Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 31 Need a Mental Health Provider? There may come a time when you worry that something is beyond the blues, or teen upset, and you start to need assistance from professionals on how to sup- port your growing child. That help is where the folks at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg (MHAfred) can be of great assistance. MHAfred supports Caroline, Fredericksburg, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties. The professionals at MHAfred provide support in several real ways. First and foremost, the MHAfred HELPLINE can help you find a registered mental health provider even in these times when one-half of the mental health professionals are not taking new clients. It can be very difficult to schedule your first appoint- ment. Further, many who are accepting new clients have waitlists. The MHAfred website provides a drop-down menu that guides you to a professional who takes your insurance, specializes in your needs and most importantly, a provider who is accepting new patients. If using online searches is not something you're com- fortable with, you can call the HELPLINE directly at 540-371-2704 and they will personally work with you to guide the way. "MHAfred is constantly updating their database of local behavioral health provid- ers to give you your best chance at finding support. For those waiting for their appointment and consent to the outreach, MHAfred staff remains in weekly contact throughout their journey to see how they are doing, remind them that they are not alone, determine if there is anything else we can help with, including rerunning their search to see if a different appointment is available sooner," says Barbara Barlow, executive director of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg. To learn more or get help and access to resources: • Mental Health America-Fredericksburg: mhafred.org • National Headquarters Mental Health America: mhanational.org • MHAfred HELPLINE Provider Directory: mhafred.org/helpline • HELPLINE available from 9 am to 2 pm: 540-371-2704 • Facebook: Facebook.com/MHAfred • Instagram: @mha_fred Hard to Hear Youth suicides have been growing in numbers since 2007. Barlow says that the CDC has declared suicide a mental health crisis. In November 2021, the CDC noted more than 6,600 deaths in children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24. The youngest of the group, ages 10-14, saw an increase in suicides of 8% in that same year. One of the best thing parents can do is to start deliberate conversations, even as early as 9 or 10, to educate youths about the importance of mental health, and the importance of getting help. MHAfred also has a Suicide Prevention Education program that is free to middle and high schools. Trained speakers visit schools and present a research- based program to get children talk- ing about their mental health and makes them aware of the signs of depression and crisis in themselves and others. NEED A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER? HARD TO HEAR Personal health is mental health ... THE SANDWICH GENERATION Perhaps you're one of the many adults known as "the sandwich generation." You have children of your own but are also the child of a parent aged 65 or older. Your own mental health is affected by trying to be all things to all the people in your life. MHAfred can help there as well. The Senior Visitor's Program is one of our communi- ties most valuable resources for our local aging population. If you have a parent who is still young enough and physically capable enough to engage, they, or you, can become a volunteer and provide valuable support to seniors in our community with weekly visits. MHAfred provides all the training to allow its volunteers and seniors to connect and begin enjoying a happy, healthy, safe and mutually beneficial relationship. Conversely, if you have a parent or grandparent who might find it beneficial to their mental health to have a visitor, visit the MHAfred website and locate Laurie Black, the senior visitors program coordinator. Personal health is mental health and MHAfred is here to help. It's a small but mighty group inter- ested in supporting the community. In January, its next iteration of its Teen Support Groups begins. The National Mental Health America organization has several online screening questionnaires from postpartum pregnancy to PTSD to eating disorders. You can start an initial assessment of your personal situation by accessing the tools at mhanational.org and scrolling down and clicking on "Take a Screen."

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