GatorCare members ages 18+ may be eligible to receive free online counseling and psychiatry services through Talkspace, and members ages 13+ may be eligible for free counseling services. Communicate with a licensed mental health provider wherever you are, whenever is best for you.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Gainesville chapter hosts support groups, presentations, and courses for individuals living with mental illness and their families.

Learn more about men and mental health— warning signs, local support and treatment approaches—through the National Institute of Mental Health. Connect with resources and the discover the latest news.

If an individual is considering attempting suicide, your asking will not plant a seed in their mind. Rather, it will give them the opportunity to share what they are thinking, experience some emotional release, and perhaps consider alternative perspectives. Learn some ways to start the conversation and provide ongoing support.

Anyone who would risk their life to get attention needs attention – specifically professional support. Suicidal thoughts are a symptom of numerous mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, and serve as an indicator that professional care is needed.

Although the warning signs of suicidal thinking may be difficult to spot without experience or training, you can learn how to recognize them. There are behavioral, verbal, and emotional cues to look for. Don’t ignore your gut feeling if you are concerned about someone.

GatorCare members have access to addiction, counseling, and psychiatry services through their behavioral health benefit. View our network directory to find a provider that works for you.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Gainesville chapter hosts support groups, presentations, and courses for individuals living with mental illness and their families.

Find a support group, take a class on mental wellness, learn how to meditate, or take a workshop on emotional wellness.

GatorCare members ages 18+ may be eligible to receive free online counseling and psychiatry services through Talkspace, and members ages 13+ may be eligible for free counseling services. Communicate with a licensed mental health provider wherever you are, whenever is best for you.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Gainesville chapter hosts support groups, presentations, and courses for individuals living with mental illness and their families.

Learn more about depression—signs and symptoms, risk factors, and treatment approaches—through the National Institute of Mental Health. Find resources or even join a research study.

Numerous factors contribute to mental health, including biological factors, life experiences, trauma, and genetics. A multi-pronged approach of counseling and medication management is the best approach to addressing all contributing factors.

While some individuals with a mental health diagnosis may exhibit higher rates of violent behavior, individuals with severe mental illness are 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.

Depending upon the diagnosis, a combination of medication management and psychotherapy may yield recovery rates of around 75%. Mental wellness is a life-long pursuit and should never be thought of as accomplished or done.

“It’s just a phase. They’ll grow out of it.” Unfortunately, these assumptions regarding mental health in children contribute to the fact that only 20% of children and adolescents with a diagnosable mental health problem receive the treatment they need when in fact, half of all mental health disorders first show signs before a person turns 14 years old.

Research has shown that addiction is a chronic disease affecting the areas of the brain involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and inhibitory control over behavior. Contributory factors include genetic pre-disposition, age of exposure to drugs, and history of abuse or trauma. Successful treatment includes pharmacological and therapeutic interventions.

Some mental illnesses do have a heritable component. However, this is much smaller than the environmental contributors to mental illness, including trauma, abuse, smoking, sleep deprivation, or substance use. Maximize your mental wellness through preventative wellness behaviors.

GatorCare members have access to addiction, counseling, and psychiatry services through their behavioral health benefit. View our network directory to find a provider that works for you.

Sign up to receive informational posts and content about mental health that you can share to your social media platforms during the month of May.

If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please seek support. There are crisis phone lines and online chats available to view. Alternatively, contact 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.