ST. LOUIS – Care and Counseling, an interfaith agency that provides counseling services to families and individuals in the St. Louis area, announced its events and activities for the observance of National Mental Health Month.
“During 2018, Care and Counseling provided more than 15,000 hours of services to more than 1,300 families in crisis,” Rev. Amy Bertschausen, executive director of Care and Counseling, said. “We were able to underwrite the majority (sometimes the entire) cost of therapy for 215 clients, totaling 2,486 session hours.”
With the month of May being National Mental Health Month, Mental Health of America’s 70th annual May is Mental Health Month theme is Fitness #4Mind4Body.
Touchpoints for 2019’s initiative are:
- animal companionship (including pets and support animals)
- spirituality
- humor
- work-life balance
- recreation and social connections as ways to boost mental health and general wellness
In addition to Care and Counseling, other local and national organizations and affiliates will focus on what individuals can do to be more fit for their own futures, “no matter where we happen to be on our own personal journeys to health and wellness.”
For National Mental Health Month, Care and Counseling has planned a variety of events and activities to bring awareness of mental health issues to the residents, organizations, and companies in the St. Louis region.
Events/Activities include:
Monday, May 13th-19th: National Mental Health Awareness Week
Care and Counseling will be posting information highlighting this year’s theme: Fitness #4Mind4Body and will have experts in the field available for interviews
Friday, May 17th: Meet & Greet with Care and Counseling Executive Director Rev. Amy Bertschausen at “Breakfast with Amy”
Join Care and Counseling’s Executive Director Rev. Amy Bertschausen as she talks about nurturing our kids’ mental health.
Wednesday, May 29th: Free Confidential Mental Health Screenings
Care and Counseling is partnering with St. Luke’s Episcopal and will be providing therapists to conduct screenings at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (444 Brightfield Trail, Ballwin, Mo. 63021). Those wishing to be screened can schedule a free, confidential mental health screening with one of Care and Counseling’s professionals. Call (314) 878-4340 or email gfromme@careandcounseling.org to schedule a screening from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. NOTE: available screening times will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sundays in May: Mental Health Awareness Sundays
A Mental Health Awareness Sunday is a way for individuals’ place of worship or faith community to begin or continue to provide education and support to their members around mental health issues and challenges and to raise awareness that Care and Counseling is part of their community’s mental health network.
Contact Care and Counseling at (314) 878-4340 to set up a Mental Health Awareness Sunday. The organization’s Executive Director, or a licensed therapist, will be available to speak to Adult Ed, Spiritual Formation, or Life Groups on timely mental health.
“Supporting mental health in our community, particularly for those who would not otherwise have access, is a wise investment in our community,” Bertschausen said. “Our goal in 2019 is to provide therapy for 250 individuals through 3,200 session hours, subsidized through the Client Assistance Fund.”