Where to find free and reliable mental health resources
WASHINGTON (WJLA) — The pandemic caused a dire mental health crisis. Many therapists are overbooked and some are only accepting cash. That means more people are trying to find ways to cope by relying on purported experts online or on social media.
Iman Khatib, a licensed professional counselor and registered art therapist with Thriveworks in Arlington, Virginia, urges people to do some vetting.
Is this a professional who is just offering their services on an online platform? Do they have the credentials? Meaning that they have the training to actually help you because I do think it’s one thing to be accessible and it’s another thing to be misinformative,” Khatib said.
Just because someone says they’re a mental health professional, doesn’t mean they are. Anyone can say anything on social media.
“Just do some research,” she added.
Bad advice can be unhelpful or even dangerous when it comes to mental health.
There are free resources though.
Many employers offer assistance programs that cover mental health. Khatib recommends students search out resources through their school or college. Religious organizations can also be a place to turn as well.
Watch the entire interview here.
