Toni Ridgway-Woodall
Toni Ridgway-Woodall is a Library Assistant in the Adult Services Department and the Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery Coordinator at CDPL.
Mental Health Awareness Month was started in the United States in 1949 by Mental Health America (MHA). MHA is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health, well-being, and illness prevention. They offer a self-guided “Mental Health America Screening” that takes less than 10 minutes at screening.mhanational.org.
There are an estimated 60 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States living with mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders. Approximately 5% of these cases are severe and women have a slightly higher chance of experiencing symptoms according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (nimh.nih.gov). Wear green this May for Mental Health Awareness Month and show your support for the mental well-being of your family, friends, and neighbors.
Showing compassion and taking the time to understand the everyday struggles of your community can be the first step to encouraging others to seek the help they need. In “Spiritual Matter: From Grief to Light and Light to Life” by Martine Bachelart (155.937 Bachelart) you will discover how one mother found a positive path to healing after the loss of her beloved son. Also, consider how racism has affected the availability of equal care in “The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help You Deserve” by Dr. Rheeda Walker (616.89 Wal).
You may find your inner peace as you adjust your habits and add simple steps to your daily routine. Linnea Dunne’s book encourages you to have “Good Mornings: Morning Rituals for Wellness, Peace, and Purpose” (158.1 Dun). Also, learn how to lessen the negative effects of anxiety and enjoy greater focusing skills with Mary and Rick NurrieStrearns’ book “Yoga Mind, Peaceful Mind: Simply Meditations for Overcoming Anxiety” (616.85 Nur).
Adjusting your diet can improve your physical health as well as benefit your mental health. Drew Ramsey’s “Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety: Nourish Your Way to Better Mental Health in Six Weeks” (616.852 Ram) focuses on specific healthcare needs. Or you can learn and experiment with ancient medicinal ways with “The Five Elements Cookbook: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine with Recipes for Everyday Healing” by Zoey Xinyi Gong (Chef) (641.5951 Gon).
Is your job pushing you to the edge? Take control of your workspace with “Well at Work: Creating Wellbeing in Any Workspace” by Esther M. Sternberg (658.38 Sternberg), or consider ways to lighten the burden with “The Cure for Burnout” by Emily Ballesteros (158.723 Ballesteros).
Expand your knowledge about the brain by checking out one of our Great Courses, “Optimizing Brain Fitness” (Great Courses 612.8 Opt) or “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Techniques for Retraining your Brain” (Great Courses 616.8914 Cog). If you don’t have the time to invest in coursework, consider watching a DVD to learn new insights into the human mind, such as “The Mysteries of Mental Illness” (DVD TV 362.2 Mysteries) or “Breathing Meditations” (DVD 158.1 Love). We have materials for all interests, ages, and levels.
If you are experiencing symptoms and need guidance, please call the NIH at 1-866-615-6464 to access information about professional care and other mental health resources. If you are having a mental health crisis and need immediate assistance, call or text 988 or live chat at 988lifeline.org (SAMHSA). In Indiana, you may call the “Be Well Crisis Helpline” at 211 to speak with a trained counselor available 24/7 about stress, anxiety, loneliness, or mental health strains. Or, you may text HOME to 741741 for the “Crisis Text Line.” All these services are free and confidential.
Stop by the Circulation or Reference Desk if you would like to learn how to use our online catalog (OPAC), acquire a CDPL library card, or request your next read. For more information about our upcoming programs, please visit our website at www.cdpl.lib.in.us or call us at 765-362-2242. CDPL’s regular hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 9a-9p, Friday-Saturday 9a-5p, and Sunday 1-5p.
