Mental Health Emergency Services (serving all ages)
- Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services: (716) 834-3131
- Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) Emergency room evaluation and linkage to outpatient extended care: (716) 898-3456
Non-Emergency Services
- Erie County Department of Senior Services Information and Assistance Case Management (link to community based services): (716) 858-8526
What is Wellness?
Wellness is a positive approach to living - an approach that emphasizes the whole person. It is the integration of the body, mind, and spirit; and the appreciation that everything you do, think, feel, and believe has an impact on your state of health. Click for more information on Wellness
What is Mental Health & Wellness?
According to the American Heritage® Medical Dictionary mental health - wellness is a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life.
Mental wellness can be negatively influenced by:
- Biological factors - changes in the central nervous system, medications, illnesses and family history
- Social environment - losses, traumatic events, stress and low economic status
Mental wellness is promoted through:
- Physical activity
- Good nutrition
- Adequate rest and sleep
- Stress reduction
- An optimistic attitude that can include humor, creativity and faith
- Optimal medication management
- Emotionally enriched environments
For those who want to make their later years their best, maintaining mental wellness is essential, both for themselves and for those who live with and/or care for them.
What is Mental Illness?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.
With appropriate effective medication and a wide range of services tailored to their needs, most people who live with serious mental illnesses can significantly reduce the impact of their illness and find a satisfying measure of achievement and independence. A key concept is to develop expertise in developing strategies to manage the illness process.
Click to find out more about specific illnesses
For more Mental Illness information go to: NAMI's Fact Sheet
Other Important Agencies and Phone Numbers