offers support services for foster care and adoptive parents. IPC was founded in 2008 by Ron Henke, the first child protective services officer in El Dorado County and a longtime champion for children.
New Morning Youth & Family Services (newmorningyfs.org) in Placerville has been serving the community for more than 50 years. New Morning provides adolescent alcohol and drug treatment programs; counseling for high-risk youth, as well as pregnant and parenting teens; and a 24-hour emergency shelter for homeless and runaway youth. The organization’s Queer Youth Advocacy Project links LGBTQ+ youth with resources, emotional support, and practical guidance.
Hearts & Hands Counseling (heartsandhandscounseling.org) in Roseville, HOPE Counseling Center (hope-counselingcenter.org) in Roseville and Folsom, and Insights Counseling Group (insightscounselinggroup.org) in Roseville and Auburn offer affordable counseling options for individuals, couples, families, and children. Insights, in partnership with First 5 Placer, also offers free prenatal and postpartum depression counseling through its MomSquad program. Concordia Counseling Services (concordiacounselingcenter.net) in Auburn offers low- and no-cost mental wellness programs, including individual and family therapy, children’s art and play therapy, and parent education programs.
For the past 10 years, Hearts Landing Ranch (heartslandingranch.com) in Granite Bay has offered equine-assisted psychotherapy, enabling hurting youth to experience healing and develop life skills through horsemanship, seed-to-stomach gardening, and other ranch activities. The staff includes a herd of rescued horses and a team of experienced mentors. In addition to sessions for kids, the ranch also hosts family gatherings to build community.
The Forgotten Soldier Program (forgottensoldierprogram.com) in Auburn exists to provide emotional healing and restore hope to veterans and their families. FSP offers a range of programs, including counseling, art therapy, empathetic touch therapy, and suicide intervention at no cost. Recognizing the need for similar services among first responders, FSP launched Placer Reset to serve law enforcement officers and active military. A decade ago, FSP turned a dirt lot into an armed forces pavilion and community garden where veterans and others can gather, work together, and build relationships. Harvested vegetables help feed veterans’ families and the homeless community.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides extensive information about mental illness, connects individuals and families with resources, and advocates for access to quality health care, housing, education and employment for people with mental illness. NAMI offers peer-to-peer and family-to-family support groups, as well as numerous educational programs. Local affiliates include NAMI Placer County (namipc.org), NAMI El Dorado County (namieldoradocounty.org), and NAMI Sacramento (namisacramento.org).
The nationwide 988 Suicide and Crisis Line was established in July 2022 to provide 24/7 direct access to trained crisis counselors. The lifeline (previously the National Suicide Prevention Hotline) provides immediate crisis intervention and support to anyone who is in emotional distress or is worried about a loved one. You can call or text 988 to reach a counselor.
New Morning Youth & Family Services (newmorningyfs.org) in Placerville has been serving the community for more than 50 years. New Morning provides adolescent alcohol and drug treatment programs; counseling for high-risk youth, as well as pregnant and parenting teens; and a 24-hour emergency shelter for homeless and runaway youth. The organization’s Queer Youth Advocacy Project links LGBTQ+ youth with resources, emotional support, and practical guidance.
Hearts Landing Ranch
Hearts & Hands Counseling (heartsandhandscounseling.org) in Roseville, HOPE Counseling Center (hope-counselingcenter.org) in Roseville and Folsom, and Insights Counseling Group (insightscounselinggroup.org) in Roseville and Auburn offer affordable counseling options for individuals, couples, families, and children. Insights, in partnership with First 5 Placer, also offers free prenatal and postpartum depression counseling through its MomSquad program. Concordia Counseling Services (concordiacounselingcenter.net) in Auburn offers low- and no-cost mental wellness programs, including individual and family therapy, children’s art and play therapy, and parent education programs.
For the past 10 years, Hearts Landing Ranch (heartslandingranch.com) in Granite Bay has offered equine-assisted psychotherapy, enabling hurting youth to experience healing and develop life skills through horsemanship, seed-to-stomach gardening, and other ranch activities. The staff includes a herd of rescued horses and a team of experienced mentors. In addition to sessions for kids, the ranch also hosts family gatherings to build community.
The Forgotten Soldier Program (forgottensoldierprogram.com) in Auburn exists to provide emotional healing and restore hope to veterans and their families. FSP offers a range of programs, including counseling, art therapy, empathetic touch therapy, and suicide intervention at no cost. Recognizing the need for similar services among first responders, FSP launched Placer Reset to serve law enforcement officers and active military. A decade ago, FSP turned a dirt lot into an armed forces pavilion and community garden where veterans and others can gather, work together, and build relationships. Harvested vegetables help feed veterans’ families and the homeless community.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides extensive information about mental illness, connects individuals and families with resources, and advocates for access to quality health care, housing, education and employment for people with mental illness. NAMI offers peer-to-peer and family-to-family support groups, as well as numerous educational programs. Local affiliates include NAMI Placer County (namipc.org), NAMI El Dorado County (namieldoradocounty.org), and NAMI Sacramento (namisacramento.org).
The nationwide 988 Suicide and Crisis Line was established in July 2022 to provide 24/7 direct access to trained crisis counselors. The lifeline (previously the National Suicide Prevention Hotline) provides immediate crisis intervention and support to anyone who is in emotional distress or is worried about a loved one. You can call or text 988 to reach a counselor.
by Jennifer Maragoni