HUMAN INTEREST STORIES

Mental Health Matters: findhelp.org

by Jeanni Ritchie

findhelp.org

Help is always available…. you just have to know where to find it.

I’d been searching for help shortly after I moved back to Alexandria in 2023, so distraught about the lack of available resources that I fired off an email to incoming governor Jeff Landry demanding a reply. Why have lists of physicians and mental health providers on the state’s Medicaid site when over 90% either weren’t taking low-income patients or wouldn’t return your calls? It was infuriating.  

A few months later, after I’d navigated my mental health roller coaster journey alone and finally reached the other side, I was sent to cover the Community Fair at Alexandria Senior High. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was about and had been flabbergasted when I walked in a cafeteria jam-packed with tables of free resources for residents of all ages. Cenla Pregnancy Center, Central LA AHEC, United Way, Eckerd Connects…

There were so many organizations out there and I’d had no idea most even existed. Many others didn’t either which is precisely why the community event was held. Putting local resources in the hands of Cenla citizens was vital.

On a nationwide scale is the website findhelp.org. When you enter your zip code on the homepage you will see a menu of areas of assistance: Food, Housing, Goods, Transit, Health, Money, Care, Education, Work, and Legal.

Each of these categories has subcategories. Through the Health link, you get 9 areas including addiction, dental care, and mental health.

Mental health care narrows it down even more into 15 subcategories including anger management, group therapy, and bereavement. Each has the number of resources available and when you click the topic you get the list of resources, a map, and all contact info including addresses, phone numbers, and websites.

It is a Rolodex of resources curated for your area. Suffering in silence isn’t strength; it’s foolishness.

No one is an island; bridges are built when we ask for help- Unknown

Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

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