Mental Health Month – Resources for Special Populations

May is Mental Health Month Awareness Month. In recognition of this, the EAP is offering a series of posts about mental health resources and options for help.  This week, we discuss resources for special populations.

The EAP is here to help all employees and immediate family household members with mental health needs. In addition, there are some groups who may have some unique risk factors, that make them more susceptible to mental health complications, or who interface less with the medical system. This may be related to things such as:

• Stigma
• Cultural barriers or norms
• Outreach & engagement deficits

For complete information, visit our page on Mental Health & Diverse Populations. Below we offer some resources tailored for some of the most at-risk populations:

Pregnant Women & New Moms

Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth may experience baby blues. This is not unusual and usually resolves without intervention. Others may develop post-partum depression (PPD) which often requires professional help. Many women experience shame because they don’t feel joy during what society tells us should be a joyous occasion. It’s important for moms and those who care about them to know the signs of possible post-partum depression and to understand that PPD is a common and treatable condition. For more information, please refer to these resources:

• EAP Supports for Pregnant Women & New Moms
• EAP News Feature – Understanding Postpartum Mental Health

Children & Teens

Children and teens seem to have a lot to cope with these days. Many lost ground during the Pandemic and are dealing with stress from multiple sources, such as social media, school, extracurricular activities and fitting in. The result is higher levels of anxiety and depression. The EAP is here to help both parents and kids navigate the challenges they face. For more information, please refer to these resources:

• EAP Mental Health & Substance Use Resources for Parents & Kids
• Helping Adolescents Manage Anxiety

LGBTQ+

For a variety of reasons, particularly stigma, members of the LGBTQ+ communities may be at greater risk for mental health issues. According to recent SAMHSA surveys, Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are more likely than straight adults to use substances, experience mental health conditions including major depressive episodes, and experience serious thoughts of suicide. Risk is also higher for LGBTQ+ youth, with NAMI reporting that young people in these populations are more than twice as likely to report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness than their heterosexual peers. For further support, please refer to these resources:

• LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources

Veterans

Veterans are at particular risk for negative outcomes with mental health (depression, PTSD) and substance use issues. They are at very high risk of suicide in comparison with the general population. This is due in part to stresses related to stress on deployment separation from loved ones, and cultural norms about seeking and accepting help. MGB has a wonderful and helpful resource – the MGH Home Base Program. Below are some other resources to support our veterans and families.

• EAP Veteran Mental Health Resources
• Helping Veterans and Families with Invisible Injuries: It’s Ok not to be OK

Find our previous Mental Health Month features here:

• Understanding the Therapy Experience
• Treatment Modalities 
• Help with Getting a Mental Health Referral