Mental Health Resources

When we talk about Mental Health we are talking about our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. How we think effects how we feel and how we act. When considering our overall health, mental health is just as important as physical health. Having poor mental health can increase the risk for many physical health problems like diabetes, heart disease and stroke, just as the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

We all know that following a healthy diet and exercise plan helps us to stay physically healthy, but do you know what it takes to stay mentally healthy? Meditation in the morning has proven to be successful as it sets the right tone for the day and helps you be in the right mindset when stressors hit. Prayer is also a great self-reflection and meditation method I personally utilize. I find it helpful in taking care of my mental and spiritual health. 

Creating a selfcare regime will do wonders in all aspects of your life. Whether you are looking for tips to improve your current mental state or just want to take your health to the next level. Seeing someone like me, a certified health coach, can make a big difference in your success rate with not just diet and exercise, but can also with prioritizing self-care and learning how to better manage stress.

Below is a small list of resources I like to share with clients that want to incorporate more meditation, mindfulness or breathing techniques into their lives. I have also included and a few of the great resources we have locally here in Richmond if you want to talk to someone about mental health concerns.

Meditation and self-care apps:

Calm - The #1 meditation app

Headspace - Tips for starting meditation, getting better sleep, stress relief and mindfulness.

Happify - Tools and programs to help you take control of your feelings and thoughts.

Shine - Learn a new self-care strategy every day and explore an audio library of over eight hundred meditations, stories, and sounds.

Mental Health Resources:

Mental Health America of Virginia Warmline 866-400-6428 (M–F 9am–9pm, S-Su 5pm-9pm)

 VA C.O.P.E.S. (Call or Text) 877-349-6428. It stands for Compassionate, Optimistic, Person-centered, Empowering, Support. This service is for all Virginia residents who may be struggling to cope with the effects and circumstances, such as isolation, fear, grief, and anxiety around the pandemic. Counselors are prepared to refer and provide additional info and are available M–F 9am – 9pm, S-Su 5pm-9pm. Spanish-speaking counselors are available. This is not an emergency or suicide hotline.

Greg Anthony is a health coach at WellcomeMD’s clinic in Richmond, VA. Greg earned his bachelor’s and master’ degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and received his certification in stress-management from the Mayo Clinic. His deep experience working with patients that are pre-diabetic, have preeclampsia, borderline high cholesterol and helping clients quit tobacco taught him the first step to any wellness plan is usually stress management.

GREGORY ANTHONY