The following is the author’s opinion and analysis.
Justin Chase
New Year’s resolutions come and go. No matter what resolutions we make to ourselves to improve ourselves, the reality is that only about 5% of people stick with them by this point.
But when it comes to mental health, it’s essential to prioritize it for your overall emotional and physical health. Especially this time of year. At Solari Crisis Human Services, calls to his 844-534-HOPE and 988 crisis lines increased last January from his December, reaching 22% and 10%, respectively. This trend is expected to continue into 2024, which is why we are calling for proactive measures to support individuals’ mental health.
Seasonal depression is certainly a factor here, but when it comes to mental state, managing daily stressors and life’s demanding schedules and pressures weighs heavily. And it’s a year-round job for all of us.
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At Solari, our approach is based on the belief that creating caring and supportive communities is essential to mental health. With this in mind, we encourage you to consider setting achievable goals to improve your mental health, knowing that Solari is there if you need support. Here are some goals that individuals should strive for this year.
1. Prioritize self-care: Establish daily habits that promote mindfulness, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.
2. Foster connections: Participate in social activities to build meaningful connections and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
3. Manage your online well-being: Create a positive digital space by unfollowing or limiting your use of social accounts that lead to negative self-perceptions, and embracing uplifting and inspirational content. Nurture.
4. Set realistic goals: Break down larger goals into manageable tasks to increase motivation and a sense of accomplishment.
5. Seek professional help: If you need it, seek help from a mental health professional through the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or the Arizona Statewide Crisis Line at 844-534-HOPE . Both offer free and confidential support and connections to resources.
Solari’s Crisis Line, staffed 24/7 by professionally trained crisis professionals in Arizona, has proven to be an invaluable resource. In 2023, he received an average of over 43,000 calls per month and his average response time was less than 10 seconds. Almost 80% of the time, our crisis professionals are only able to stabilize a situation over the phone, which results in a carefully mobile crisis management team being dispatched for in-person assistance. I did.
We want to emphasize that our crisis line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not just for emergencies, but for anyone in difficult situations. Our services go beyond crisis intervention to provide ongoing support and connections to numerous resources.
As a nonprofit organization that provides ongoing support and resources, we rely on the community’s support through major fundraising events like our annual Inspiring Hope Gala this month. Philanthropic support helps keep our vital programs available to people in crisis. I also appreciate people who are able to prioritize their time and financial resources to help others.
Let’s make 2024 the year we don’t just talk about mental health, we prioritize it and celebrate the small victories every day. Set achievable goals and stick to them. However, if you need additional support, Solari will answer your phone calls or text messages as needed. For more mental health resources, visit https://solari-inc.org.
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Justin Chase is CEO of Solari Crisis and Human Services. Solari operates the Arizona Statewide Crisis Line and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
