The Struggle is Real (mental health awareness month - week 1)

Mental Health Awareness Month starts today, and this year, it's personal.

In the past couple of months, we've all been in this together: those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness and those who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression for the first time. Now more than ever, we all understand the struggle that mental illness can bring.

Check out this group of young adult entrepreneurs from CT discussing all the ways COVID has affected them: employment, mental health, substance use & relationships.

Andrea, David, Getty, Kareem, Nyesha, and Tashon chat about COVID with Rai Crear from The Hub

On the bright side, the quarantine has made so many resources available virtually. Whether it's Zoom dinners with family, online pictionary through skribbl.io, using great apps to keep you healthy, yoga & Qi Gong over Facebook, or phone meditation, our phones and tablets are a lifeline connecting us to each other.

Mental health supports are also available online for when things become too much, from treatment programs to support groups and warmlines. Here are Kate & Marcea talking about making the leap to virtual therapy from their persectives as client and therapist:

Mental health month is the perfect time for us all to share openly with others, reach out to others, make use of online supports, and share resources. Each week this month, we'll send out a newsblast with videos, info, and resources like those below. We ask you to share it with your family, friends, and colleagues so that everyone knows they are not alone. Sharing is caring! And look at all the great stuff that's coming up:

Upcoming events:

Click to open & scroll through:

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Also...

• EMDR & Addiction: A Guide to Intervention in Substance Use: May 4, 10am, by Mountainside - register here

• The Power of Music in Teen Mental Health: May 7, 12pm, by Newport Academy - register here

• Catchment Area Council 1&2: May 7, 2-4pm, by The Hub - rsvp here

• Managing Sleep in the Time of Coronavirus: May 8, 10:30am, by Newport Academy - register here

• What YOU Should Know about Drugs: Protecting Youth through the Opioid Crisis & Beyond: May 11, 3:30pm, by Courage to Speak Foundation with The Hub, Fairfield Cares, Greenwich Together, Human Services Council, TPAUD, Wilton Youth Council - register here

• Catchment Area Council 3&4: May 13, 3-5pm, by The Hub - rsvp here

• What's New with You? professional development series: Social Isolation Presents Numerous Opportunities: May 14, 9am, by Mountainside & Fairfield U - register here

• Shared Trauma presentation by Dr. Carol Tosone, Southwest CT Suicide Advisory Board, May 15, 12pm, by The Hub - register here

Featured local resources to check out:

• RIPPLE's deep peer-generated list of resources at RockingRecovery.org celebrates both its anniversary and its new nonprofit status today.

• TalkingAboutIt.org, from the New Canaan Abuse Prevention Partnership, just released its latest podcast, "Managing Change in the Time of COVID19."

• COVID19 Mental Wellness Video Series from the Town of Darien and Communities 4 Action, featuring local providers

• Teens should check out the short video series on Neuroscience of Mental Health

• First Responders and Healthcare Workers can use the new Magellan COVID19 hotline: 800-327-7451.

• Therapists can learn from these videos from MTM about telehealth.

• People with lived experience can check out the Soundview Warmline and the newest peer-run warmline from Beacon Health Options.

• PsychHub's COVID19 resources -- a national clearinghouse

Wellness activity of the week:

We encourage you to find ways to take care of your own mental health and spread positivity this month. Here's Ella from TurningPointCT.org doing exactly that:

Happy May!

Your friends at The Hub: Amy, Eliza, Ella, Giovanna, Margaret & Rai

If you or someone you know needs help:

Visit our treatment page to take an online screening or find a local provider, or check out warmlines and virtual support groups on our COVID page and calendar, or call one of the state's 24/7 hotlines:

Want your mental health or substance use event included in our regional calendar and email blast?

• Email info@thehubct.org with the JPG of any event flyer that you would like us to share in future blasts such as this.

• To add your event(s) directly into our regional calendar please send a calendar invite to info@thehubct.org.

• To receive this blast, please subscribe to thehubct.org