Mental Health and Wellness

Welcome to the Mental Health and Wellness page! Our Town is very fortunate to host numerous healthy resources ranging from information on walking routes and trails to programs offered by the Health Department. Please join us in our efforts to make Reading a healthier community by using Reading's resources that are highlighted on this page. We hope that residents will learn and benefit from living healthy!

Mental Health

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Call2Talk

Call2Talk is a mental health, emotional support, and suicide prevention program.it operates 24/7 and provides confidential, compassionate listening, survivor grief support programs and community education and outreach.

SIMPLY DIAL 211

211 Services:

  • Basic Human Needs
  • Physical and Mental Health Care
  • Children, Youth and Families
  • Emergency Information
  • Work Initiatives
  • Support for Seniors

24-7 Free-Confidential-Multilingual

www.mass211.org

Feeling overwhelmed? Read the facts below to learn whether it’s stress or anxiety, and what you can do to cope.

Stress

Both Stress and Anxiety

Anxiety 

Generally, is a response to an external cause such as taking a big test or arguing with a friend.

Goes away once the situation is resolved

Can be a positive or negative. For example, it may inspire you to meet a deadline or may cause you to lose sleep.

Stress and anxiety can affect your mind and body. Symptoms may be:

  • Excessive worry
  • Uneasiness
  • Tension
  • Headaches or body pain
  • High blood pressure
  • Loss of sleep

Generally, is internal, meaning it’s your reaction to stress.

Usually involves a persistent feeling of apprehension or dread that doesn’t go away, and that interferes with how you live your life.

Is constant, even if there is no immediate threat.


Ways to cope with stress and anxiety:

  • Keep a journal, exercise and eat healthy (regular meals), stick to a sleep routine, avoiding drinking excessive amounts of caffeine, identify when you are feeling down, reach out to your friends or family who can help you cope.

If you are in immediate distress or are thinking about harming yourself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK(8255). You can also text Crisis Text Line (Hello to 741741) or use the lifeline Chat at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

For more information go to www.nimh.nih.gov 

Substance Use and Mental Health Resources from Police Department and Reading Coalition

https://www.readingma.gov/788/Resources 

MedlinePlus

MedlinePlus provides users with information to better understand their health and diagnosed disorders. Consult with a qualified physician for diagnosis and answers to your personal questions.

What can I find on MedlinePlus?

  • Health topics
  • Drugs, herbs and supplements
  • Health and Surgery Videos 
  • Medical tests
  • Medical Encyclopedia
  • Health Check Tools and Games
  • Easy-to-Read Materials 
  • Multiple languages

And more!

https://medlineplus.gov/ 

Good Mental Health is Ageless

Click Here to learn more from Substance abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)

More Resources

www.nlm.nih.gov

https://interface.williamjames.edu