Mental Health Awareness Month observed annually in May

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance which was established in 1949 by Mental Health America to bring attention to the importance of mental well-being.

The awareness month aims to destigmatize mental illnesses and raises awareness on suicide while drawing attention to psychological disorders and communities it affects nationwide. Across the country, individuals and organizations step up to raise awareness and help address the challenges faced by people living with mental health conditions.

Melanie Webb, founder of Righteous Roots Crisis Resource Center said, “Mental Health Awareness Month helps people recognize the ways mental illness impacts their lives, educates people about available services, and highlights ways to advocate, even if they don’t have a mental illness.”

Despite recent strides in how our society approaches mental well-being, many Americans still do not have access to the high-quality, comprehensive treatment and the care they need.

According to thenationalcouncil.org and psychiatry.org:

• 2 percentof United States adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021.
• One in 20S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
• One in sixS. youth have a mental health condition, but only half receive treatment.
• Fifty percentof all mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by the age of 24.
• Half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14.
• One in 24 adults has a serious mental illness.
• One in 12 has a substance use disorder.
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all ages. It is more common than homicide.
• People with mental illnesses are no more likely to be violent than those without a mental health disorder. In fact, those with mental illness are 10 times more likely to be the victims of violent crime.

Webb expressed that when it comes to keeping a positive mindset, she always starts small.

“If you find yourself overwhelmed with the thought of getting out of bed, make a daily goal to do something,” she said. Her examples include taking a shower, taking out the trash, calling a friend, going for a walk, going to the gym, or simply opening the windows and doors to your home to let fresh air inside.

She mentioned that the annual awareness month also helps with reducing the stigma that is attached to mental illness and seeking treatment for it.

“Stigma and affordability are the leading causes for people not seeking treatment for mental illness,” she said. “I believe that to break the stigma, we have to talk about it more so that people will realize they are not alone in their battle and that there is help.”

Mental health is often stigmatized because of a lack of understanding about what mental health conditions are and what it’s like to live with a mental health condition.

Healthline.com states, “Generally, the lack of understanding about mental health, as well as the harmful assumptions about people living with mental health conditions, is at the heart of the stigma. This can result in avoidance, rejection, infantilization, and other discriminations against people who are neurodivergent, or have a mental health condition.”

The National Institute of Mental Health reported that in 2021, one in five adults live with a type of mental illness.

For those seeking treatment, all mental health conditions should be discussed with a doctor. Treatment options include, but are not limited to any combination of counseling, spiritual guidance, exercise, medication, or vitamins.

“I don’t want anyone to struggle alone,” she said. “Righteous Roots was founded in order to provide support to people during their most vulnerable moments, and we have been removing barriers by providing no cost services locally.”

Righteous Roots offers support groups for men, women, and a wide array of classes that all tend to the well-being of individuals and families.

“Almost everything we do at Righteous Roots relates to positive mental health,” she said.

The center provides self-enrichment classes such as anger management, parenting, money management, relationship strengthening, life skills, Domestic Violence 101, and ongoing Bible studies. It also offers a wide array of services to victims of crime such as legal advocacy, crisis intervention, information and referral, as well as peer support.

“Everything we do at Righteous Roots is to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of those who need it most,” she said.