May is Mental Health Month
“Mental Health” is the common umbrella term to describe the spectrum of lived internal experiences from wellness to illness that all human beings find themselves on throughout their lives. It has a lot to do with our feelings and emotions, with our decision-making skills and judgements, and with our interpersonal relationships. The Mental Health umbrella includes well-known struggles such as depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorder. Living with and managing the symptoms of struggles like these is difficult and often lonely.
According to Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 21% or 1 in 5 adults and approximately 17 % or 1 in 6 young people experience mental health struggles each year in the United States. Over 46% percent of people experience symptoms that would meet diagnosable criteria each day. More than 55% of people experiencing symptoms never get the help they need, often due to stigma, cost, and limited provider access. Community members of any minoritized identity (BIPOC or LGBTQ+) statistically experience higher rates of incidence and lower rates of accessing help than their non-minoritized peers.
Congratulations, now you’re aware! However, becoming aware of Mental Health and how many of us are experiencing a variety of internal struggles is only a small step in the right direction. What happens now?
We need empathy. We need bravery. We need allies.
Empathy does not require us to fully understand the minutia of another person’s lived experiences. In fact, that’s impossible. Instead, empathy requires us to simply “feel-with” someone. In other words, we have the choice of whether or not we come alongside someone during their time of struggle, and attempt to imagine what it feels like to be them right now. This simple, meaningful empathy has the power not only to change our hearts, but also to change the world.
Bravery does not require us to openly share every difficult detail of our lived experiences with the spinning world of personalities around us. That could cause more harm than good. Instead, bravery requires us to simply be seen as imperfect, as human beings working together through the ups and downs of life on life’s terms. In other words, we have the choice of whether or not we be honest with ourselves and with each other when we are not “okay” or “fine” or “good”. This simple, meaningful bravery has the power to open not only doors to connection, but also doors to healing.
Allyship does not require us to single-handedly save the world and everyone living in it from experiencing hardship. That’s an unrealistic and unreasonable burden to bear. Instead, allyship requires us to simply take action with our awareness. In other words, we have the choice of whether or not we listen, hug, encourage, share, post, refer, call, advocate, and vote for the sake of improved mental health treatment and prevention resources in our communities. This simple, meaningful allyship has the power not only to better our families and neighborhoods, but also to literally save lives.
Becoming an empathetic, brave ally starts by being so for yourself. If you or someone you know are struggling right now and don’t know where to turn, please call The Willow Center at 317-852-3690. We are here to empower you, to help you create solutions, and to inspire you toward healing.
-written by Chase Cotten, Community Director
