Oklahoma Highlights Mental Health Resources During Suicide Prevention Month

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — September is National Suicide Prevention and Recovery Awareness Month. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is reminding Oklahomans of the mental health resources available to them.

“It’s just really exciting for our agency to come together with the community and really just remove the stigma that’s been placed on mental health” ODMHSAS Chief of Staff, Sasha Teel said.

According to ODMHSAS, nearly 300,000 Oklahomans face substance use disorders each year, and every week about 300 people in Oklahoma are admitted for urgent care or crisis mental health services.

Teel told Fox25, Covid played a big factor in a rise in mental health struggles.

“It is a growing, continuing number which is very sad but it’s something that we’re also addressing,” she said. “And, we’re starting to see a trend downwards.”

The 988 Mental Health Lifeline was relaunched two years ago nationwide. It is available 24/7 for anyone facing a mental health challenge.

“We are getting the calls and directing the people to the right level of care,” Teel said. “988 is not just if I am to the point of mental health crisis. It can be that maybe I’m just feeling a certain way, and I need someone to talk to.”

“It’s just like anything. When you go to get treated because maybe you have a bad headache. You should go get treated when you feel depressed or you feel anxious or you have any thoughts of harm,” Teel said.

ODMHSAS is hosting a series of events and activities this month in an effort to raise awareness about the resources available.