There are many reasons why someone may have difficulties when trying to reach out for help. The most obvious reason is the general stigma around mental health and its care. Most people feel as though it's shameful to require help at all, not just for mental health. It can be hard to muster up the courage to recognize when you need help and then ask for it.
Eventually, many people gain the support they need to pick up the phone and call their local mental health care facility. However, there are cases where someone may not be able to reach out for help by phone due to factors beyond their control. For example, some are deaf or hard of hearing. Someone may have difficulties speaking or have auditory processing issues. Others just may have anxiety severe enough to make using a phone a painful and distressing process.
When someone chooses to reach out for help, it should not be a painful experience. Pathways Wellness Center offers several options for those unable to use or speak through a phone. This is because everyone deserves help, not just those who can make a phone call.
Believe it or not, someone can make the call for you if you need help. This is done by choosing an advocate, a person who you love and trust. Usually, this is a parent or a sibling, but it can also be other family members or a very close friend. You will need to be close by, so pick a convenient time for you and your advocate to make the call together. This is because specific information will be needed by staff that only you would know.
It's advised to have some sort of writing implement with you, such as a pen and paper or a writing app to jot down any important information given to you through your advocate. Some important information to have at hand is your medical insurance card, prescription medications that are currently being taken (as a treatment for a medical condition), and questions for your advocate to ask on your behalf.
It may take time to get the information passed between yourself, your advocate, and the staff member on the phone. Be patient, and don't be afraid. The staff at Pathways Wellness Center are understanding and will allow you to take the time you need to get through the call.
Pathways makes it easy to reach out for help by utilizing web forms. If you check the contact page, you will find a web form that you can fill out. This is a form of email that goes directly to the staff. It does require a phone number to submit, but it doesn't have to be your phone number. This phone number should belong to someone with direct and frequent contact with you, such as an advocate or family member. You may also use your own phone number, but you can request to be contacted through email.
With a web form, it only requires access to the internet and a compatible device. Most public spaces, such as cafes and libraries, do offer freely available internet access through WiFi. If you do not have the internet at home, you can travel to these places to connect to the internet. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops are all portable devices that can connect to the internet.
Libraries have computers that can be used by the public with the use of a library card. Library cards are free, allowing internet and computer access through open library hours. They can be used as a place to draft your email before sending it through the web form or to check your email for replies.
Responses are slower compared to a phone call, but most people can respect a reply within a business day at the latest when using email.
If you are still unsure about using a phone or even using email, people are welcome to drop by Pathways Wellness Center in person to speak with a member of our staff. You also do not have to go alone and can bring an advocate with you for support. It's best to arrange a visit ahead of time through a call from an advocate or through a web form. This way, you will be able to tour the facility without causing any disturbances to those currently receiving treatment.
Here you can ask any questions about treatment, addiction, and other mental health topics. If you need special accommodation, please let the staff know. It's also an opportunity to reach out for help while face-to-face with another person. Tell the staff that you are struggling and need help. Then, the staff member can guide you through the process of enrollment or even start enrollment right away.
Remember that you will never be forced to go into treatment, only encouraged. Much of the staff at Pathways Wellness Center are in recovery, so they once were in your very shoes. They might have felt how you are feeling now, wondering what will happen next. You can be confident, though, that they will take your request for help seriously and will do what they can to make the process comfortable.
Pathways Wellness Center does its absolute best to make addiction treatment accessible to everyone. That includes yourself and those you love.
For some people, it's easy to pick up the phone and make a call. For others, it can cause feelings of anxiety or even be physically impossible. However, a phone call is not the only way a person can contact a mental health care facility. Here at Pathways Wellness Center in Glendora, California, we understand that some of our clients may have difficulties using the phone. As a result, we make it easy for someone to contact us as long as they can access the internet or have a way to travel. If you have a loved one who needs help and can't use the phone, call us today at (888) 771-0966 for advice on what to do next.
