Mental Health Awareness Month
May is a time when I feel hopeful. Summer is upon us, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and school is winding down for the year. There is excitement in the air. May is also a time when we at ICPYAS focus on mental health awareness. As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to remind you that you are NOT alone. The pandemic has exacerbated feelings of isolation, fear, anxiety, stress and loneliness in just about everyone…not just the millions of Americans already living with mental illness.
The numbers of new cases of mental illness have risen significantly since the beginning of the pandemic, largely fueled by isolation and loneliness. Children and young adults are not exempt from this. Our children and teens spent a significant amount of time in the past 14 months isolated from their peers and trusted adults outside of their homes. It should come as no surprise that we are seeing an increase in mental health issues.
The stigma surrounding mental illness continues to persist in our society, making people struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues feel uncomfortable mentioning it to anyone…even their physician. We are fearful of admitting that we are not OK. We can change that. We all play a part in eradicating the stigma.
Mental health is no different than physical health. There is no stigma if a diabetic needs insulin to stay alive and be well. There should be no stigma when someone suffering from depression requires medication to stay alive and be well. The more we learn about mental illness, the more understanding and compassion we have for those around us.
There are a few simple ways we can make a difference and help stop the stigma:
See the person, not the condition.
Offer support if you think someone is struggling.
Use respectful language when talking about mental health.
Challenge misconceptions.
Don’t use harmful labels.
Together we can change the way society views and treats people with mental health conditions through education and understanding. Learn more about mental health on the National Alliance of Mental Illness website.
If you are struggling or feel alone, please reach out to someone.
If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting another person, call 911 or your local emergency number.
And if you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call one of these numbers right away:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741741
Trevor Project Lifeline (confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth): 866-488-7386
Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 and press 1
To learn more about what you can do to prevent suicide, register for one of our community QPR trainings. If you are interested in scheduling a private group training, please contact Maggie Owens.