It's Mental Health Awareness Month
Let's Stop & Talk Openly
Lebanon, NH - May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Our mental health is also an important local issue for open discussion here in New Hampshire and Vermont.
At long last, largely because of our shared pandemic experiences, we can speak plainly about mental illness and substance misuse. COVID-19 has amplified the need to seek help without shame or embarrassment before a crisis occurs.
Pandemic-related stress can lead to depression, anxiety, substance misuse, loss of sleep, and worsening chronic conditions. 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. report symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic, up from 1 in 10 prior to the pandemic. 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness this year, and 1 in 2 will deal with mental illness in their lifetimes. We’re all in this together.
If you are experiencing: 1. excessive worries, fear, or paranoia; 2. long-lasting sadness or irritability, 3. extreme mood swings, 4. social withdrawal (non-pandemic related), 5. dramatic changes in eating patterns, 6. increased drug or alcohol use, or 7. significant fatigue or low energy, 8. feelings of hopelessness or wanting to die, 9. sleeping too little or too much, or 10. talking about being a burden to others, please contact a mental health expert. Speak about it with a friend, family member, clergy, or someone you trust. But don’t go through this alone. (If you witness any of these behaviors in someone else, ask them how they’re feeling. Encourage them to talk by letting them know this is Mental Health Awareness Month. And encourage them to seek professional help.)
COVID-19 has put young adults, parents and children, people experiencing job loss, communities of color, elders, and essential workers at elevated risk of depression and stress-related anxiety disorders. Substance misuse among these groups is also rising, as is suicidal ideation. These are treatable conditions.
See https://nhcbha.org/ in NH, or https://mentalhealth.vermont.gov/ in VT to find your local community behavioral health center. Reaching out will help.
Sincerely,
Dave Celone
The author is director of development & community relations at West Central Behavioral Health, the non-profit community behavioral health center serving the Upper Valley and Sullivan County with offices in Claremont, Lebanon, and Newport, NH. www.wcbh.org