Mental Health Awareness Month is around the corner!

WCCOA's Social Services Department is here with the next installment of our helpful monthly blog articles to help our aging population stay active, healthy and safe! Check in near the end of each month for information on new topics. As we come to the end of April, it's time to remember:

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

The month of May is observed for Mental Health Awareness. 2019 marks the 70th year May has been deemed as Mental Health Awareness month. This is a month where advocates and activists gather to shed light on mental health issues. A mental illness is a condition that can affect an individual’s feelings, mood, and thinking. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year. Many individuals chose not to seek the proper treatment for their illness. NAMI also states that about 60% of adults with a mental illness didn’t receive mental health services in the following year. Stigma and lack of Mental Health resources continue to be an issue. Listed below are recommendations for Mental Health Awareness Month:

Educate Yourself!

• Learn general information in regards to mental health.
• What factors may influence a mental illness.
• Symptoms of Mental Health 
• Familiarize yourself on resources within the area.
• Consider taking a Mental Health First Aid Training 

Destigmatize!

• Stigma is when someone, or you yourself, view you in a negative way because you have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as shame that can be felt as a judgement from someone else or a feeling that is internal, something that confuses feeling bad with being bad.
• Be mindful of hurtful stereotypes
• The inaccurate myths of illnesses can cause shame, guilt, embarrassment, and build obstacles for those seeking the assistance they may need.  

Nurture Your Mental Health!

• Reflect and advocate for your own mental health.
• Create a self-care action plan for yourself.

Wood County Mental Health Resources:

A Renewed Mind: (419) 873-8280
Unison: (419) 352-4624
Harbor: (419) 352-5387
Lutheran Social Services: (419) 352-0702
Zepf Center: (419) 373-6560
Wood County Crisis Line: 419.502.HOPE (4673)   


Sources: NAMI; Psychology Today