May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Every year the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) along with a multitude of other organizations push to raise awareness and get rid of the stigma surrounding mental health. This year their campaign is pushing for self-acceptance and citing facts that show people they are not alone on their journey. Their slogan is More Than Enough and can be used as a search tag on social media to see all their latest posts and info.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has become a huge mainstream discussion. During the pandemic, nearly half of U.S. adults reported that their mental health had been negatively impacted due to the virus alongside a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression globally. Currently, a whopping 90% of U.S. adults believe the country is currently facing a mental health crisis. So what can be done?
Whether you are personally struggling with mental illness or simply want to help those that are struggling, let’s go through a collection of resources. Firstly, if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The website is packed with incredibly detailed and helpful information and has people available 24/7.
Mental health is unique to every person so the resources or services you might need should be just as specific. NAMI has a helpline and links to support groups, classes, and webinars at nami.org. The CDC made a collection of useful links and resources by category (ex: Abuse, LGBTQ+, Veterans, Family, etc.).
The main thing is to remember that you are never struggling alone and there are options well within your reach to start getting the help you deserve. Most therapists now offer Zoom/video chat sessions and many sites have instituted chat helplines. Remember to take care of yourself, be kind to yourself, and allow others to help you.
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Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash
