Mental Health
At UDLC we are committed to removing the stigma from talking about mental health. Below is a list of local and online mental health resources.
Mental Health Awareness Month
At Upper Dublin Lutheran Church we recognize COVID-19 is not the only pandemic we have been living through. There is also a silent pandemic playing out in our communities, schools, homes, churches, and workplaces around mental health. There remains a great deal of stigma and shame associated with mental health, and it can be hard to find and afford the needed assistance. UDLC wants to help shine a light on mental health awareness and support.
Pastor Sarah Lund on "Blessed Youth,” May 9th
Check out the presentation from our first Mental Health Focus by Pastor Sarah Lund. Author of “Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness with Children and Teens,” Sarah speaks to removing the barriers of stigma and shame associated with mental illness in children and teens.
Pastor Emmy Kegler on “All Who Are Weary,” May 25th
Check out the presentation from our second Mental Health Focus by Emmy Kegler. Author of “All Who Are Weary.” Emmy joins the reader on the long walk of reflection, understanding and compassion calling.
Local Therapists
These are local therapists who we personally know and recommend as resources.
Nicole Gannon
Nicole Gannon is a member at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church. Her specialties include Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD. She works with clients on Career Counseling, Codependency, Coping Skills, Domestic Violence, Emotional Disturbance, Family Conflict, Life Transitions, Parenting, Relationship Issues, Self Esteem, Suicidal Ideation, and Women's Issues. Nicole is a great choice for working with teens.
Asha George-Guiser
Rev. Asha George-Guiser is a Lutheran pastor and has a faith-based practice. Dr. Asha George-Guiser has been in practice for over 35 years, providing counseling and therapy for individuals, families, and couples. Her areas of expertise include intimacy and relationship–building, cross–cultural relationships, and integrating Christian spiritual and emotional issues. Dr. George-Guiser also provides spiritual direction and leadership coaching for those seeking direction, meaning, and recovery from work crisis.
Rebecca McDermott
Rebecca McDermott is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist based in Erdenheim. Rebecca has given two presentations at our church on mental wellness and parenting during the pandemic. She works with clients on Conflict Resolution, Connection, Communication, Depression, Relationship Ambivalence, Attachment Style, Anxiety, Substance Use in couples, Parent/Child Relationships, Transitioning to Parenthood, Self-esteem, Empowerment Family of Origin Concerns, and Trauma History
Madeline Leach
Madeline Leach, a Licensed Social Work based in Ft. Washington, and she is Pastor Keith’s therapist. She specializes in addiction, gambling, trauma, and PTSD. She also works with clients on alcohol use, anxiety, codependency, coping skills, depression, drug abuse, dual diagnosis, grief, self-harming, video game addiction, impulse control disorders, and mood disorders
Online Resources
Crisis Resources
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357)-is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s peer support talk line at (855) 715-8255. It is available, free of charge, 7 days a week, 1:00pm to 9:00pm. Montgomery County also has a Teen Talk Line that can be reached by calling 866-825-5856 or texting 215-703-8411. It is available Monday through Friday, 3:00pm to 9:00pm.
Chester County: Valley Creek Crisis Center If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis, call 610-280-3270. The Valley Creek Crisis Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are feeling lonely, depressed or anxious and just want to talk, call Chester County's warm line, 1-866-846-2722. This line is manned by trained individuals in recovery.
Bucks County: If you are in a Crisis situation Call 1-800-499-7455 to speak to a trained crisis worker - Anytime - Day or Night You may also call one of the numbers below: Central and Upper Bucks: 215-345-2273 Lower Bucks: 215-785-9765
Adult and Children’s Mobile Crisis (provided through Lenape Valley): 1-877-435-7709
Montco LBGT Health and Support https://www.montcopa.org/3349/LGBTQ-Health-and-Support
National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a nationwide network. The website for the Montgomery County chapter is: https://namimontcopa.org/
The Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, based in Springhouse https://www.pacouncil.com/.
Domestic Violence Shelters
Laurel House - a comprehensive domestic violence agency based in Norristown with the mission to provide a safe haven for abused women, their children as well as arrangements for their pets. 24-hr. Hotline: 1-800-642-3150. Website: laurel-house.org. Email: info@Laurel-house.org
A Woman’s Place domestic violence shelter in Bucks County. 24-hour phone hotline: 800-220-8116. Website: https://awomansplace.org/
Teen and Children’s Resources
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was created by Congress in 2000 as part of the Children’s Health Act to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events. https://www.nctsn.org/
Go Ask Alice!: Geared at young adults, this question and answer website contains a large database of questions about a variety of concerns surrounding emotional health. www.goaskalice.columbia.edu
Girls Health.Gov: The "Your Feelings" section of this website offers guidance to teenage girls on recognizing a mental health problem, getting help, and talking to parents. http://girlshealth.gov/feelings/index.html
Teen Mental Health: Geared towards teenagers, this website provides learning tools on a variety of mental illnesses, videos, and resources for friends. http://teenmentalhealth.org/
Center for Young Women’s Health and Young Men’s Health: These websites provide a series of guides on emotional health, including on test anxiety, depression, bullying, and eating disorders. www.youngwomenshealth.org and www.youngmenshealthsite.org
Find a Therapist
Psychology Today website for short, reader-friendly articles on any and all topics related to mental health. They also have a Find A Therapist search.
Better Help & Talk Space two options for therapy completely online. Get matched with a therapist to meet with via video chat, text, or phone call if that is more comfortable for you.
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy. Find a Provider search engine for a provider trained in evidence-based treatment of anxiety disorders, and CBT for depression. https://www.findcbt.org/FAT/
International OCD Foundation for information and also to find a certified provider in Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD www.iocdf.org
National Center for PTSD for information on different evidence-based treatments available for Posttraumatic stress disorder. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
More Resources
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255
A Woman’s Place Domestic Abuse Shelter 800-220-8116
The Trevor Project Hotline for Youth in Crisis 866-488-7386
Crisis Text Line: text HELLO to 741741
Veterans Crisis Line 800-273-8255. Press 1.
This effort is in memory of our member and friend, Heather Schreiber