Mental Health

NEHA's Programs & Resources
Community Stories
State & National Links

Bleeding Disorders and Mental Health

Living with a bleeding disorder, or any chronic illness, can take a toll on your mental health and emotional well-being. You are not alone. We understand how challenging and frustrating it can be to manage not only the physical symptoms of a bleeding disorder, but also the stress, worry, depression, and anxiety that you may feel along the way.

In addition to depression and anxiety, emotional responses to living with a chronic illness can include denial of your disease, the need for dependence or dependent behaviors, feeling overwhelmed, and having a poor self-image. Bleeding disorders can also have an impact on the mental health of caregivers, spouses, and friends.

We’ve compiled the following resources to help you work through these feelings in your life. Most importantly, if, at any time, you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please call 911, go to the closest emergency room, call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741).

Take NEHA's Mental Health Assessment

Talking with your Healthcare Team about Mental Health

It is important to share your questions and concerns about mental health with your health care team, as your emotional state can have an impact on your care plan. Additionally, your medical team already knows you as a patient and as a person and can provide you with tailored resources, insight, or referrals. The more you are willing to share with them, the better equipped they’ll be to customize care to meet your specific needs.

Find Your Hemophilia Treatment Center

NEHA's Mental Health Programs & Resources

At many NEHA events, we include educational sessions focusing on mental health.

Our Mental Health Task Force recently produced a resource for our community members: “Coping Tools For The Here And Now.” This contains strategies, tools, activities and exercises that you can do right now to alleviate stress in your life. The more your practice these coping skills, the more useful they become. Explore this resource below.

We have also hosted the following webinars to provide tips and coping mechanisms; activities to help you relieve stress, stay occupied, and much more. 

Explore NEHA's Mental Health Coping Tools

Community Stories

One recommendation from our Mental Health Task Force was to take action to remove the stigma surrounding mental health. To do so, we launched a video collection project where members of our community members share their stories addressing mental health.

Recently, several community members agreed to share their story on camera. In the coming months, we will share the videos publicly to help raise awareness and increase conversation about mental health in our community.

Watch Community Stories

National Mental Health Resources

National Resources for the Bleeding Disorders Community:

  • Hemophilia Federation of America’s Mental Health Resources. General national mental health resources, crisis hotlines, specific mental health resources for the bleeding disorder community, and supportive information for various groups of individuals, including; BIPOC, caregivers, self-care, and COVID-19 specific mental health care.
  • Bleeding Disorders Substance Use and Mental Health Access Coalition (BD SUMHAC). NEHA partnered with the Hemophilia Federation of America and the National Hemophilia Foundation to launch this coalition to ensure that all individuals with bleeding disorders have access to appropriate substance use and mental health treatment facilities.
  • The Emotional and Psychological impact of Living with a Bleeding Disorder. (From the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s Steps for Living).
  • Bloodstream Podcast. Bringing education and inspiration to those living with rare and chronic diseases.
  • Just Got Diagnosed. Resources for individuals recently diagnosed with chronic and catastrophic medical conditions, their caregivers, and loved ones. Information provided by Dr. Gary McClain, a recent NEHA presenter who is a recognized expert in understanding the emotional reactions to medical diagnosis.
  • Mental Health Matters Too. List of national mental health hotlines, information for mental health care & bleeding disorder resources, apps & suggested reading, etc.

National Mental Health Resources:

General Resources to Find Therapist:

New England Mental Health Resources

Connecticut

  • CT Mental Health Resources.
  • CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DHMAS). DMHAS operates inpatient treatment facilities for persons with severe addiction and/or psychiatric problems:  State-Operated Inpatient Treatment Facilities.
  • CT Local Mental Health Authorities. The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services operates and/or funds Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) offering a wide range of therapeutic programs and crisis intervention services throughout the state. There are also many private non-profit agencies that you can access through each of the LMHAs.
  • CT Crisis Lines.
  • CT Network of Care. Connecticut’s Network of Care for Behavioral Health, made possible through State and Private Partnerships committed to promoting access to behavioral health care information for all residents of Connecticut.
  • 211 CT.

Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Emergency/crisis help, COVID-19 resources, children/youth/families resources, adult resources.
  • Children/Youth/Families. Who they serve, services offered, emergency/crisis services, resources, applications, etc.
  • Adult Services. Finding mental health support, eligibility, how to apply for services, mental health resources.
  • Emergency/Crisis Services. If you or a family member are experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis, the Emergency Services Program/Mobile Crisis Intervention (ESP/MCI) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Anyone may contact ESP/MCI for assistance. Call toll-free at 1 (877) 382-1609.

Rhode Island

List of Various In-patient & Out-patient Services/hospitals:

  1. Bradley Hospital (pediatric) in-pt, out-pt. 401-432-1000
  2. Butler Hospital (adolescent and adult) in-pt., out-pt. 401-455-6200
  3. Lifespan Psychiatric Services – RI Hospital, Newport Hospital,  (pediatric and adult) in-pt., out-pt. 401 444-4000
  4. The Providence Center (pediatric and adult)  out-pt. 401-276-4020
  5. Northern RI Mental Health Services (pediatric and adult) out-pt. 401-235-7000
  6. Brightside Behavioral Health (pediatric and adult) out-pt. 401-205-6391
  7. Newport County Mental Health services (pediatric and adult) out-pt. 401-846-1213
  8. Gateway Mental Health center (pediatric and adult) out-pt. 401-273-8100
  9. Anchor Counseling Center (pediatric and adult) out-pt. 401-475-9979
  10. Inner You Counseling Center (pediatric and adult) out-pt. 401-773-7116
  11. Thrive Behavioral Health (pediatric and adult) out-pt. 401-691-6000

Vermont

  • VT Department of Mental Health. Main website with an abundance of information on services offered, how to locate, etc.
  • Suicide Prevention. Suicide prevention resources, risks & protective factors, helping yourself, helping someone else, warning signs, talking about suicide, services available
  • Services. Adult, children/youth/family services, emergency services, peer supports, psychiatric hospitalization, residential services, intensive residential recovery, etc.

This resource page was created with support from the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation.