These life-saving resources are available to NYC residents, for you, your friends, and your neighbors.
For years the importance of mental health has been underrepresented in our communities. But why shouldn’t our minds be just as important as our bodies? Many people struggle with the stigma of having a mental disorder and suffer in silence. While attitudes surrounding mental health are shifting, we have a long way to go to raise awareness and make access to treatment readily available.
Just stop
While anyone can say that something like an eating disorder is a behavioral/habitual choice, sometimes disturbances in eating, behavior, and accompanying emotions can be overwhelming. I dealt with bulimia for eight years and couldn’t stop (no matter how much I wanted to), even once pregnant. The accompanying anxiety seemed overwhelming. I couldn’t disclose my secret to anyone and always promised myself that I would never do it again. Even after I miscarried, I couldn’t stop. The truth is, it’s nearly impossible to “stop” by yourself. Any disorder necessitates the support of a community, family, friends, and qualified doctors.
What is a mental health disorder
Mental disorders affect your behavior, feelings, moods, thinking, and even physical health. A mental illness can impact any part of your life, including relationships, everyday function/habits, career success, outlook on life, and values.
Symptoms
Symptoms range from mild to severe. They include
- Excessive fear/worry
- Sadness
- Personality changes
- Altered sleeping patterns
- Sudden overeating/binge eating
- Mood swings
- Irritability/anger
- Frustration
- Fatigue
- Lack of focus
- Feeling worthless
- Guilt/shame
- Avoiding favorite activities/people/family
- Thinking/attempting suicide
Individuals contemplating suicide should call 911 or immediately visit an emergency room. In addition, help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800- 273 – TALK (1-800-273-8255 or text 838255).
Causes
Illness can come on suddenly or gradually. Factors that contribute to a possible risk include
- genes/family history,
- trauma or brain injury,
- biological/chemical imbalances,
- life experience,
- stress (particularly if experienced in childhood),
- drug or alcohol use,
- other medical conditions,
- unhealthy habits, and
- dysfunctional social life.
More than 50% of all Americans get diagnosed with some mental imbalance/disorder during their lifetime. Recovery can be complex and has nothing to do with willpower, character, or lack of motivation.
Diagnosis
It’s imperative to work with your team of doctors and provide a complete medical history. Your doctor may order a physical exam and lab tests to rule out or pinpoint any underlying medical conditions. In addition, your mental health provider will perform a mental health assessment and ask you about your mood, behavior patterns, feelings, and other symptoms.
What qualifies as a mental health disorder?
- Depression
- Addiction
- Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and phobias)
- Eating disorders
- Paranoia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Psychosis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
- Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder
- Insomnia
Mental Health Support for New Yorkers
Mental health support in NYC includes government-subsidized treatment for eating disorders, alcohol/drug recovery, behavior modification, trauma recovery, reintegration into society, career/job support, and support for family members. The following is a list of treatment facilities.
NYC Well
NYC Well provides free and confidential crisis counseling and substance/mental health support. The toll-free hotline is 1888 NYC-WELL (or 1-888-692-9355, text 651–73). The NYC counselors are available 24/7. Help is available in Spanish, Cantonese, English, and Mandarin (as well as additional translation services and over 200 languages). The services include short-term counseling, peer support, suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and referrals.
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
This nonprofit treatment provider helps individuals and their families with alcohol and drug addiction. Since 1949, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has been located at 322 8th Avenue.
Bridge
Bridge offers comprehensive recovery programs with mental health treatment, substance abuse, job training/education, education therapy, and housing. The target population is individuals with mental illnesses, drug/alcohol disorders, and the homeless. The Bridge is located at 248 West 108th Street.
Lafayette Medical Approach LLC
Lafayette medical approach is a rehabilitation clinic specializing in methadone treatment in cases of opioid overdose. The facility address is 233 Lafayette Street.
HHRC Healthcare Inc.
HHRC supports people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and individuals with autism disorder. 8HRC is located at 83 Maiden Lane.
Addicts Rehabilitation Center
This facility supports individuals in a recovery program suffering from substance abuse. Their service includes counseling, housing, career/job training, legal services, and family services. Addicts Rehabilitation Center’s address is 2015 Madison Avenue.
Saint Marks Institute for Mental Health
Saint Marks Institute offers addiction services, primary care psychotherapy, and counseling. Saint Marks is located at 57 Saint Marks Place.
New York Center for Addiction Treatment Services (RevCore)
RevCore Recovery Center provides outpatients with substance abuse treatment services such as drug/alcohol detox, group/individual counseling, family counseling, anger management, and relapse prevention. The facility is located at 598 Broadway Avenue.
Care Counseling Center LLC (Outpatient)
The Care Counseling Center helps individuals, couples, and families with mental health disorders, behavioral problems, criminal justice, substance abuse, anger/stress management, parenting skills, and HIV/aids counseling. In addition, the counselors foster development, recovery, growth, health, education, socialization, motivation, treatment of personality disorders, and recovery from abuse. The center’s address is 214 West 116th Street.
West Midtown Medical Group (Outpatient 1)
West Midtown Medical Group improves patients’ life quality by providing comprehensive medical treatment for addictions. This Medical Center offers methadone and buprenorphine therapy for opiate addiction and comprehensive treatment for alcohol, drugs, cocaine, prescriptions, and other substances. The medical group is located at 505 8th Avenue.
Emma L Bowen Community Services Center ( Main Office)
The center employs culturally sensitive healthcare professionals, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, alcohol/drug counselors, case managers, social workers, rehab counselors, and early childhood teachers. The staff is fluent in English, Spanish, and French. The center treats mental health issues and prioritizes reintegration into the community. The center’s address is 1727 Amsterdam Avenue.
Greenhope Services for Women
Greenhope offers residential, day, and outpatient services—the center advocates for the specific needs of women in prison. In addition, Greenhope focuses on alcohol/drug recovery, mental health, and reintegration into the community. They are located in East Harlem at 435 East 119th Street.
Comprehensive Care Centers for Eating Disorders
The care center locations are the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York Psychiatric Center, Schneider Children’s Hospital of Long Island, and Jewish Medical Center. For more information and immediate help, you can call the 24-hour hotline at 1-877-696-2332.
By: Maria Raczka
