As another month is coming to a close we can look back and reflect how this month of May has been set aside to take time for mental health awareness. To become aware of something basically means to come to a knowledge or understanding of a particular subject or situation. SAMHSA is an organization with a purpose to help bring public awareness to the topics of mental health and substance use issues. To bring awareness to the public can be done through such things as a campaign designed to educate about a topic, promote “health,” or influence social change for the better upon the topic.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) posts on its website that 1 in 5 US adults experience some form of mental illness each year and each year 1 in 20 will experience a serious mental illness. Also, 1 out of 7 Youth ages 6 to 17 will have a mental health disorder. This lets us know that there are many people affected by mental health issues across the country that still work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love, and inspire each day through the lens of treatable mental health issues.
Just like with a physical health issue there can be different stages and levels of the illness that determines what the best type of treatment for it may be. One may have the sniffles and a headache that some rest and an over the counter medication may help. While others may have some severe symptoms such as sudden confusion, trouble speaking, loss of balance, and a sudden headache may need more immediate attention to help save someone’s life.
One could have had some stressful situations in life with several life changes such as moving to a new area, starting a new job, having to meet new people may cause some higher levels of anxiety or depression that is situational. Having these symptoms may not require any counseling or very minimal with no forms of medications being prescribed. However, there could be someone who had a parent and grandparent who had a severe mental health issue and they may be now having similar symptoms that have been greatly impacting his or her life. This person may need to seek help and not be judged for it just like the one suffering symptoms of a stroke would not be looked down upon for seeking treatment.
The last week of the month the theme is “Supporting Loved Ones: Connection is a powerful form of care.” SAMHSA is raising the awareness that we all should come to know about mental health issues because if we don’t currently have an issue of our own, we either know or will know someone who does. To be able to offer encouragement and support often starts with an understanding of the issues one faces. Only then do people tend to have more empathy and concern and show a willingness to be there for the one having to face the symptoms they are experiencing.
Mental health like physical health issues do not discriminate. Anyone can “develop” an issue. Just because you don’t have a mental health issue today doesn’t mean you can’t have one later. Therefore, learn to offer the support that you yourself would want if you have to face a mental health issue.
~TRS 5/23/26
Rays of Hope 