It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, County DHHS Director Offers Advice for Pandemic

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Dr. Raymond Crowel, director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), offers his advice on coping with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Crowel teaches residents about a specific method of relaxation and meditation called box breathing. He reminds us of two resources you can call if you are struggling mentally. The EveryMind hotline is staffed by volunteers who are trained to help you work through mental health problems, and can be reached at (301) 738-2255.

For more serious and urgent help, residents should call the Montgomery County Crisis Center at (240) 777-4000. The center is staffed by therapists and psychiatrists to help you through problems and possibly invite you in for help, Dr. Crowel said.

About Maryam Shahzad

Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Previously, she was an intern with MCM. She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm.

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