The holiday season can be full of fun things to do. However, many people also struggle with mental health or substance use during this time.
It can be hard to face the holidays, especially if you have had a recent loss or major life stressor. Other people might:
- Feel lonely.
- Get stressed around certain family members.
- Feel overwhelmed with the things they need to get done.
If any of these situations sound like you, you are not alone. Are you feeling sad, anxious, depressed or struggling with substance use? This could be a good time to start getting behavioral health care.
If you are an Alliance member, there are services you can get for mental health and substance use.
What can I get support for?
Here are some behavioral health concerns you can get help with:
- Anger.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Developmental issues.
- Difficulty coping with life changes, frustration and stress.
- Drug or alcohol use.
- Exercise and eating.
- Grief and loss.
- Stress.
- Trauma.
If you or a family member is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988. For more information on this service, visit the website for 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you are having a health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Mental health and how to get help
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that over one in five American adults live with a mental illness. According to a 2014 study, 64% of people with mental illness say that the holidays make their conditions worse.
Don’t wait to get help. Medi-Cal members can get mental health care through our partner, Carelon Behavioral Health. There are many services that Carelon can help you get. This includes individual, family or group therapy. There are services for children, teens and adults.
There are many services that Carelon can help you get. This includes individual, family or group therapy. There are services for children, teens and adults.
Call Carelon at 855-765-9700 (TTY: Dial 711). You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call, Carelon can help you:
- Understand your mental health benefits.
- Find mental health providers in your area.
- Make an appointment.
Substance use and how to get help
For substance use services, you can contact your county’s behavioral health department directly:
| County | 24-hour Phone Number | Main Address |
| Merced | 888-334-0163 | 301 E. 13th St. Merced, CA 95340 |
| Monterey | 888-258-6029 | 1200 Aguajito Road Monterey, California, 93940 |
| Santa Cruz | 800-952-2335 | 1400 Emeline Avenue, Bldg. K. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 |
Learn more about services on our behavioral health page.
Resources
These articles have tips for managing your holiday stress.
- Keeping Holiday Stress at Bay – Carelon Behavioral Health.
- Tips for parents on managing holiday stress – American Psychological Association.
This holiday season, you may be doing a lot of things for other people. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! It is okay to ask for help.
From all of us at the Alliance, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
