National Suicide Awareness Month Amid Coping With COVID-19
WACO, TX – September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and #TexansRecoveringTogether is here to support awareness efforts and offer services to those who may be experiencing mental health issues, like depression, that may increase suicide risk who have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic and the February Winter Storm disaster. It is their mission to empower disaster survivors by educating them, teaching coping skills, conducting individual needs assessments, and linking those in need of support to the appropriate community resources in McLennan, Bosque, Falls, Hill, Freestone and Limestone counties.
Those who struggle with mental health conditions, like suicidal thoughts, can come from any gender, race, ethnicity, or background. #TexansRecoveringTogether is a non-traditional, outreach-based crisis counseling program that offers survivors, of any age, who have been impacted by COVID-19, and the Winter Storm Disaster, with mental health and emotional support. “Our staff of qualified professionals are ready to provide free and anonymous services to help our people realize they’re having a normal reaction to a most abnormal event – a pandemic,” says Vince Erickson, Project Manager for the Heart of Texas Texans Recovering Together Crisis Counseling Program. “We help and encourage survivors to realize and access their own personal resources to aid in coping with and recovering from the disaster. We also link people to community supports already available—such as rental assistance, food banks, and mental health entities.”
Texans Recovering Together’s diverse team of staff and counselors has provided the following services to over 22,000 Central Texans:
- Resource navigation and linkage to available support groups (assessments, referral, etc.)
- Anxiety and grief support
- Coping skills development and support
- Psychoeducation
- Problem solving skills
COVID-19 and Texas Winter Storm disaster support is available, as well. Services are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. toll-free at (866) 576-1101 or by visiting our website www.trthotccp.org.
CONTACT:
Vince Erickson, Project Manager
Cell: (254) 265-2030
Tanya Ledesma, Media Liaison
Cell: (254) 640-5229