EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Suicide Watch and Wellness Foundation is on a mission to help with mental health. This Mississippi-based nonprofit hopes to eventually expand its physical locations across the country, but for now, it’s offering assistance as much as it can — over the phone.
The group operates on donations, trying to provide therapists to help people with limited insurance options or other barriers to getting care. Their physical location in Canton offers art classes, pet therapy, and other therapy classes.
The organization was co-founded by Misha Mck, an actress and performer, who told ABC-7 she hopes Texas and other states will see brick-and-mortar locations in the coming years.
She and her husband founded the organization after a New York bus driver casually mentioned how many people have committed suicide on a bridge while crossing it. They have tried to identify ways to be able to provide direct support to those who need it.
As a result, Misha says the Foundation hopes to start conversations about mental health through television programs, providing physical support and listening to people with concerns. Specifically, they hope to teach and educate about watching for signs of mental difficulties in all groups – and how to talk and interact with someone facing these challenges.
“We believe it is impossible to prevent suicide without monitoring the signs that push people over the edge, leading to suicide and mental illness.” their website states. One of the group’s main concerns is reducing the stigma surrounding these topics.
Misha says people can contact the Suicide Watch and Wellness Foundation no matter where they are. They can be contacted onlineor by telephone at (601)882-3441.
If you need immediate mental health care, contact 988, the national hotline against suicide and crises — which is staffed 24/7 to offer assistance at any time.
In the El Paso area, there are a number of organizations to contact, including:
- Line 988 has a Veterans Crisis Line
- EHN Crisis Hotline: (915-779-1800) – Locally staffed and long-term resourced in El Paso, Emergence Health Network’s hotline has specialists ready to listen to you.
- Emergency Health Network – EHN is able to offer many different forms of support for mental health and wellbeing. From pet therapy to addiction treatment.
- NAMI-El Paso – As part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, some options are listed on their website for support and connection. NAMI focuses on supporting anyone suffering from any type of mental illness.
- In NEW MEXICOyou can contact the CRISIS AND ACCESS LINE HAS 855-662-7474.
It is important to note that these are just tools and that assisted suicide includes multiple forms of help. According to the American Psychological Association, psychological support can be a very important factor in preventing future attempts.
Avery Martinez covers mental health in the Borderland as part of ABC-7’s Be Mindful initiative. He is also a Report for America corps member. RFA places talented, emerging journalists in newsrooms like ABC-7’s to report on undercovered issues and communities. Report for America is an initiative of the GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to rebuilding journalism from the ground up..