MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
(May 6, 2022, Salisbury, MD) Life can be challenging, but every day shouldn’t feel hard or out of your control. If it does, one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition is to take a mental health screening at mhascreening.org
While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. About half of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their life, with symptoms starting by age 24 for the majority of people. Social, cultural, and historical factors often impact the mental health of communities that have traditionally been marginalized. We know that communities who are targeted by racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and other forms of systemic oppression and violence can face an even heavier mental health burden because of these harms. These and many other factors such as genetics play a significant role when it comes to mental health conditions, but there are protective measures that can prevent mental health conditions from developing or keep symptoms from becoming severe.
Addressing mental health symptoms early is critically important for overall health. The average delay in treatment for mental health conditions being 11 years from symptom onset is much longer than that for other health conditions, meaning a lot of people spend months or years facing mental health challenges before getting a diagnosis. It is never too early to seek treatment for your mental health. Intervention during early stages can save lives and is critically important for people living with mental health conditions. When facing a mental health concern or living with a mental health condition, it’s common to feel like no one understands what you’re going through. You aren’t alone – help is available, and recovery is possible. Mental Health America has free, anonymous, and scientifically validated mental health screens at mhascreening.org.
We call upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Wicomico County to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions. Mental health awareness week is May 9th through the 15th, join us in raising awareness and Go Green! Wear your green during this week or anytime during the month of May to raise awareness and get people talking about mental health.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Starting July 16, 2022, call 988 for matters of mental health crisis. Calling 988 will connect you directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is staffed by trained crisis counselors 24/7, 365 days a year.
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