Main image courtesy of KCRW. 

You do not need to suffer alone. If you believe you are suffering from anxiety and/or depression, or any other mental health related issue, talk with a mental health professional today.

If you are near the Lowell, Massachusetts area here are 2 of the anxiety and depression treatment resources coming in 2023.

• Northeast Health Services - member of Transformations Care Network 
• Middlesex County Restoration Center

Now let’s take a deeper dive into each of these treatment resources to see what each one is about. This way, we can see what sets them apart so you can choose the right place for you. If either of these places may not be the right fit, don’t worry there are lots of other preexisting mental health treatment resources out there. 

Northeast Health Services

The exact location of the Lowell, Massachusetts office of Northeast Health Services has yet to be announced. As a member of the Transformations Care Network, the Northeast Health Services, their mission is to transform lives through high quality, easily accessible mental health care. 

The staff at Northeast Health Services follows a collaborative approach meaning they work in teams to share ideas and lessons learned, that way they can become the best clinicians possible and provide the best possible care. 

They offer care for mental health conditions other than anxiety and depression, including:

• Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD)
• PTSD
• Postpartum depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia 
• Sleep Disorders
• Schizophrenia
• And more…

The staff at Northeast Health Services knows that medication can sometimes help make one’s mental wellness journey a success. This is why they make sure the local communities have a full spectrum of behavioral health services.

The types of appointments they offer include virtual and in-person, that way they can best meet your needs and schedule. They also accept most of the major insurances, and their talented intake team can help you navigate getting to your first appointment. If you already have a therapist, that’s great because they can work with your current treatment team to make sure that any medication needed is managed in a collaborative way. 

They care about you and want to provide you with the best possible care to meet your needs, so you can live a healthier and happier life. They offer lots of locations around the Massachusetts area with more coming soon, including one at Lowell. 

Feel free to look into Northeast Health Services to learn more about what they offer.

Middlesex County Restoration Center

This behavioral health center is a creation of the Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission. The Commission is a group of 13 members that is chaired by the Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian and Dr. Danna Mauch, who is the President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health. These members were tasked by the Massachusetts Legislature to pilot a program in order to create a restoration center in Middlesex County. 

This center will provide behavioral health services to individuals in mental health or substance use crises. The idea is that this center will help law enforcement diversionary efforts across one of New England’s most populous counties. This will divert individuals with behavioral health conditions from arrest or unnecessary hospitalization. 

Since this Center is still in the planning stage, there is not a lot of information out there about it at this time. However, if you would like to learn more about what the Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission is, visit here. If you would like to learn more about the plans for the Restoration Center itself visit this page. 

Why Mental Health Treatment Resources Matters

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health and some of the time when people hear the term healthy they tend to focus on physical health. However, there are people that suffer from debilitating mental health struggles that are just as bad as some physical ailments. 

Consequences If There is a Lack of Treatment

These mental health conditions/problems can make life unbearable for those who have them. If treatment is delayed or they are not treated, then it can lead to a wider effect on society as a whole. Some consequences that can happen if these mental health issues go untreated or treatment is delayed includes:

• Mood disorders - like depression and bipolar disorder are the third most common reason for hospitalization for patients between 18 - 44 years old
• 37 percent of students suffering from a mental health issue drop out of high school 
• Serious mental illness costs the United States about $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year
• And more…

Take Care Of Your Mental Health

Mental Health encompasses your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. This is because it affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others. Self-care can play a big role when maintaining your mental health and it can help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental health condition. This is why caring for your mental health is so important. 

Why Self-Care Matters

Before we get into why self-care matters, we first have to know what self-care is. Self-care is taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve your mental and physical health. 

While modern remedies such as eye movement desensitization and red light therapy for anxiety and depression are found helpful, practicing good self-care is the most effective when it comes to your mental health. It can help you manage your stress, lower your risk of illness, as well as increase your energy. Even taking a small amount of time daily that is dedicated to self-care can greatly impact your life. 

Some helpful tips to practicing self-care include:

• Getting regular exercise   
• Eating healthy, regular meals and staying hydrated
• Making your sleep a priority
• Trying a relaxing activity
• Setting goals and priorities
• Practicing gratitude
• Focusing on positivity
• Staying connected to friends and family

Now keep in mind that self-care is going to look different for everyone and it is so important to find what works best for you. It may not be the same things that work for someone else and that is okay. Remember though that self-care is not a cure for mental health illnesses. However, understanding what causes and/or triggers your mild symptoms, as well as what coping mechanisms work for you, can be beneficial in helping you manage your mental health.

Conclusion

Here are the two new anxiety and depression treatment resources coming to Lowell in 2023. There is not a ton of information out yet about these places at this moment, but feel free to check out the links to learn more about them as time goes on. 

Keep in mind, you do not have to suffer alone since there are people out there that care about your mental well-being. Even starting a conversation with your friends or family can help get you on the right path towards helping your mental health if you are struggling. Self-care can be so beneficial to helping you better manage your mental health.