Tapestry Resilience Initiative Project Coordinator and Director Rachel Ludwig said it’s a great time to talk about mental health in an open way just like the way people talk about physical health, “It gives us an opportunity to theme around talking about the differences in treatments that are available now, so many evidence-based practices, and really normalizing mental health. That there’s a wide continuum when you think about mental health just as you would with physical health. There’s wellness and there’s illness that’s on a wide continuum and all of us are on that continuum and it’s important to kind of share that space.”

Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene Department Deputy Director Trish McClennan said the Pandemic brought a lot of people together and made it acceptable to talk about some of the mental hardships, “We hear a lot about self-care over the past couple years. We hear a lot of about organizations and people supporting one another. I know at our local community hospital a lot of people at different restaurants would bring over meals for ICU nurses or emergency departments to help them in their support.”

Ludwig said while there is a continuum of health, there is a continuum of support. She said everyone has the ability to be helpers with reaching out to ask someone if they’re okay, “And really be present and listen for the answer, so I think that’s been another opportunity too. It’s not just about having a mental illness and going to therapy, it’s about we all have mental health and we have to be aware about how we’re feeling, how we’re doing. And that there’s a lot of different opportunities. Now there’s a lot of focus on wellness apps, now there’s a lot of opportunities, such as Trish mentioned for self-care, so not calling it therapy sessions for example.”

The Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene can be contacted at 716-753-4104. The Chautauqua County 24-7 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Hotline is 1-800-724-0461. You can also find more information online at chqgov.com/mental-hygiene

WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley spoke about Mental Health Awareness Month with Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene‘s Trish McClennan and Rachel Ludwig.

Tom Reed

Congressman Tom Reed focused on May being Mental Health Awareness month, saying the silos between mental health and substance use treatment must be eliminated.

Reed said the mental health and substance abuse crisis is real, “It’s becoming a larger and larger problem across America. And we need to reduce the stigma for people to reach out, especially with May as mental health awareness month, to reach out and not be afraid. And it’s a sign of strength, not weakness when you reach out for help when you deal with mental health and substance abuse.”

Reed said mental illness can affect anyone, saying his father died by suicide when Reed was just two years old, “…dealing with PTSD issues and so it hit my life from day one, from the day I was two years old. And I would hope that his death could serve as an awakening for so many. It served as an awakening for me in regards to recognizing the issues that I faced as a result of that and primarily other items in dealing with mental health issues and substance abuse.”

Reed said the division between mental health and substance use treatment has been long standing and makes no sense, “By our laws, by our policy prevent substance abuse providers to see those who are in mental health crisis, to cross through those silos, and make it next to impossible for mental health providers and substance abuse treatment to be linked together in one seamless type of healthcare system when it comes to these issues.”

Reed added that despite this, people who need help should still reach out as there are tremendous resources available.

If you are facing a mental health and/or substance use disorder, you can reach out 24/7 to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or online at https://www.samhsa.gov/