In crisis?
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
Click the button for a list of one-tap phone numbers of hotlines (both 24/7 and those with scheduled hours) for mental health & crisis support.
24/7 Crisis Hotlines include ones for suicide and self harm, domestic violence, substance abuse and addiction, LGBT youth, trans peer support, general mental health, and local behavioral help.
Hotlines with scheduled hours include local peer support, LGBT hotlines (for all ages, youth, and seniors), alcoholism, drug addiction, and family support.
CRC Resource List
from Cole Resource Center at McLean Hospital
First Parish held a program called “Mental Health Services and Resources for Families,” led by First Parish Church member Maggie Tyler Rubenstein and her colleague Ellen Faran from the Cole Resource Center at McLean Hospital. Maggie & Ellen reviewed an extensive list of resources and generously provided a version that we are able to share here on our website.
The resources cover a wide array of topics including helplines, education courses, support groups, and recommended websites.
Click here for the CRC’s Mental Health Resource List.
** Note: This document was compiled in December 2022 – if you find links or resources that are out of date, please contact the church office so that we can ensure it is updated.
Breaking the Stigma
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“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.” (CDC)
Mental illness is not just “being sad” or “worrying too much,” it’s not “all in your head” or an excuse, and it isn’t managed by external circumstances like having a high GPA, a loving partner/spouse, a good job, or a nice home.
Mental illness is just as real as a physical illness or injury; it is not something that we should feel ashamed about, and no one should criticize or blame another person for their mental illness. We get help if we have diabetes or a broken leg – we deserve to get help if we are struggling with mental illness, too.
Asking for Help
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“Two of the most common mental health conditions, depression & anxiety, cost the global economy $1 trillion each year.” (WHO)
We are all interconnected, and the suffering of one person or one group of people causes suffering throughout their lives and the lives of everyone around them. Even if you don’t have a chronic mental illness or diagnosis, we all experience struggles and challenges and NO ONE should be embarrassed to ask for help. We all deserve to be happy, healthy, and free from suffering.
Hope & Healing
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Everyone has their own journey with mental illness – for some people, it is empowering to accept, reclaim, and celebrate their neurodivergence as a part of their personality. But in many cases, mental illness is very much a difficult burden to bear.
Mental illness is a liar and a thief – it robs us of our self-respect and self-worth, stealing our energy and time. It distorts our perceptions and erodes our hopes and dreams. Our spiritual life suffers, and we may feel abandoned or rejected by God, or isolate ourselves from spirituality. We find ourselves in the dark night of the soul, feeling lost and alone.
The deepest of darkness helps us find the light. Each and every one of us, every human on earth, a beloved child of God, exactly as you are.
We believe in mental health treatment (therapy and medication), and in the power of faith. We pray for healing, and for restoration of the spirit. We pray that each of us may know the peace of God within our minds, hearts, and souls.