By Mary Welander
State Rep, D-114
Mary Welander
Fall is officially here with winter and the holidays right around the corner. Winter brings its own challenges with weather and seasonal viruses and colds, as well as difficult emotions for many.
Moving out of September and National Suicide Prevention Month and into October marking Domestic Violence Awareness month alongside Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to share some resources that may be helpful in keeping you and your loved ones a bit healthier and safer.
The holidays can be challenging for a lot of people, and coming out of a global pandemic where too many lost friends or family, these times of year can be even more painful. Most people will face some moment in their lives when they need additional support to process or move through a difficult situation, and I am so grateful that there are resources that anyone can access during those times.
This year the National Suicide Crisis Lifeline launched their new, nationally unified number: 988. You can call any time to talk to licensed specialists about feelings you or a loved one may be having.
The stressors of the holidays can also devolve into unsafe situations at home. Statistically one in four women, and one in 10 men, will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetimes. If you or someone you know finds themselves in unsafe circumstances, please know that it is not your fault and that there are many organizations, as well as local law enforcement officers, who are here to help. CTSafeConnect is a free and confidential resource line for anyone impacted by domestic violence. You can connect via a call, text, chat online or email for support.
Another helpful resource for behavioral or mental health challenges, or almost any situation you can think of, is 211 or 211ct.org. In addition to health-based supports, 211 offers information on legal assistance, utility assistance, supports for food and/or housing insecurity, financial literacy support, help with tax preparation and much more. It’s a truly great resource.
With winter comes cold and flu season and an increased likelihood of being prescribed medication to treat illnesses. I am happy to share that as part of Public Act 23-171, An Act Protecting Patients and Prohibiting Unnecessary Health Care Costs, Connecticut has partnered with ArrayRx to provide lower cost prescription drugs. Open to all state residents with no age or income restrictions, this online program allows you to compare prices of specific medications as well as price differences at individual locations. You can also choose to apply ArrayRx to only specific prescriptions. Even if you have multiple prescriptions your pharmacist will be able to split the order appropriately, ensuring that you are getting the best price for your treatments.
For more information on ArrayRx, including a drug price lookup tool and to sign up, visit arrayrxcard.com.
If you have any questions about these or other resources, please reach out to me any time at mary.welander@cga.ct.gov.
I am a Female Army Veteran looking for housing here in Waterbury Conn. Could you give me some Resources.