Mental Health Awareness Month: How to care for yourself during a mental health crisis

By Amanda Briggs/Rise Above Violence
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Many trauma survivors struggle with their mental health in the aftermath of the harmful experience.

Realizing that this is a normal reaction can help survivors understand their mental health experiences and take steps to help themselves and keep themselves safe. 

There are several ways survivors can care for their mental health and prevent crisis moments.

1. Have a plan.

If you struggle with your mental health, one of the most powerful things you can do to keep yourself safe is to have a plan for the moments when your mental health is really suffering. If there are safe people in your life with whom you can share your traumatic experience and the mental health struggles it causes, consider confiding in them and asking them to be available to offer support if you notice your mental health is spiraling.

You can also set yourself up for success during a mental health crisis by pre-identifying certain routines and activities that help you cope when things are especially difficult. Knowing what works for you and having a plan in place helps tremendously when you are in the middle of a mental health crisis and do not have energy to figure out what to do.

What is one thing you can do today to put a plan in place to care for yourself when your mental health is suffering?

2. Know when to seek help.

It is not weak to need help. It is OK to reach out to others for help. It is OK to go to therapy. It is OK to go on medications to help your mental health. In fact, reaching out for help is one of the strongest, most empowered things we as humans can do for ourselves.

If you are struggling with your mental health, what is one way you can reach out for help today?

3. Know when crisis intervention is necessary.

It can feel embarrassing to need crisis intervention for your mental health, but please know you are worth it, and healthy, supportive people will never judge you for seeking crisis intervention. 
Crisis intervention becomes necessary when you have intent to harm yourself. In those moments, it can feel impossible to summon the energy to call 988, 911, your therapist or a safe person in your life. Those feelings are real.

Your worthiness to live is also real. When those moments come, please remember that you are loved, you are worthy of your own compassion and care, and that many, many people stand ready to support you without judgment if you reach out for help. 

If you are in crisis, please call 911. You can also call 988 for the 24/7 free, confidential Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

If you would like to be connected to local mental health resources, such as options for therapy, or if you need help navigating a domestic violence or sexual assault crisis that is harming your mental health, you can call the Rise Above Violence Hotline 24/7 at (970) 264-9075 for free and confidential help.

Mental Health Awareness Walk a success
We are pleased to report our Mental Health Awareness Walk last Saturday, May 18, had 40 participants. 

Additionally, many of our community partners were present for the event, including the Pagosa Fire Protection District, Axis Health System, Archuleta County Public Health Department and Pagosa Springs Medical Center. 

​Thank you to everyone who made the event a success.