As a helping heart for our communities, we share tips through our blog on managing mental health struggles and connecting with disability services.
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Stay Aware, Be Prepared With Suicide Prevention Resources
As a parent, friend, neighbor or community member, there are a variety of things you can do to be aware of suicide warning signs among the people you see and interact with on a frequent basis. When we know the signs, we can work together to find solutions and help before it’s too late. Trust Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS) to be an everyday resource for Iowans when it comes to mental health challenges and crisis intervention.
09.21.2023
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How do you comfort someone who is struggling with mental health?
When you struggle with mental health, it can be really difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel, to feel like you have any control over your life, or to know where to go for mental health support. Friends and family may also feel powerless and uncertain how to help someone who is struggling with mental health.
09.15.2023
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Iowans know — and use — the national 988 number
Over the course of a year, more than 31,000 Iowans utilized the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, according to Foundation 2 Crisis Services and CommUnity Crisis Services, two Iowa agencies contracted with the state Department of Health and Human Services to field calls from across the state. That’s more than double the 12,000 calls a year the agencies have received, on average, in past years.
08.18.2023
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Tony shares the gift of connection.
“Heart of Iowa (HICS) stepped in. I lived here for six months as a resident, then I stayed one month on as a resident advisor and helped the other residents. Then once I graduated the program, two weeks later I came to work here,” Tony said. “I’ve been sober ever since. Now I look at it as all those rock bottoms that I hit all the time, my higher power, my guide saved me. He kept me alive for a reason. I think that reason is to do this. To help other people, to be here, to share my story. To show them how recovery can work and what you can get out of recovery when you do the right things and you make the right decisions.”
07.21.2023
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What are community-based activities for mental health?
Erasing the stigma and stereotypes that surround mental health is no easy task, but it’s necessary as more than 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. are estimated to suffer from some form of mental illness. Facilities like Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS) can help guide individuals on their path to better mental health, but unfortunately, only about 40% of people seek mental health support.
07.14.2023
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LEARN ABOUT, EMBRACE THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY
June 19, or Juneteenth, is the nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
06.19.2023
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John breaks barriers with help from Heart of Iowa Community Services.
Sometimes a little help can go a long way to bring someone out of their shell. Jordan Tarin is a service coordinator for Heart of Iowa Community Services (HICS). “When I first met John, we had a meeting at our office, and John, at the time, had lived with his grandma and grandpa. He had just graduated from high school, and they were trying to figure out next steps for John,” said Jordan.
05.23.2023
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What are mental health crisis resources?
Any person can experience mental health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25% of adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness.
05.15.2023