May 12, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

I wanted to take a moment to share with you a brief message about Mental Health Month.  This Mental Health Month is of urgent importance because more than half of adult Americans across the country are reportedly experiencing greater mental and emotional stress and anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic. Please know that you are not alone if you are feeling extremely stressed out. 

I recently hosted a roundtable with 8th District representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Carol Meinecke of Carroll County, Gerry Blessing of Frederick County, and Stephanie Rosen of Montgomery County.

Click here to watch Rep. Raskin’s roundtable with NAMI about mental health resources

Click here to watch our discussion about lowering stress and anxiety and to learn about county resources that can help get you through this turbulent time. 

Click here to learn the warning signs so you can get help for yourself or somebody you know. 

If you are looking for someone to talk to about how you’re doing, you can call the NAMI HelpLine from 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday by dialing 800-950-NAMI (6264) or send an email to info@nami.org. 

The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with mental health conditions, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. The NAMI HelpLine is not a hot line, crisis line or suicide prevention line. 

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are in a mental health crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine at 1-800-273-8255 to be connected to someone who can help – 24 hours a day. 

In a crisis, you may also text NAMI to 741-741. NAMI’s Crisis Text Line connects you with a trained crisis counselor to provide free, 24/7 crisis support via text message. 

I hope you find these resources practical and useful. As always, I encourage all of my constituents across the 8th District to continue to share concerns and insights with me and my staff by contacting my office or connecting with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

Stay Healthy and Safe and All Best Wishes,

This mailbox cannot receive replies. To email me, please click here.