May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Professional athletes across the city are advocating for fans to pay attention to their mental health. Below is a video promoting Mental Health Awareness featuring Bills Khalil Shakir, Nyheim Hines along with Sabres Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Jeff Skinner and Bandits Dhane Smith and Josh Byrne.
Here are links to organizations based in Western New York where people can help find assistance.
ECMC – Health Services:
The Regional Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health is proud to offer mental health, psychiatric, and substance use treatment services. Our team of compassionate specialists provides care on both an inpatient and outpatient basis to best serve the needs of our community and patients.
Crisis Services:
You are not alone. Crisis Services is ready to support you through moments of urgency. In addition to our main 24-Hour Crisis Hotline, you can safely and confidentially call one of our specialized Crisis Counseling Program Hotlines to best respond to your individual crisis. Free of charge, no matter what you're going through. Every Crisis Services number is ready to help.
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131
Buffalo & Erie County Addiction Hotline: 716-831-7007
Kids Helpline: 716-834-1144 or 1-877-KIDS-400
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
Mental Health Advocates:
For 60 years, Mental Health Advocates of WNY (formerly Mental Health Association of Erie County) has been deeply committed to providing essential non-clinical services that address the needs of individuals, families and communities living with mental illness.
Through awareness, education, prevention, early intervention programs and supportive services, we advocate for and actively promote mental health and wellness for adults, families and children in homes, schools and workplaces across Western New York.
Lets Talk Stigma:
If you're dealing with a mental health challenge, you are not alone. Approximately 1 in 5 Western New Yorkers are living with a mental health diagnosis, yet many of these people suffer in silence because of the discrimination that goes along with it. So, we're starting a conversation to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Join us as we share our stories, our struggles and our successes. When we talk about mental health, we help everyone find their voice.
