Today is World Mental Health Day.

During the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) October 4 Common Council meeting, RIRA Vice President Lynn Strong-Shinozaki discussed an initiative to make mental health issues information available for the Roosevelt Island community and what to do if you are concerned about someone with a potential mental health issue. Ms Strong-Shinozaki told the RIRA Common Council:

… Seniors have different risk factors than adult working people. Children have different risk factors, teens have different risk factors. Making sure we make that type of information available….

and:

… within a two month period, we have had two women commit suicide by jumping off balconies…

A potential resource for those seeking mental health assistance are services provided by NYC Well. According to NYC Well:

At any hour of any day, in almost any language, from phone, tablet or computer, NYC Well is your connection to get the help you need. We can provide:

  • Suicide prevention and crisis counseling
  • Peer support and short-term counseling via telephone, text and web
  • Assistance scheduling appointments or accessing other mental health services
  • Follow-up to check that you have connected to care and it is working for you

More information available at the Make It OK take the pledge to stop stigma of mental illness.