Mental Wellness Kit Encourages Employers to Focus on Self-Care

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – In an effort to reach as many residents as possible with essential mental health resources, Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is offering a free mental wellness kit to businesses and community groups in Riverside County throughout the month of May in observance of Mental Health Month.

Research indicates mental health challenges affect one in five adults in the United States. During the past year, all of us have had to change our daily routines to navigate challenges brought on by the pandemic. These unprecedented changes have had an impact, small or large, on the mental health of area workers as the lines between work and home life have blurred.

"We know many people do not reach out for support due to feelings of shame or fear of being treated differently and unfairly," said Diana Gutierrez, MS, LMFT, LPCC, Administrative Services Manager, Prevention and Early Intervention, Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health. "While many businesses have access to clinical mental health resources, the pandemic has created an increased need for education and self-care in nearly every population. This kit is designed to help anyone manage more effectively and is available as a free resource to employers focused on employee wellbeing."

The mental wellness kit aims to encourage individuals to make a conscious effort to spend some time on themselves while at home. It includes a mental health journal with updated writing prompts, room for drawing, and helpful tips and suggestions focused on relaxing and unwinding, staying active and remaining connected.

The kit is available as a free resource to Riverside County employees and directly to residents via the It's Up to Us website. Employers who would like a co-branded kit for employee distribution can submit a request "Pursuing overall wellness can help people cope with mental health challenges and is a vital part in the road to recovery," said Gutierrez. "By raising awareness, educating the community, and providing easy access to resources, we hope to initiate change in perception, inspire wellness, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health challenges."

For more information or a list of mental health resources, visit Up2Riverside.org.

If you or someone you care about is in crisis and needs immediate help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. The phone lines are answered by trained professionals; the call is free and confidential. If you need to be connected to mental health services in Riverside County, call the CARES Line at (800) 499-3008. If emergency medical care is needed, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital.

About It's Up to Us

The It's Up to Us campaign is designed to empower individuals in Riverside County to talk openly about mental illness, recognize symptoms, utilize local resources and seek help. By raising awareness, educating the community and providing easy access to local organizations and services, our goal is to initiate change in perception, inspire wellness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health challenges.

This campaign is developed through the Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health and funded by the Mental Health Services Act.

About Riverside University Health System (RUHS) – Behavioral Health
RUHS Behavioral Health is part of Riverside University Health System, which also includes the departments of Community Health Clinics, Public Health and the 439-bed Medical Center in Moreno Valley. RUHS Behavioral Health provides clinical and substance abuse services to more than 60,000 people annually in the nation's tenth most populous county. It operates 50 clinic sites across Riverside County including three mental health urgent care centers and three transitional age youth centers, serving young adults between the ages of 16 and 25. To learn more visit www.rcdmh.org.