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.

Roosevelt Islander