Mental Health is a Universal Human Right
This October 10, 2023, the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley honors World Mental Health Day, a global initiative to promote the importance of each individual's mental health. Created by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992 this day has sought to celebrate the actions that protect everyone's right to the highest standard of mental health, recognized those who have championed the cause, and identified the next steps of action. This year's official theme is "Mental Health is a Universal Human Right" to re-kindle our collective efforts to make the world a better place.
Crisis Services & Hotlines
988: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline)
Concern Hotline: Hotline to calm, comfort, and inform people in crisis by providing compassionate listening, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention.
Clarke/Frederick/Winchester: 540-667-0145
Page County: 540-743-3733
Shenandoah: 540-459-4742
Warren: 540-635-4357
Resources in the Northern Shenandoah Valley
Below is a list of well-known providers, but it is not exhaustive or meant to be an endorsement of the United Way NSV. Mobile users can click on the number to place a call.
Blue Ridge Hospice tel:540-313-9200, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, and Winchester Counties: Grief counseling, Caregiver Support, Community Support.
Childsafe Center tel:540-665-4426, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, and Winchester Counties: Therapy & Teletherapy for children who suffered abuse.
Northwestern Community Services Board tel:540-636-2931, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, and Winchester Counties: Mental Health services, Prevention Services, and Crisis Services (among others)
Shenandoah Community Health Clinic tel:540-459-1700, Woodstock, VA: Behavioral and Mental Health Services
Sinclair Health Clinic tel:540-536-1680, Winchester, VA: Mental health services with an in-house pharmacy.
St. Luke's Community Clinic tel:540-636-4325Front Royal, VA: Mental Health Care
Valley Health tel:540-536-4881, Shenandoah, Winchester, VA: Inpatient and Outpatient Behavioral Health (dependent on location), Telehealth (dependent on location)
6 Tips for Talking About Mental Health
1. Choose someone you trust to talk to. This might be a friend, family member, or you might be more comfortable talking to someone you don't know through a support helpline.
2. Think about the best place to talk. It's important to choose a place where you feel comfortable enough to open up.
3. Prepare yourself for their reaction. Hopefully, you will have a good experience when you open up to someone, but if they don't react in the way that you hope, try to give them time to process what you've told them.
4. Find a good space to talk without distractions. If you're worried about someone, try to find a place where you know you can have a conversation without being distracted.
5. Listen and ask questions. Listening can be one of the most valuable ways to be there for someone. Questions can help you clarify what they mean and also show that you're actively listening.
6. Ask how you can help. Ask how you can help or make suggestions, rather than telling them what to do next.