It goes without saying that mental health is very important. Since 1949, the month of May has been deemed Mental Health Awareness Month. While 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness in their lifetime, now more than ever, everyone is facing challenges in their lives that can negatively impact mental health. We here at the library are fully aware of the effects which COVID-19 has had on daily mental health. Social distancing can be draining and not being able to see family or friends can be upsetting. We encourage you to stay strong, stay well and utilize some online resources we’ve compiled below to get you through these discouraging times.
- The New York State Office of Mental Health provides not only information for helping people cope with COVID-19 but they also provide a list of crisis hotlines to call for assistance with domestic violence and suicide prevention.
- Headspace, an app designed to guide users through meditations, has created a web page designed specifically for those living in New York State. You can use it for meditation, sleep, and movement exercises that help to support you through stressful and challenging times.
- Locally, the Larchmont/Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center has set up a web page dedicated entirely to Coronavirus Coping Skills and Resources which we would encourage everyone, who is local to the area, to check out for help and information. Their phone number is (914) 698-7549.
- The Mental Health America website has an incredible variety of resources available for use from home. There are pages dedicated to finding support groups as well as tips on recognizing the symptoms of mental illness in others.
- The National Center for PTSD is a helpful tool for those dealing with PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder. They also have a page dedicated to the management of stress during COVID-19.
- If you’re feeling down about not having access to your local gym or your mind is a bit frazzled by the ‘new normal’ of being home 24/7, you might consider taking a free, online yoga class. Yoga is relaxing and focuses on breathing deep and letting go of everyday stress. Yoga with Adriene is perfect for beginners or intermediate yogis. We can all agree that sometimes a good sweat can really help boost our overall mood. Don’t forget that Damien Germino will be back at the library on May 9th and May 23rd hosting free, virtual yoga classes. Visit this page for more info.