If you are experiencing a mental health medical emergency, call 911
or go immediately to the closest emergency room.
Suicide prevention:
Risk factors, warning signs
to look out for
Call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential support.
"QCI saved my life. I was having to pay a lot of of my money to see a doctor. I was told about QCI and filled out the paper work, not thinking I would hear back. QCI gave me a doctor, therapist, nurse, [and] community support. They really helped me when I was really sick and needed that. Now I am better and don’t need that [level of service]. I was helped to get Metro Access and now I can go get to my appointments on my own. I’ve been lucky to have met my therapist, Allison. She is really into the job. She helped me get my immigration card for free. We work together really well." -- MS
"We [Patrons for Peace Project, Inc.] work with unhoused individuals, many of whom are in a mental health crisis. We have been referring clients to QCI Behavioral Health for over 25 years because of the comprehensive and professional care that is always provided by the staff. The handpicked team of individuals who work for QCI Behavioral Health are the most caring, hardworking dedicated staff we have ever encountered in an organization."
-- Ruth K. Walls, MS, MSN, RN, President
Human Trafficking Prevention Month
National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual anti-trafficking hotline. Call 1-888-373-7888 to report a tip; connect with anti-trafficking services in your area; or request training and technical assistance, general information, or anti-trafficking resources.
Understanding Human Trafficking and Why Prevention Matters
Understanding human trafficking is essential to prevention. Human trafficking, falling under the umbrella term of modern-slavery,, includes both labor trafficking and sex trafficking. It involves coercion, fraud, or manipulation to exploit a potential victim for profit.
According to global estimates cited by the U.S. Department of State, millions of people—including children—are trapped in trafficking situations worldwide, including child sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, prostitution, and other forms of commercial sex act exploitation.
U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against their will. The Action-Means-Purpose (AMP) Model can be helpful in understanding the federal law. Human trafficking occurs when a perpetrator, often referred to as a trafficker, takes an Action (induces, recruits, harbors, transports, provides), and then employs the Means of force, fraud or coercion for the Purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts (sex trafficking) or labor/services (labor trafficking). At a minimum, one element from each column must be present to establish a potential situation of human trafficking.
Traffickers often target vulnerable populations, exploiting instability caused by poverty, conflict, disasters, or displacement. A human trafficker may use deception, emotional control, or threats of violence and sexual assault to maintain control over human trafficking victims.
Adult/General Human Tracking Concerns:
A would-be employer refuses to give workers a signed contract or asks them to sign a contract in a language they can’t read.
A would-be employer collects fees from a potential worker for the “opportunity” to work in a particular job.
A friend, family member, co-worker, or student is newly showered with gifts or money or otherwise becomes involved in an overwhelming, fast-moving, and asymmetric (e.g., large difference in age or financial status) romantic relationship.
A friend, family member, or student is a frequent runaway and may be staying with someone who is not their parent or guardian.
A family member, friend, co-worker, or student is developing a relationship that seems too close with someone they know solely on social media.
A family member, friend, or student lives with a parent or guardian and shows signs of abuse.
A family member, friend, or co-worker is offered a job opportunity that seems too good to be true.
A family member, friend, or co-worker is recruited for an opportunity that requires them to move far away, but their recruiter or prospective employer avoids answering their questions or is reluctant to provide detailed information about the job.
Child Human Trafficking - Signs that your child is being groomed:
Sudden interest in someone who is several years older
New clothing, jewelry, or gifts without having the money to purchase these items
Frequent sleepovers at a friend’s house,
Sudden change in style of dress or makeup,
New circle of friends and isolation from their old group of friends,
Change in attitude toward school, regular activities, friends, and family grades are dropping
Unexplained cuts and bruises Using two cell phones.
For additional information, visit the U.S. Department of State's Understanding Human Trafficking Fact Page.
Information excerpted from Our Rescue, the Human Trafficking Resource Center, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and the U.S. Department of State.
Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down
by Corey Keyes (Author)
If you’re muddling through the day in a fog, often forgetting why you walked into a room . If you feel emotionally flattened, lacking the energy to socialize or feel joy in the small things. If you feel an inner void—like something is missing, but you aren’t sure what . Then this book is for you.
Languishing—the state of mental weariness that erodes our self-esteem, motivation, and sense of meaning—can be easy to brush off as the new normal, especially since indifference is one of its symptoms. It is not a synonym for depression and its attendant state of prolonged sadness. Languishers are more likely to feel out of control of their lives, uncertain about what they want from the future, and paralyzed when faced with decisions. Left unchecked, languishing not only impedes our daily functioning but is a gateway to serious mental illness and early mortality.
Languishing is a must-read for anyone tempted to downplay feelings of demotivation and emptiness as they struggle to haul themselves through the day, and for those eager to build a higher tolerance for adversity and the pressures of modern life. We can expand our vocabulary for describing our inner experiences and deeper needs—and, with it, our potential to flourish.
Starting the New Year with Compassion: Mental Health Tips That Actually Help
How to reflect, set goals, and move forward without pressure, perfection, or comparison
- sensiblecare.com
As the year winds down, the pressure to make New Year’s resolutions starts to creep in. Everywhere you look, you’re told to reflect, improve, optimize, and start fresh. Set big goals. Fix what didn’t work. Become a better version of yourself.
On the surface, it sounds motivating. But for many people, it feels overwhelming. The past year may have been heavy, unfinished, or nothing like you planned. You might be carrying grief, stress, burnout, or disappointment. Or maybe you did everything you could just to get through it, and now you’re tired of being told to aim higher.
Here’s the truth: the New Year doesn’t need a new you. It doesn’t require dramatic resolutions or perfectly mapped plans. What it does need is a kinder relationship with yourself. One grounded in compassion instead of comparison, and support instead of self-criticism.
Below are recommended ways to approach the New Year in a way that genuinely supports your mental health.
Let Go of the “Perfect Year-in-Review” Narrative
Every December, social media fills with polished recaps and major milestones. But mental health doesn’t operate on a tidy timeline, and meaningful growth rarely fits into a carousel post.
For many people, the real accomplishments of the year look like:
Getting through something you didn’t think you could
Setting a boundary
Leaving a situation that wasn’t right for you
Asking for help
Surviving a difficult season
Just because your wins weren’t public doesn’t mean they weren’t profound. Instead of asking, “Did I accomplish enough?” try asking:
What got me through this year?
Where did I grow, even in small ways?
What did I learn about myself?
Reflection should help you understand yourself not criticize yourself.
Celebrate Small Wins — They Matter More Than You Think
Start small because small steps build real, lasting momentum
Small wins might be:
Drinking water before your first coffee
Going outside for 10 minutes
Cleaning one corner of a room
Answering one message
Journaling for two minutes
Scheduling a therapy appointment
Resting without guilt
Small doesn’t mean insignificant. Small is sustainable, and sustainability supports long term mental health.
Set Goals That Are Doable, Not Punishing
Huge New Year’s resolutions sound motivating, but research shows they often fail because they’re unrealistic, rigid, or rooted in self-criticism.
Instead, try gentle goal setting:
“I want to feel more connected” instead of “I’ll be social every week.”
“I want to care for my body better” instead of “I’ll work out every day.”
“I want to manage stress more effectively” instead of “I’ll never get overwhelmed again.”
Supportive goals encourage growth. Harsh goals create shame.
Choose a Theme, Not a Resolution
Instead of rigid resolutions, try choosing a theme for the year: a gentle anchor that guides you without pressuring you.
A theme could be:
Ease
Clarity
Balance
Connection
Courage in small steps
Listening to your needs
Themes create direction. Resolutions demand perfection.
Start the Year From Where You Are
Progress starts from your real life, not the idealized version of it.
You don’t have to feel ready, motivated, or inspired. You just have to be honest about where you’re starting and take one small step.
If this season feels exciting for you, that’s wonderful. If it feels heavy, overwhelming, or complicated, that’s okay too.
Either way — you are not behind.
If You Need Support, You’re Not Alone
If you’re entering the New Year feeling drained, anxious, depressed, or stuck, talking to a therapist can help you find steadier ground.
QCI provides services for English speaking patients at this time. QCI will attempt to direct non-English speaking individuals to appropriate resources to the best of our ability.
NOTE: When using the email addresses below, your information is not encrypted. Your responses may be read by others using your Internet service. Please do not include any sensitive information.
CARF International, a group of companies that includes CARF Canada and CARF Europe, is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Toll free (888) 281-6531. www.carf.org
QCI is a proud partner with Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. LARS empowers individuals in need of food, housing, and financial assistance to achieve well-being, stability, and self-sufficiency.