Mental Health Association in Essex County, Inc.

05/01/2026

More than 1 in 4 adults with serious mental health conditions also experience a substance use issue. These two are often part of the same story. Whole-person care addresses both. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4mXZXUF

04/29/2026

Mental health conditions are medical conditions, and people living with them are more than a diagnosis. This , let’s lead with understanding. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4eSeaAc

04/22/2026

🌎💚 This Earth Day, let’s remember: a healthier planet supports healthier minds. 🌱✨ Take a moment to care for the world around you — and yourself, too. If you or someone you know needs support, help is here 24/7. 📞💙
Call now: 1-800-440-8074
🔗 https://bit.ly/49sXNHa

04/15/2026

✨ Hope. Support. Recovery. Community. 💙
Looking for mental health support in Essex County? The Mental Health Association offers programs like Outreach, Care Coordination, Community Centers, Self Help, Supported Housing, Employment support, and more 🌟🤝🏡

Take the next step today—reach out, learn more, and find the support that fits you best. 📞💬
🔗 https://bit.ly/4s4DJ3Z

Explore Our Mental Health Programs and Services in Essex County, NY, from Outreach and Community Centers to Supported Housing.

04/08/2026

When we watch the game, we don’t always see what’s happening behind the scenes. Every athlete carries their own story—moments of strength and moments of struggle.

Thank you, Lauren Betts, for sharing yours. Your honesty is a powerful reminder that mental health challenges can affect anyone, and that reaching out for help is a courageous and life-saving step. 💙
At NAMI NYS, we believe no one should face these moments alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available—and help is always within reach.



shared from NAMI New York State

Lauren Betts on the day she sought out help for her depression: “I don’t think I even realized I was sinking. The whole time I thought I was treading water, I was actually slipping away. Picture yourself underwater, facing up toward the sky and just…. fading. Fading, until you can no longer see the surface. Fading, until you finally reach the darkest part of the ocean. That was me.

It happened so randomly. About two years ago, after months of feeling kind of numb, I woke up one morning feeling everything. Every anxious thought I’d ever had about myself hit me all at once. My anxiety was at an all-time high. My mind said, I don’t want to do this anymore.

‘This,’ meaning life.

I had probably been depressed for six months. It all started at the end of my freshman year at Stanford. Then when I transferred to UCLA, there was hype around my name, and I just never dealt with my emotions. Gradually, it became really bad, until I started drowning.

That morning, I knew the headspace that I was in was too dangerous to ignore. I’d never felt so scared in my entire life. I don’t want to do this anymore…. That horrible thought kept popping up in my mind. I couldn’t go back to my day-to-day and just pretend like nothing happened. I felt like there was no other option but to go to a hospital. I was just like, There’s no other way out. Either I’m going there, or I’m doomed. I was desperate. I called my trainer at the time, and they came and picked me up.

That afternoon, I checked myself into the UCLA hospital. I remember there weren’t even enough rooms because there were so many people in the psych ward who also desperately needed help. So, I was put in the hallway, with people screaming and shouting all night. I didn’t get any sleep. I just laid on that gurney wondering how my teammates were doing. The whole experience was really hard. I was a hot mess. Doctors checked in on me throughout the day. People came to visit, and I begged them to take me home. I was not happy. The food is terrible. You don’t have your phone, you don’t have anything — you’re just laying there, alone with your thoughts. If you’re in a bad headspace and you really need professional help, please go and take care of yourself because it is the BEST option over doing something else. But I never want to go back.

More than anything, though, I just never want to feel that low again. I want to be HERE, experiencing life, in all its beauty and all its messiness, for a really really long time. But I know now how thin that line is between having your whole future ahead of you, and not.

All it takes is one really bad morning.”

📸: Kyusung Gong

Read the full story: playerstribu.ne/Betts

04/05/2026

💗 There is hope. You are not alone. 🤝✨
If you or someone you know needs support right now, call or text 988 📱 or chat with the 988 Lifeline 💬🫶
Take a second to save this, share it, and help someone find support when they need it most. 🔁💙

🔗 https://bit.ly/49sXNHa

04/01/2026

🍃💙 April is Alcohol Awareness Month 💛🖤
A reminder that help and resources are available — and reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. 🤝✨ If you or someone you love needs support, take the first step today. 📲💬

Tap the link to learn more and get connected: 🔗 https://bit.ly/4s4DJ3Z

03/26/2026

💙 There is no shame in asking for help. Your mental health matters, and support is a sign of strength, not weakness. 🫶✨
Take the first step today—reach out, check in, and remind someone they are not alone. 📲💬

🔗 https://bit.ly/49sXNHa

03/18/2026

💛✨ Vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s courage, growth, and real strength. 💪🫶
Let’s change the way we talk about mental health and remind each other that opening up is powerful. 🌿💬

👇 Join the conversation and share what strength looks like to you.
🔗 https://bit.ly/49sXNHa

03/13/2026

Employment Opportunity‼
Position: Receptionist

Location: 6096 NYS Rt 9N, Westport, NY 12993
Starting Pay: $16.00
Posting Date: 3/13/2026

Position Summary:
The Receptionist serves as the first point of contact for visitors, clients, and staff. This role is responsible for managing the front desk, answering incoming calls, checking in mail daily, providing administrative support to ensure efficient office operations and other clerical duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Professional demeanor and customer service focus
• Basic computer and office software skills
• Ability to multitask and stay organized in a busy environment
• Previous receptionist or administrative experience preferred

** Valid driver's license required. **

If interested, please submit an updated resume to:

brandy@mhainessex.org

03/12/2026

🗣️💙 Break the silence. Ignite change. 💚
Your story matters—and sharing it can inspire hope, connection, and healing. Join the conversation and help make mental health visible.