b'I NEED SOMEBODY!HELP!FINDING MENTAL HEALTH HELP CAN BE CHALLENGING. A NEW MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATION LINE MAKES IT EASIER.By Vanita Halliburton | ContributorHello, Mrs. Halliburton. This is the eighth-grade school coun- to find it or who to ask for recommendations. selor. Im calling about your son. It seems he has been cuttingI could have asked anyone for a referral to a doctor or den-himself lately, and I think you will want to get some help for himtista friend, neighbor, co-worker, family member, or another right away. Do you know a therapist or psychiatrist? parentbut this was a mental health issue. The stigma around mental illness pulled me instinctively toward silence and se-This was the call I received from my sons middle school onecrecy. sunny day when I was 1,000 miles from home on a businessI did not want to confide to anyone that my child had a mental trip. I was stunned. I remember stepping out of a meeting tohealth issue, that he was hurting himself on the outside because take the call, and when I hung up, I sat down on a curb andhe was hurting so much on the inside.cried. I didnt know what else to do.Finally, I dug up the name of a therapist I barely knew but heard The fact is, I didnt even know what cutting was. The counsel- speak at a meeting once. She turned out to be a wonderful pro-or said it was a type of self-harm that was linked to emotionalfessional who helped my son manage his chronic depression pain. Emotional pain? How was it possible that my carefree,over the next five years.beautiful boy could seem so happy on the outside while silent- That was 18 years ago. The truth is, there is still a great deal of ly struggling on the inside?This young teen who lit up everystigma around mental illness.People are still reluctant to speak room and kept everyone laughing with his antics and wit? Iup when they need help for anxiety, depression, addiction, eat-couldnt fathom it. ing disorders, and other mental health conditions. People still I knew we needed to find help for him. However, I found myselfdont know where to turn for information, referrals or guidance facing an unexpected dilemma. for mental health treatment. Stigma remains one of the primary I had no idea what kind of help we needed, let alone wherebarriers to seeking mental health treatment.Continued on next pageGoodLifeFamilyMag.comMAY | JUNE 201961'