As communities across the country recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, mental health professionals are encouraging people to speak up, seek support, and break the silence that has long surrounded mental health struggles.
“For so long, a lot of people’s mental health was kept quiet or swept under the rug as something you didn’t talk about or share,” said Dr. Paige Mullins-Couch, a licensed psychologist and health services provider in psychology. “Because it might be seen as some kind of personal weakness or something to be secretive about.”
This year’s theme—Sharing Our Stories—aims to destigmatize mental health by encouraging people to be open about their experiences.
“We’re learning more and more that there is a biological basis for a lot of the struggles people have in their mental wellness,” Mullins-Couch said. “And we want to treat them with respect and help them find paths to healing rather than keeping them quiet and suffering in silence.”
She said that while more people are beginning to understand mental health on the same level as physical health, “we still, in some of the language we use or the way we talk about people, are needing to get more information out there and help people feel comfortable in talking about what’s going on.”
For those in immediate crisis, Mullins-Couch recommends calling the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“Don’t call 911, call 988, and they can help you in the middle of that crisis,” she said.
She also pointed to other resources such as the Trevor Project, local mental health centers, school family resource centers, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that may be available through work or insurance benefits.
“If you have nothing, a lot of people—certainly some of our state communities—offer some access to counseling and other services,” she said. “Letting their family resource or youth service center know that you’re struggling… they can also connect you with services.”
Support from friends and loved ones can also make a difference.
“You certainly don’t want to downplay anyone else’s emotions because you’re not in their shoes or in their situation,” Mullins-Couch said. “We certainly don’t want to play the comparison games.”
Instead, she encourages simple, supportive gestures.
“Hey, would you like me to go with you to schedule an appointment or sit with you while you make this call?” she suggested. “How about we give [a counselor] a call and see what their advice is? Again, we can be supportive. We can be there. We can offer help, but we also don’t want to make someone feel like we’re asking them to just sweep it under the rug and pretend to be okay.”
Dr. Mullins-Couch shared the connection between physical and mental health, encouraging people to take care of their bodies as part of their emotional well-being.
“Getting out, getting some fresh air, moving your body in gentle ways can be helpful to our mental health,” she said. “Eating a nutritious, healthy diet certainly has been shown to have benefits.”
She added that balance is key.
“Running a marathon every week is not balance in one’s life unless you’re a professional runner and that’s what you do,” she said. “We want to make sure that we’re taking time for our work and time for our relaxation and getting good physical rest and sleep and nutrition.”
And while May is Mental Health Awareness Month, Mullins-Couch says the issue doesn’t end when the calendar page turns.
“The color for mental health awareness is green. The month is May,” she said, “but again in my world, you know, mental health matters every day.”
She encourages regular check-ins with yourself and urges people not to delay seeking help.
“If I’m a person who would never think of missing an appointment with my primary care physician… why am I neglecting my mental health?” she said. “You don’t have to be in therapy for life. It’s certainly a good idea to go talk with someone, get their perspective, set some goals, and then get a plan to achieve them.”
For anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts—or who knows someone who might be—Mullins-Couch offered a message of hope and action.
“You are important. You do matter. There are people out there who care. Let someone know,” she said. “If you meet someone and you’re afraid they might be thinking about taking their own lives, ask them about it and then get them to that 988 number or a local emergency room if you feel the situation is that serious, because mistakes and temporary problems are things we learn from, not things we die from.”
