Helpful Resources
Self Advocacy Tips:
Know that you hold a power! Know that you can learn to use that power to help yourself live your best life and optimize your health. One way to utilize your power is to use your voice and actions to advocate for yourself. To self-advocate means:
- To exercise your right to make your own decisions for yourself.
- To speak up for what you need.
- To set boundaries during times when you are being treated unfairly.
- To seek information to inform yourself.
- To connect with others to build your support system.
Dealing with mental health struggles is hard. Sometimes you may feel that you are not able to or it is harder to help yourself when you need to due to these struggles. This can be for various reasons such as depression, anxiety, etc. If this sounds like you it can be helpful to have a plan that consists of someone from your support system that can help you (them being informed on what you are dealing with), numbers to call for support, skills to utilize from your coping toolbox that you are willing to try, and a positive affirmation to motivate yourself to not giving up! Create a plan that consists of what you feel would be most helpful for you in that moment.
Remember that you got this!
Below are some resources that you may find helpful and therapist directories.
Hotlines:
*If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, going to harm someone else, or yourself, please call 911.
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- Veterans Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 (press option 1)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264
- This number is not for crisis support, but to ask questions in regards to symptoms, legal issues, local groups, helping family members, education programs, etc.
- Crisis Text Line: Text NAMI to 741-741
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 (TTY 711) Text: 233733
Directories (Utilize these if you would like to seek mental health services in your area):
- Therapy that Liberates (curated for black & brown folks needing a therapist & free events too)
Home
- Black Female Therapist (directory of Black therapist who are women and men)
https://www.blackfemaletherapists.com/directory
https://www.blackfemaletherapists.com/black-male-therapists
- Therapy for Black Girls (therapists who specialize in providing services to women of color)
https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com/therapist-directory/
- Therapy for Black Men (Resources and therapist who specialize in providing services to black men)
Home
- Inclusive Therapists (directory for culturally responsive and social-justice oriented therapist)
http://www.inclusivetherapists.com
- Therapy for Latinx (directory for Latinx therapist)
http://www.therapyforlatinx.com
- A Therapist Like Me (directory of minority identify therapist)
http://www.atherapistlikeme.org
- South Asian Therapists (directory of asian therapists)
http://www.southasiantherapists.org
- Psychology Today (variety of therapists with multiple specializations, accepting out of pocket and insurance)
https://www.psychologytoday.com
- Mental Health Match (helps you match with a therapist that fits your needs)
https://mentalhealthmatch.com/
- Open Path Collective (find therapist who offer sliding scale payments if you are uninsured or underinsured/mental health benefits in-network are not affordable)
https://openpathcollective.org
- Therapy Den (helps you find the right, compassionate therapist for you)
- Mental Health. gov Treatment Locator: (general mental health service and resource locator)
Apps
- The Shine App (download in your app store/ try for free/ Premium $53.99 a year)
- ThinkLadder (download for free in your app store/CBT based) FUN FACT: I was asked to contribute to the COVID-19 theme!
http://www.web.thinkladder.com
- Stop Breath Think (download for free in your app store (can add more for fee)/Guided Meditations)
http://www.stopbreathethink.com
- Eternal Sunshine (download for free in your app store)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eternal-sunshine/id1245926909
Books
- The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigating an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help You Deserve by Rheeda Walker, Ph.D.
- Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury & Healing by Dr. Joy DeGruy
- Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad
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