Mental Health & Resources | Frequent Mental Health Distress in HVHD | HVHD Service Spotlights | HVHD News and Updates
| HVHD Events | Recipe Highlight
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, reducing stigma, and encouraging individuals to seek support. Mental health is essential to overall well-being, impacting our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Prioritizing mental health can help prevent serious conditions, improve quality of life, and support resilience.
Why Mental Health Matters
Mental health conditions are common and affect people of all ages. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year. While some may face temporary challenges, others live with chronic conditions that require ongoing care and support.
Factors that influence mental health include:
✔️ Biological factors: genetics, hormones, brain chemistry, physical health
✔️ Life experiences: trauma, stress, resilience
✔️ Access to healthcare: insurance coverage, affordability, availability, cultural competency
✔️ Social support: family and friends who can help cope with stress and promote well-being
Addressing mental health early can lead to better outcomes, highlighting the importance of awareness, education, and accessible services.
Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources available:
🔷 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) – Provides research-based mental health information and resources.
🔗 www.nimh.nih.gov
🔷 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Offers a national helpline (1-800-662-HELP) for mental health and substance use support.
🔗 www.samhsa.gov
🔷 Mental Health America (MHA) – Provides online mental health screenings and support tools.
🔗 www.mhanational.org
🔷 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for free, 24/7, confidential support for anyone in distress.
🔗 988lifeline.org
Mental Health in HVHD: Frequent Mental Distress in 2024
Mental health is an important part of overall well-being, and data helps us understand how our communities are doing. The latest CDC PLACES 2024 data shows the percentage of adults experiencing frequent mental distress (feeling mentally unwell for 14 or more days in a month) in towns across the Housatonic Valley Health District (HVHD).Here’s what the data shows for 2024: New Milford – 14.8% Oxford – 14.1% Washington – 13.8% Woodbury – 13.5% Sharon – 12.9% Southbury – 11.8%These numbers highlight the need for mental health support and awareness in our community. Frequent mental distress can be linked to stress, anxiety, depression, and other health concerns. Seeking help early and staying connected with family, friends, and support services can make a big difference. |
HVHD Service Spotlights
Emergency Preparedness Spotlight: Wireless Emergency Alerts
When there is an emergency, whether it be weather related, pandemics, or amber alerts, public safety officials use timely and reliable systems to alert you. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency alerts for services such as the National Weather Service, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and for the President of the Unites States to address the nation. Go to Ready.gov then click on Emergency Alerts to find out more information and how you can start receiving alerts on your phone.
Environmental Health Spotlight:
Do Your Part – Be Septic Smart!: A Homeowners’ Guide to Septic Systems
Whether you are moving into a new home with a septic system or looking for a refresher on how to best care for your property, maintaining your septic system is good for your wallet, good for your health, and good for the environment. Click here for more information on how to properly maintain your septic system and avoid flushing thousands of dollars down the drain.
Environmental Health Webinar:
Join HVHD and RCAP Solutions for a webinar on “Water Quality and Your Private Well”. The webinar will cover topics like PFAS, private wells and well types, water quality and testing, CT DPH certified water testing labs, and septic maintenance information! Register here to join us at 6pm on June 4th!
Public Health Updates:
Measles Resources and Advisories
CT DPH provided “Measles Resources and Advisories” on April 11, 2025.
Click here to read more…
HVHD Adds Restaurant Inspections to Online Archives
Look at restaurant inspections in HVHD towns online.
Click here to search for restaurant inspections by town…
HVHD Events: May 2025
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Virtual Narcan & QPR Training
Virtual Narcan & QPR Training
Join HVHD’s Public Health Nurses for Narcan and QPR training from the comfort of your home on Saturday, May 10th from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Click here to register.
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Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training
Join HVHD’s Public Health Nurse, Heidi Bettcher for a Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training on May 20th from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm at the Woodbury Senior Center. Attendees will learn how to recognize warning signs of suicide, increase awareness of mental health, and know how to offer hope.
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Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training
Join HVHD’s Public Health Nurse, Heidi Bettcher for a Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training on May 22nd from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm at the Oxford Senior Center. Attendees will learn how to recognize warning signs of suicide, increase awareness of mental health, and know how to offer hope.
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Recipe Highlight: Tuna Nicoise in Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
Servings 8 Serving Size 2 lettuce cups
- 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (lowest sodium available)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dillweed, crumbled
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 5-ounce can very low sodium chunk light tuna, packed in water, drained, and flaked
- 16 large Bibb lettuce leaves (about 2 heads)
- 2 tablespoons chopped black olives
- Whites of 2 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 4 cherry tomatoes, sliced
Directions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the onion, vinegar, mustard, oil, dillweed, sugar, and pepper. Stir in the tuna. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the tuna mixture onto each lettuce leaf. Top, in order, with the olives, egg whites, and tomatoes.
- To eat as a wrap, fold the left and right sides of the lettuce leaf toward the center. Starting from the unfolded side closest to you, roll the wrap towards the remaining unfolded side to enclose the filling.
Quick Tips
Cooking Tip: To hard-boil the eggs, place them in a small saucepan. Cover with cold water by 1 to 2 inches. Bring to a full boil. Remove from the heat. Let the pan stand, covered, for 15 minutes. Tap the egg and/or roll it on a flat surface to crack the shell. Peel the eggs under cool running water to easily release the white from the shell.
