Last year, the Pittsburgh area got a little bit of a break during one of the warmest winter seasons to date. This year, the forecast isn’t looking so compassionate — it’s predicted to be colder. On average, Pittsburgh has more than 100 freezing days and has been ranked among the coldest cities in the United States.

On top of digging out your gloves and hats, you might also be thinking about how to keep warm and safe at home throughout the winter season.

This can be even more challenging when prices appear to be going up on heat and other necessities.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that winter natural gas bills in the Northeast will be about 18% higher than last year. Nationwide, nearly half of homes rely on natural gas, and people in the region are expected to spend an average of $865 for the season. 

Bills for propane and heating oil are expected to rise even more sharply, driven by factors like lower global crude oil inventory.

With residents already facing an economic crunch from the pandemic, there are ways to save money on heating, including small adjustments to behavior and programs for low-income households who need to repair or replace heating systems.

Tips to keep your heating costs low

Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature when you are asleep or away from home can save your household as much as 10% a year on heating costs. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and as low as you are comfortable with at night.

Keep thermostats on an interior wall and away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights and windows to improve the performance and efficiency. Installation instructions will include methods to prevent ghost readings that cause the unnecessary heater use.

The Department of Energy advises against using programmable thermostats for heat pumps. To save on costs, it’s better to set them at a moderate setting.

Consumer Reports compiled a list of steps to keep your heating costs low, including things like lowering your thermostat and sealing air leaks in doors and windows and making sure air filters are replaced when needed.

Insulation is also important. According to the Energy Department, insulating your house can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. Professional home energy assessments are a good way to determine what parts of your home are using the most energy and how to remedy that. 

It is possible to assess your home’s energy efficiency without a professional by conducting a thorough inspection. If you discover that insulation is a major issue, find out three things for yourself: where your home is and is not properly insulated; what type of insulation you have; and the R-value and the thickness (or depth in inches) of the insulation you have. Some people might be able to contact the home builder to answer some of these questions, while others can look at structural elements.

Before you insulate, be sure that your home is air sealed to prevent any leakage. If an assessment leads you to the decision to add insulation to your home, you must decide where to insulate and what kind of insulation to use. Many kinds of insulation can be installed without hiring a professional. 

Need help with heating costs?

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [LIHEAP] offers cash grants to help cover heating bills for families in need. Crisis grants are also offered to households in urgent need. You can determine if you are eligible and apply for benefits online here, or in person at the county assistance office.

Households experiencing  hardships may also qualify for utility assistance from the state. Budget billing is a good option that can be requested by any residential customer, and the CARES program is available specifically for households going through temporary hardships such as family emergencies. 

Low-income households (those at or below 200% of the federal poverty level) are eligible for Pennsylvania’s Weatherization Assistance Program, with priority given to high-risk residents. Energy audits are conducted in the home to determine the best ways to increase efficiency. ACTION-Housing is one of Pennsylvania’s largest weatherization providers and operates Allegheny County’s assistance program. Eligible residents can apply here.

Replacing your heating system can be costly, but waiting until it fails can end up costing even more. There are signs, including the age of your unit or excessive noise, that suggest it may be time to replace your heating equipment. 

If the cost of an upgrade seems daunting, you may be able to pay for it through an “energy efficient mortgage,” which can help finance energy efficient upgrades or be used for the purchase of an energy-efficient home. Federal tax credits are also available through Dec. 31 and are offered to those whose residential heating equipment qualify as energy efficient.

Practicing safe heating methods

Central heating is not always an option. If used safely, other sources such as space heaters and fireplaces could be options to heat a room. However, you should never use appliances like your oven or stove for heat. Not only is it dangerous, but it can also raise your gas or electric bills. When using a space heater, it’s important to keep it away from anything that can burn and be sure that the space is well ventilated.

According to the National Fire Protections Association, heating equipment fires accounted for 14% of all reported home fires from 2014 to 2018. The risk of carbon monoxide exposure often increases in the winter and is associated with faulty furnaces or other heating methods. More information on the risks of alternative heating methods is available here.

An important part of keeping costs low and staying safe is understanding which heating method is right for your home. HVAC contractors can advise you on your HVAC system, and if cost is a barrier, resources like the Pennsylvania Weatherization Assistance Program can help you stay safely warm as the temperature drops.

There are regulations in Allegheny County that your house must meet to establish safe and sanitary standards for residents. If where you are living violates any of these regulations, you may want to contact the landlord or health department. If there is trouble reaching these contacts and seeing results quickly, you can file a complaint or property concern here.

Complaints regarding utilities can also be filed here if you have already contacted your utility provider and they have not resolved the issue. 

Elizabeth Prall is a PublicSource editorial and engagement intern. She can be reached at elizabeth@publicsource.org.

The post Is your home prepped for winter? How to stay safe and warm as temperatures drop. appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

The pandemic has put strains on both community mental health and the availability of mental healthcare resources. Local providers acknowledge increased demand, which can manifest itself in increased wait times and other barriers to care. 

Because finding help might be more difficult than pre-pandemic, PublicSource has gathered resources to help residents connect to providers and community groups and learn more about getting connected to available services.  

Not sure where to start?

If you’re feeling unsure if therapy is right for you, you can take an anonymous mental health screening online from MindWise Innovations. This can help determine if your current thoughts and feelings may be associated with a common mental health concern. If you decide to seek further help, there are many ways to go about that.

Finding a therapist can be a daunting task, and finding one that is right for you may not happen right away. Psychology Today is a low-stress and user-friendly way to start your search. The website allows you to input your ZIP code to generate a local list of therapists and other mental health providers.

Allegheny County has compiled a list of resources for residents. These are resources for non-emergency services for those over the age of 18. The University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry has put together a similar list of providers, including mental health drop-in centers for people in more urgent need. Do you need urgent help?
National suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
National sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673
Crisis text line: 741-741

Network of Care is a national portal where you can input your ZIP code and the type of service you are looking for to find details on local behavioral health services and other information on mental health.

Will my insurance cover mental health services?

Cost of care is a prevalent concern when looking for a new provider. It’s important to find a service that you can afford, but cost shouldn’t limit the services that you have access to or the quality of care that you receive. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires that coverage of mental health services by insurance be comparable to physical health coverage. 

The American Psychological Association has helpful information on navigating your insurance coverage by guiding you through what your insurance is responsible for under the parity law. The law generally applies to ​​employer-sponsored health coverage for companies with 50 or more employees, coverage purchased through health insurance exchanges that were created under the Affordable Care Act, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and most Medicaid programs. It is important to note that a health plan is allowed to exclude certain diagnoses based on what they consider to be a physical health problem versus a behavioral/mental health problem. 

If you have health insurance, you should be able to find information on coverage in your plan itself or on the insurer’s website. If you aren’t sure, ask your human resources representative or contact your insurance provider directly. 

Don’t have insurance? You may qualify for Medical Assistance, for which you can enroll at any time. You can apply online, in person, by telephone or on paper. More information on applying is available from the state. 

What kind of services are right for you?

If you are looking for help with a specific issue like substance abuse, grief counselling, or you are looking to help a loved one, you may want more specialized help. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has collected various resources on its website that are issue-specific if you already have an idea of what you need. 

Studies show that patients who feel more aligned with their therapist benefit from treatment more so than those who do not feel aligned. This does not necessarily mean that treatment with someone who is of a different race or sexual orientation will not be helpful, only that patients often benefit more if their practitioner has an authentic understanding of their client’s experience. 

Black Americans are more likely to experience poorer quality of care and lack access to culturally competent services. Seeing a therapist with historic and cultural fluency can lead to a better understanding of the full scope of a patient’s situation. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has put together a guide to mental health services for Black residents in Allegheny County, and there are also community health resources like Bridges to Health that are built to help underserved communities in the Pittsburgh area. 

What community-based groups can I connect to?

Active Minds

Active Minds is a nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for young adults. The peer-based organization has local chapters at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne, and has a goal of educating students on mental health issues and reducing the stigma of seeking help. Active Minds members work to educate students on mental health issues, reduce stigma and can help connect you to resources. Find out if your campus has an Active Minds chapter. If it doesn’t, here’s how to start one.

Steel Smiling

Steel Smiling is a community group in Allegheny County with the goal of bridging the gap between Black people and mental health support through education, advocacy and awareness. They provide a variety of programs to begin conversations and train community members in how to best implement these practices. 

Forward Allies

Forward Allies for Equity in Mental and Reproductive Health is a nonprofit that provides support to birthing people and trains providers in reproductive health. They use money from donations to cover necessary costs for their trainees like therapy, transportation, and childcare.

Visible Hands Collaborative

Visible Hands Collaborative is an organization that provides certified training in Integrative Community Therapy (ICT), a large-group therapy that facilitates community conversation and builds emotional solidarity. Their goal is to bring communities together to unleash the capacity for emotional healing by strengthening these connections.

Are you a student looking for help?

Colleges and universities in Pittsburgh offer counseling and referrals to other therapists and resources. Here are a few examples. 

University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh counseling center can be reached by phone at 412-648-7930 or you can visit its website. They offer services, both online and in person, including individual and group counseling. After a certain number of individual sessions, the university will help you find another counselor off-campus and covered by your insurance.

Need urgent help? Call the university police emergency number: (412) 624-2121

Carnegie Mellon University

Students at Carnegie Mellon University are eligible for services through Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) at no additional cost. Individual counseling as well as group therapy are offered, along with the outreach program COPE. Services are also available for  faculty and staff.

Need urgent help? Call the university police emergency number: (412) 268-2323

Duquesne University

Confidential short-term personal psychotherapy is offered for all students enrolled at Duquesne University. Therapy groups and workshops are available upon request. Duquesne also offers Wellbeing Resources, both in person or online, for issues that students may have but not feel the need to seek counseling.

Need urgent help? Call the university police emergency number: 412-396-2677

Carlow University

Carlow offers weekly telehealth sessions that meet as a group. These sessions are confidential within those groups and will not be revealed to those outside of the session. If you are a Carlow student seeking individual care, long term or short term, the university recommends these services. 

Need urgent help? Call the university police emergency number: (412) 578-6007

Elizabeth Prall is a PublicSource editorial and engagement intern. She can be reached at elizabeth@publicsource.org.

The post Mental health resources can be hard to navigate. Here’s how to start your search. appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.