What is Mental Health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
- Family history of mental health problems
Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.
Early Warning Signs
Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Pulling away from people and usual activities
- Having low or no energy
- Feeling numb or like nothing matters
- Having unexplained aches and pains
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
- Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
- Yelling or fighting with family and friends
- Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
- Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
- Thinking of harming yourself or others
- Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school
Mental Health and Wellness
Positive mental health allows people to:
- Realize their full potential
- Cope with the stresses of life
- Work productively
- Make meaningful contributions to their communities
Ways to maintain positive mental health include:
- Getting professional help if you need it
- Connecting with others
- Staying positive
- Getting physically active
- Helping others
- Getting enough sleep
- Developing coping skills
Learn More About Mental Health
Cattaraugus County Mental Health Services
Counseling Services
In areas surrounding Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School
Horton Counseling Center
252 E. Main Street
Springville, NY 14141
(716) 592-9292
Salamanca Counseling Center
97 Main Street
Salamanca, NY 14779
(716) 945-5211
Cattaraugus County Dept. of Mental Health
One Leo Moss Drive – Suite 4308
Olean, NY 14760
(716) 373-8040
Springville Counseling Service – Tammy Pauley, LCSW-R
252 E. Main Street
Springville, NY 14141
(716) 592-4286
Rehabilitation Today Services - Dr. Craig Zuckerman & Dr. Kevin Eagan
1010 Wayne Street – Suite 100
Olean, NY 14760
(716) 372-3550
The Resource Center -
Jamestown Counseling & Psychiatric Services
344 East Fourth Street
Jamestown, New York 14701
(716) 661-1590
Dunkirk Counseling & Psychiatric Services
186 Lake Shore Drive West
Dunkirk, New York 14048
(716) 366-6858
St. Bonaventure University Wellness Center
1st Floor Doyle Hall, Room 127
St. Bonaventure, NY 14778
(716) 375-2310
Spectrum Human Services
27 Franklin Street
Springville, NY 14141
(716) 592-9301
Western New York Psychotherapy Associates
Orchard Park Office
3065 Southwestern Blvd., Suite 204
Orchard Park, NY 14127
(716) 675-9232
Clinical Psychologists in the Area:
Dr. Santa Maria -
(716) 690-2560
DeGraff Memorial Hospital
445 Tremont Street, Suite 323
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Dr. Benjamins
(716) 632-5563
6254 Sheridan Drive
Buffalo, NY 14221
Dr. Bongiovanni
(716) 366-0460
50 W 4th Street
Dunkirk, NY 14048
Dr. Verdonik - WCA Psychology
(716) 664-8611
Jones Memorial Health Center
51 Glasglow Avenue
Jamestown, NY 14701
Rehabilitation Today Services PLLC
(716) 372-3550
1010 Wayne Street Suite 100
Olean, NY 14760
Local Contact Information – Cattaraugus County
- Community Action Victim Service Division – (716) 945-1041
- 24 Hour Hotline – 1-888-945-3972
- Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse: Cattaraugus County
- Salamanca – (716) 945-1928
- Olean – (716) 373-0343
- Cattaraugus County Mental Health – (716) 373-8040
- Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department – (716) 938-9191
- Catholic Charities
- Salamanca – (716) 945-0619
- Gowanda – (716) 532-9272
- Child Protection Services Hotline – 1-800-342-3720
- Youth Crisis & Runaway Hotline – 1-800-621-4000 1-800-448-4663