Since 1949 SAMHSA has observed the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. As the rise of social media it will put out relevant content to encourage and support those personally dealing with substance use or mental health issues and also offering hope and education to those who may have family members who are struggling.
In week one the theme was all about having compassion on those who have these issues. To be honest most people if they don’t have a genetic form of a mental health issue then at some point in their life they may have had a situational issue that caused depression, anxiety, or trauma. Never think that just because you currently don’t have a mental health issue that in a blink of an eye something could happen that could lead to you having one.
Some erroneously think that a child could not have a mental health issue, but some “issues” do not discriminate. It doesn’t matter one’s age, race, socio-economic status, or the like. In 1997 was my first job as a counselor and for 5 years all of my clients were between the ages of 5 and 12. Since that time I have expanded to working with older students, teens, and adults but the point is that even kids can suffer from mental health issues.
The theme of week two is “Early Support Matters; Recognizing Signs in Children and Youth.” It has been said on the SAMHSA website that it may be the parents or caregivers who are the first to spot when something feels different in the youth in their care such as; changes in mood, sleep, appetite, or behaviors may be a signal a young person needs some added support.
It is important to remember that maybe not all “changes” will be related to a mental health issue that requires seeking counseling, but know that “sometimes the most important step is listening.” All the way back to the 15th century there was a saying, “children should be seen, but not heard.” Unfortunately, I would guess this left many youth who grew up feeling unheard and unloved. When a child has a mental health issue that is not dealt with then they will grow into an adult with a mental health issue.
Hopefully, at some point in one’s life when they or someone else may realize there are some mental health or substance abuse issues they will know where to go for help. Most towns have multiple mental health agencies and with modern technology telehealth is available that you could have a counselor from a different town. Most insurances will cover the cost of counseling and if not may have sliding fee scales. The main encouragement of this week is to know that if you or someone you love is struggling with substance use and/or mental health issues no matter the age, you are not alone. To be Continued…
~TRS 5/10/26
Rays of Hope 