Posted by
Gabrielle Cusumano on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 6:05:46 PM
- Trying to keep things in perspective - recognize the good aspects of life and retain hope for the future.
- Strengthening connections with family and friends who can provide important emotional support.
- Engaging in activities such as physical exercise, sports or hobbies that can relieve stress and anxiety.
- Developing new employment skills that can provide a practical and highly effective means of coping and directly address financial difficulties.
Contact Media Services: (240) 276-2130
http://www.samhsa.gov/index.aspx
Date: 3/31/2009
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130
New National Online Resource Provides Practical Advice and Hope for People Dealing with Emotional Health Issues Related to Financial Stress
Provides essential information on how economic conditions can affect physical and mental health and where people can turn for help
A first-of-its-kind, online guide now provides crucial information and resource referrals for people dealing with emotional or other health problems associated with economic hard times. The “Getting Through Tough Economic Times” guide http://www.samhsa.gov/economy/ provides practical advice on identifying health concerns, developing coping skills and finding help.
Developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in collaboration with other government agencies and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, which is administered by SAMHSA’s grantee the Education Development Center, Inc., the guide outlines the risks that unemployment and other forms of economic distress (foreclosure, severe financial losses, etc.) can pose to health.
Based on a review of the scientific literature published in the last 20 years, the guide notes that although these economic problems may affect individuals differently, for many people economic hardship contributes to increased risk for a variety of conditions including:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Compulsive Behaviors (over-eating, excessive gambling, spending, etc.)
• Substance abuse
On a positive note, the guide also provides individuals and communities with practical steps that can be used to get through these tough periods and achieve restored health and productivity. In particular the guide provides:
• Important information on identifying the warning signs of depression, suicidal thinking and other serious mental illnesses.
• Effective steps to help manage emotional distress, such as through exercise, strengthening connections with family and friends, and developing new job skills.
• Resources for getting help – such as the National Mental Health Information Center http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/ for information on where to access help on a wide range of mental illnesses, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for those in crisis. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is operated by SAMHSA’s grantee Link2HealthSolutions, Inc, under a cooperative agreement.
“The guide is a quick and easy tool that people can use to better manage their emotional wellbeing,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “By helping people remain resilient, we can help promote the overall recovery of our nation.”
The Department of Health and Human Services (SAMHSA is an agency with the Department of Health and Human Services), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury and the U.S. General Services Administration all collaborated in this effort.
For further information on mental health or substance abuse issues please visit SAMHSA’s website at http://www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.
Getting Through Tough Economic Times
This guide provides practical advice on how to deal with the effects financial difficulties can have on your physical and mental health -- it covers:
Possible Health Risks
Economic turmoil (e.g., increased unemployment, foreclosures, loss of investments and other financial distress) can result in a whole host of negative health effects - both physical and mental. It can be particularly devastating to your emotional and mental well-being. Although each of us is affected differently by economic troubles, these problems can add tremendous stress, which in turn can substantially increase the risk for developing such problems as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Compulsive Behaviors (over-eating, excessive gambling, spending, etc.)
- Substance Abuse
Warning Signs
It is important to be aware of signs that financial problems may be adversely affecting your emotional or mental well being --or that of someone you care about. These signs include:
- Persistent Sadness/Crying
- Excessive Anxiety
- Lack of Sleep/Constant Fatigue
- Excessive Irritability/Anger
- Increased drinking
- Illicit drug use, including misuse of medications
- Difficulty paying attention or staying focused
- Apathy - not caring about things that are usually important to you
- Not being able to function as well at work, school or home
Managing Stress
If you or someone you care about is experiencing these symptoms, you are not alone. These are common reactions to stress, and there are coping techniques that you can use to help manage it. They include:
- Trying to keep things in perspective - recognize the good aspects of life and retain hope for the future.
- Strengthening connections with family and friends who can provide important emotional support.
- Engaging in activities such as physical exercise, sports or hobbies that can relieve stress and anxiety.
- Developing new employment skills that can provide a practical and highly effective means of coping and directly address financial difficulties.
Getting Help
Even with these coping techniques, however, sometimes these problems can seem overwhelming and you may need additional help to get through "rough patches." Fortunately, there are many people and services that can provide help. These include your:
- Healthcare provider
- Spiritual leader
- School counselor
- Community health clinic
If you need help finding treatment services you can access our Mental Health Services Locator for information and mental health resources near you. Similarly, if you need help with a substance abuse problem you can use our Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.
Specific help for financial hardship is also available, on issues such as:
There are many other places where you can turn for guidance and support in dealing with the financial problems affecting you or someone you care about. These resources exist at the federal, state and community level and can be found through many sources such as:
Suicide Warning Signs
Unemployment and other kinds of financial distress do not "cause" suicide directly, but they can be factors that interact dynamically within individuals and affect their risk for suicide. These financial factors can cause strong feelings such as humiliation and despair, which can precipitate suicidal thoughts or actions among those who may already be vulnerable to having these feelings because of life-experiences or underlying mental or emotional conditions (e.g., depression, bi-polar disorder) that place them at greater risk of suicide.
These are some of the signs you may want to be aware of in trying to determine whether you or someone you care about could be at risk for suicide:
- Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
- Looking for ways to kill oneself
- Thinking or fantasying about suicide
- Acting recklessly
- Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life
If you or someone you care about are having suicidal thoughts or showing these symptoms SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP. Contact your healthcare provider, mental health crisis center, hospital emergency room or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help.
Other Steps You Can Take
- Acknowledge that economic downturns can be frightening to everyone, but that there are ways of getting through them - from engaging in healthy activities, positive thinking, supportive relationships, to seeking help when needed from health professionals.
- Encourage community-based organizations and groups to provide increased levels of mental health treatment and support to those who are severely affected by the economy.
- Work together to help all members of the community build their resiliency and successfully return to healthy and productive lives.
For further information on mental health or substance abuse issues please visit The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Getting Through Tough Economic Times
This guide provides practical advice on how to deal with the effects financial difficulties can have on your physical and mental health -- it covers:
Possible Health Risks
Economic turmoil (e.g., increased unemployment, foreclosures, loss of investments and other financial distress) can result in a whole host of negative health effects - both physical and mental. It can be particularly devastating to your emotional and mental well-being. Although each of us is affected differently by economic troubles, these problems can add tremendous stress, which in turn can substantially increase the risk for developing such problems as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Compulsive Behaviors (over-eating, excessive gambling, spending, etc.)
- Substance Abuse
Warning Signs
It is important to be aware of signs that financial problems may be adversely affecting your emotional or mental well being --or that of someone you care about. These signs include:
- Persistent Sadness/Crying
- Excessive Anxiety
- Lack of Sleep/Constant Fatigue
- Excessive Irritability/Anger
- Increased drinking
- Illicit drug use, including misuse of medications
- Difficulty paying attention or staying focused
- Apathy - not caring about things that are usually important to you
- Not being able to function as well at work, school or home
Managing Stress
If you or someone you care about is experiencing these symptoms, you are not alone. These are common reactions to stress, and there are coping techniques that you can use to help manage it. They include:
- Trying to keep things in perspective - recognize the good aspects of life and retain hope for the future.
- Strengthening connections with family and friends who can provide important emotional support.
- Engaging in activities such as physical exercise, sports or hobbies that can relieve stress and anxiety.
- Developing new employment skills that can provide a practical and highly effective means of coping and directly address financial difficulties.
Getting Help
Even with these coping techniques, however, sometimes these problems can seem overwhelming and you may need additional help to get through "rough patches." Fortunately, there are many people and services that can provide help. These include your:
- Why No Links Provided?
- Healthcare provider
- Spiritual leader
- School counselor
- Community health clinic
If you need help finding treatment services you can access our Mental Health Services Locator for information and mental health resources near you. Similarly, if you need help with a substance abuse problem you can use our Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.
Specific help for financial hardship is also available, on issues such as:
There are many other places where you can turn for guidance and support in dealing with the financial problems affecting you or someone you care about. These resources exist at the federal, state and community level and can be found through many sources such as:
Suicide Warning Signs
Unemployment and other kinds of financial distress do not "cause" suicide directly, but they can be factors that interact dynamically within individuals and affect their risk for suicide. These financial factors can cause strong feelings such as humiliation and despair, which can precipitate suicidal thoughts or actions among those who may already be vulnerable to having these feelings because of life-experiences or underlying mental or emotional conditions (e.g., depression, bi-polar disorder) that place them at greater risk of suicide.
These are some of the signs you may want to be aware of in trying to determine whether you or someone you care about could be at risk for suicide:
- Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
- Looking for ways to kill oneself
- Thinking or fantasying about suicide
- Acting recklessly
- Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life
If you or someone you care about are having suicidal thoughts or showing these symptoms SEEK IMMEDIATE HELP. Contact your healthcare provider, mental health crisis center, hospital emergency room or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for help.
Other Steps You Can Take
- Acknowledge that economic downturns can be frightening to everyone, but that there are ways of getting through them - from engaging in healthy activities, positive thinking, supportive relationships, to seeking help when needed from health professionals.
- Encourage community-based organizations and groups to provide increased levels of mental health treatment and support to those who are severely affected by the economy.
- Work together to help all members of the community build their resiliency and successfully return to healthy and productive lives.
For further information on mental health or substance abuse issues please visit The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).