Emotional Well-being
All people, regardless of their abilities, have feelings and emotions. Maintaining good emotional well-being is fundamental to feeling good about yourself, and maintaining overall good health. Good mental health can be threatened by many factors: your environment, biology, and how well you cope when faced with life’s challenging situations.
Understanding the warning signs of poor mental health is essential to preventing a serious threat to your emotional well-being. Poor mental health can lead to serious mental illnesses such as depressive and anxiety disorders, if not recognized and treated. The good news is that most mental illnesses are treatable. For most people, effective treatment may consist of talk therapy with a mental health professional and/or medications. The following is a list of national and local resources that provide extensive information on mental health promotion and mental illness prevention.
National Resources
Mental Health America (MHA)
www.nmha.org
Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) is the country’s leading non-profit dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives. MHA provides mental health information to the public, access to mental health support and services, and advocates for mental health issues on the local, state, and national level.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
www.nami.org
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. NAMI members and friends provide support, education, and advocacy for mental illness.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
www.nimh.nih.gov
NIMH is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-237-TALK or www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
A 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis.
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
http://www.samhsa.gov
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) focuses on building resilience and facilitating recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders.
Delaware Resources
Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH)
www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dsam
DSAMH operates the Delaware Psychiatric Center, Delaware's only state-operated psychiatric hospital for adults. The Division also provides community support services to adults with psychiatric disabilities through two state-operated community mental health centers (CMHCs), New Castle County CMHC and Kent/Sussex CMHC, and through contracts with private agencies. These services include continuous treatment teams, group homes, and clinic-based services. The CMHCs also provide mental health counseling services and 24-hour mobile crisis intervention services statewide at 1.800.652.2929 in New Castle County and 1.800.345.6785 in Kent & Sussex Counties.
Mental Health Association in Delaware (MHA)
www.mhainde.org
MHA provides information and referral for individuals wanting to access mental health treatment in Delaware, free literature on mental health topics, and free support groups statewide for people experiencing depression, anxiety, and loss from a suicide.
National Alliance for Mental Illness in Delaware (NAMI DE) www.namide.org
NAMI DE is a statewide organization of families, mental health consumers, friends, and professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life for those affected by life-changing brain diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. NAMI provides housing, support groups for family members, and free literature on mental illnesses.
New Directions, Inc.
www.newdirectionsdelaware.org
New Directions, Inc. provides support groups for people with depression and bipolar disorder (manic depression) and for their families and friends. New Directions offers support meetings twice a month (on the second and third Monday) and educational meetings once a month (on the fourth Monday), as well as a major speaker once a year.
