Learn, act, advocate during Mental Health Awareness Month
By Sonia Khosla
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance raising awareness, providing support and resources and reducing the stigma around mental health.
This year’s theme, “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World,” acknowledges the ever-present challenges we face and their impact on our well-being.
Learn
The world throws a lot at us – inflation, loss and grief, physical health changes and more. However, there are ways for us to learn about new resources to navigate our changing world like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text 988 if you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, including risk of suicide, self-harm, or substance use, and a trained crisis counselor will be available to provide support and resources.
If someone is an immediate danger to themselves or others, please call 911.
Act
There are many ways to take action – big and small – to improve your mental health. Take a mental health screening on screening.mhanational.org. Mental health screenings help identify symptoms of a mental health disorder.
Screening tools provide an anonymous, free, quick and easy way to learn about your mental health and if you are showing warning signs of a mental health condition. These screening tools are a great starting point, but we encourage you to share your results with your doctor, mental health provider or a loved one so they can help support you.
Your screening results can be used to start a conversation with your primary care provider or a trusted friend or family member.
Advocate
Changing the conversation around mental health takes all of us. Sharing your story can help break down the stigma. It’s never too late to talk openly about your feelings with loved ones.
Consider sharing articles like this one and previous editions of “Best Times” (which can be found on jocogov.org/besttimes) to spark conversations with family, friends and neighbors.
While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. This month, we seek to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles and mental illness.
We encourage you to participate in these activities and follow along on @jocomnh on Facebook for more Mental Health Awareness Month content.
Sonia Khosla is a communications specialist for the Johnson County Mental Health Center.
By Sonia Khosla
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance raising awareness, providing support and resources and reducing the stigma around mental health.
This year’s theme, “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World,” acknowledges the ever-present challenges we face and their impact on our well-being.
Learn
The world throws a lot at us – inflation, loss and grief, physical health changes and more. However, there are ways for us to learn about new resources to navigate our changing world like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text 988 if you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, including risk of suicide, self-harm, or substance use, and a trained crisis counselor will be available to provide support and resources.
If someone is an immediate danger to themselves or others, please call 911.
Act
There are many ways to take action – big and small – to improve your mental health. Take a mental health screening on screening.mhanational.org. Mental health screenings help identify symptoms of a mental health disorder.
Screening tools provide an anonymous, free, quick and easy way to learn about your mental health and if you are showing warning signs of a mental health condition. These screening tools are a great starting point, but we encourage you to share your results with your doctor, mental health provider or a loved one so they can help support you.
Your screening results can be used to start a conversation with your primary care provider or a trusted friend or family member.
Advocate
Changing the conversation around mental health takes all of us. Sharing your story can help break down the stigma. It’s never too late to talk openly about your feelings with loved ones.
Consider sharing articles like this one and previous editions of “Best Times” (which can be found on jocogov.org/besttimes) to spark conversations with family, friends and neighbors.
While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. This month, we seek to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles and mental illness.
We encourage you to participate in these activities and follow along on @jocomnh on Facebook for more Mental Health Awareness Month content.
Sonia Khosla is a communications specialist for the Johnson County Mental Health Center.