Happy Mental Health Awareness Month to all who celebrate! Each May, we are proud to share our stories, to practice better self-care, and to build empathy for each other during out times of need.
Together, we have made tremendous progress in reducing the stigma around mental health in the past 20 years. It has become much more normal and acceptable to talk openly about our personal and familial experiences with depression, anxiety, suicidality, and past trauma.
This is in direct relation to the sheer volume of people who are more willing to navigate the vulnerability of being “known” fully and truly. It’s never easy to express yourself in the midst of struggle, or even after such. But the more we reduce the stigma, the more people get the help they need right when they need it.
One of the primary ways we can continue this growth trajectory that is quite literally saving people’s lives is to encourage our most influential leaders to start or continue facilitating the conversation around their own mental health, and the mental health of the people they serve.
We need every employer and every boss in Hendricks County to share about mental health during their full staff meetings this month.
We need every pastor and clergyperson in Hendricks County to share about mental health from their pulpits or stages during services this month.
We need every school administrator, teacher, and school staff member in Hendricks County to share about mental health with their students this month.
We need every doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, nurse, and medical assistant in Hendricks County to share about mental health with their patients this month (and maybe require screener surveys at every visit).
We need every elected official, local government employee, and running political candidate in Hendricks County to share about mental health in their press releases and town hall meetings this month.
Continuing to improve awareness and reduce stigma in our community must start at the top. When neighbors see their leaders caring, they will care too. Empathy is an infectious movement that must be practiced with our whole hearts, from the top down.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, difficulty processing past trauma, or any other mental-health related struggle – please call The Willow Center today at 317-852-3690.
