During this health crisis, many are experiencing issues with isolation caused by social distancing.  The message to keep in mind is “You Are Not Alone.” Even in so-called ‘normal’ times, many of us experience anxiety and depression.  This month is a time to share your experiences and to support one another.  We need to continue the work of erasing the stigma attached to mental illness.  Plus, erasing the stigma attached to asking for help, whether that help includes medications, counseling, or a combination of the two.

In recent years, many celebrities have opened up about their struggles with various types of mental illness.  Some have opened up in interviews with magazines, and here are links to some of these articles from MasterFile Complete:

• Cohen, Marisa ad Zee Krstic. “‘I Am Not My Mental Illness.’” Good Housekeeping, vol. 270, no. 4, May 2020, p. 69.
• Nelson, Jeff. “YOUTUBE’S HANNAH HART My Family’s Battle with Mental Illness.” People, vol. 86, no. 18, Oct. 2016, p. 65.
• Robinson, Lisa. “Queen of Hearts.” Vanity Fair, vol. 58, no. 12, Dec. 2016, p. 122.

Many more are available online:

• “’It’s Okay Not to Be Strong Sometimes:’ 52 Stars Who’ve Spoken Out About Their Struggles with Mental Health Issues: Janet Jackson, Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello and more stars have opened up — and inspired us in the process.” By Maria Yagoda

• “39 Celebrities Who Have Opened Up About Mental Health: Proof that anxiety and depression can affect anyone.” By Kayleigh Roberts.
• “23 Celebrities Who Have Revealed Their Battles With Mental Health: These A-listers are changing the way we think about mental illness” – by marie claire.

There are also many inspiring autobiographies:

• Bailey, Lily. Because we are bad. A memoir on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
• Franta, Connor. Note to Self. Dealing with clinical depression, social anxiety, and more.

• Haig, Matt. Reasons to Stay Alive. Surviving depression.
• Hornbacher, Marya. Wasted: a memoir of anorexia & bulima and Madness: a bipolar life – both extremely insightful autobiographies.
• Jamison, Kay Redfield. An Unquiet Mind. A doctor who is not only an authority on bipolar disorder, but is diagnosed with it as well.
• Lawson, Jenny. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy which, along with being highly entertaining, mention dealing with anxiety, having an eating disorder, and suffering from depression.
• Mendez, A. J. Crazy is My Superpower. A WWE superstar who has triumphed over mental illness.

• Vonnegut, Mark. The Eden Express: a memoir of schizophrenia

The Library has recently added informational Mental Health links to our Health Resources page:

• American Psychiatric Association
  Information for patients and families on common mental disorders and more.
• American Psychological Association
  The Psychology Help Center is a consumer resource featuring information related to psychological issues affecting your daily physical and emotional well-being.
• Mental Health.gov
  Provides one-stop access to U.S. government mental health and mental health problems information. “Let’s talk about it.”

• Mental Health America
  The nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
  The nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
• National Institute of Mental Health
  The lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. “Transforming the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses.”
• MedlinePlus: Mental Health
  Easy to understand information about mental health disorders.
• CDC.gov: Mental Health
  Helpful information from the CDC regarding mental health.

• SAMHSA: Helplines and Treatment
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration links to helplines and treatment locators.

There are Mental Health Apps available as well:

• Calm – an app for meditation
• Happify – an app to help overcome negative thoughts, stress and challenges
• Headspace – for medication and sleep

• Moodfit – an app to track and shape your moods
• Pzizz – an app for relaxation and sleep

These are just a few.  Reviews of these and others are available at:

• Top 10 Mental Health Apps for 2020
• 18 Best Mental Health Apps to try in 2020

NOTE: “Mental health apps can be great supplements to the behavioral health sessions you go to. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are all good fits for mental health apps. These mental health apps are also companions that can be there for you anytime, day or night, when you’re feeling stressed out, isolated or vulnerable. Mental health apps are not meant to replace therapy, but rather to supplement it.” (Source: Buckeye Recovery Network: Top 10 Best Mental Health Apps for 2020)

For those in emergency need of help, there are hotlines and textlines, such as:

• Dial 211 to be connected to the Help Network of Northeast Ohio
• Suicide Hotline: 330-747-2696
• Warm Line: 1-866-303-7337
  A Peer-to-Peer service that specializes in helping individuals who are struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues or know of someone who just needs someone to talk to.
• Crisis Text Line
  Text “4HOPE” to 741 741

Sara Churchill

Sara Churchill is the Digital Services Specialist and Assistant Supervisor in the Information Services Department at Main Library. A major fan of technology devices and computer research resources at work, she enjoys helping everyone learn to use their devices and the library's many online resources.  She loves reading Science Fiction/Fantasy books, British cozy mysteries, True Crime and other true stories, plus a past reader of horror fiction by the likes of Stephen King and John Saul (among others).  Also, she’s a big fan of Sci-fi, action, horror, spaghetti westerns, and based-on-a-true story movies.  Her blogs are for adults and the entire family to enjoy reading and trying out the many online resources free for PLYMC library cardholders to use.