Each year, May is declared Mental Health Awareness Month.
This serves as an opportunity to discuss mental health issues, reduce stigmas that can prevent people from seeking help and highlight resources available for those in need of support. People should familiarize themselves with vital services being offered in their communities.
The novel coronavirus pandemic placed immense strain on individuals and society. It underscored the need for mental health options. The pandemic caused anxiety, disrupted routines and social connections, and exacerbated existing emotional problems.
According to research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40% of adults in the United States have reported experiences of anxiety or depression that are linked to the pandemic. It is clear that mental health support and resources are essential.
By raising awareness and promoting open conversations about mental health, we can continue breaking down the barriers that prevent people from seeking available support. It is crucial that we continue to prioritize discussions around mental health so that we feel comfortable talking to loved ones, friends and medical professionals about challenges we may be facing.
Mental health resources can include counseling and therapy, support groups, and crisis hotlines. By making these resources more visible and accessible, individuals can receive the help they need in a timely manner.
County governments provide a gateway to mental health services.
The Community Services Department in each county oversees the mental hygiene delivery system in that area and channels funding to community agencies for the provision of mental health services. Programs are available for adults, adolescents and children. Every Community Services Department focuses on the issues of mental illness, substance use disorder and developmental disabilities.
Mental health services through government agencies and community organizations include:
■ Emergency — crisis services;
■ Inpatient treatment — acute and intermediate levels of care;
■ Outpatient care — individual and group;
■ Residential/housing services;
■ Community support programs — vocational support, respite, family support, peer support, self-help, socialization and recreational.
In Jefferson County, visit the Community Services Department at wdt.me/tLcY6M or call 315-785-3283. In Lewis County, visit wdt.me/tHkmP5 or call 315-377-2000. In St. Lawrence County, wdt.me/D3EPdT or call 315-386-2048.
Other organizations offering services include the Mental Health Association in Jefferson County (wdt.me/wWEyG8), 315-788-0970; Northern Regional Center for Independent Living (wdt.me/Yf2HU4), 315-785-8703; Lewis County Opportunities (wdt.me/GWYM5P), 315-376-8202; Credo Community Center for the Treatment of Addiction (wdt.me/vkdkoD), 315-788-1530; Mountain View Prevention Services (wdt.me/q769vq), 315-376-2321; Transitional Living of Northern New York (wdt.me/xuyoUN), 315-782-1777; The Arc Jefferson/St. Lawrence (wdt.me/aH3cUA), 315-379-9531 in Canton and 315-788-2730 in Watertown; The Arc Oneida/Lewis (wdt.me/8ExDyu), 315-272-1500; and Citizen Advocates (wdt.me/uuVnWq), 518-483-1251.
There is no shame in needing help, and there is no shame in seeking help. We all have mental health; it’s part of our makeup as humans.
Our mental health affects how we think, feel and behave. And just like our physical health, our mental health develops problems from time to time.
Let’s use Mental Health Awareness Month to promote the idea of making mental health checkups routine exercises for all Americans. Seeing a mental health counselor or therapist should become as normal as getting a physical, dental checkup or eye exam — no big deal.
If everyone gets a mental health checkup on a regular basis, this will reduce the stigma that has plagued this issue for too long. And issues that are diagnosed and treated early are less likely to turn into major problems later on. Use this time to reach out to a professional, and start living a more-rewarding life.
(1) comment
The pre-pandemic, decades-long efforts to reduce mental health stigmas were largely effective. Then, the pandemic, itself, and its mental health fallout, had the effect of reducing them further. Granted, continued efforts are necessary.
Today, Americans are less encumbered by stigmas while, at the same time, alarmingly burdened by a host of mental health conditions. If you talk to the average person, you're not likely to hear mental health stigmas in their words. You're more likely to hear: I can't find a practitioner that will see me... and their frustration, worry and discontent will be palpable.
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