What is Mental Health?
Mental health is more than simply the absence of mental "illness." Here are some of the characteristics of mental health:
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The ability to enjoy life, which is essential to good mental health.
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Resilience - The ability to bounce back from difficult situations.
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Balance - Balance in life seems to result in greater mental health.
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Flexibility - Working on making our expectations more flexible can improve our mental health.
One way to think about mental health is by looking at how effectively and successfully a person functions. Feeling capable and competent as well as being able to handle normal levels of stress. Maintaining satisfying relationships and leading an independent life. These are all signs of mental health. Mental health is also a concept that refers to an individual's emotional and psychological well-being.
Benefits of counseling or therapy:
There are times that life challenges may lead to isolation, anxiety, depression, or other health problems when counseling can be helpful with these varieties of concerns or personal issues. Successful counseling is a joint process requiring your motivation and active involvement.
Counseling can help you develop a life that you will be able to more fully enjoy and appreciate. Through therapy you can discover that you possess the necessary resources and strength within you to meet life's challenges.
You might utilize therapy to:
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Reduce stress (which can promote physical as well as mental health).
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Feel better about yourself, improve self-esteem, and attain personal growth.
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Identify personal or relational goals, supporting the kind of life you hope to have.
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Learn new behaviors and/or responses which can help you achieve your goals.
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Feel more at peace, more comfortable, or more secure in the world.
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Understand loved ones better; feel more connected with loved ones.
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Understand own thoughts, feelings and responses more clearly.
Local Crisis Resources:
Community Outreach operates the Linn-Benton region's only 24-hour call-in crisis intervention, information, and referral service. You may receive services by calling (541) 758-3000 at any time, day or night, any day of the week. Walk-in services are available between 7 am and 9 pm.
Northwest Human Services: the Crisis & Information Hotline's primary focus is suicide intervention, & the physical & emotional well being of the population at large. The Hotline provides 24/7 access, 1-800-560-5535, 1-503-581-5535.
Benton County Mental Health Division: Outpatient mental health services. Mental illness and psychiatric consultation. Individual and group therapy services. Crisis hotline is 1-888-232-7192.
Mental Health Assn. of S.E. Pennsylvania
