For 75 years, we have celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month in May. We use this month to raise awareness and address challenges faced by individuals living with mental health and substance use issues. While we have made significant progress in increasing awareness of mental health, there is still much work to be done. And we all have a role to play in bringing more awareness and understanding to mental health.
You do not have to work in the behavioral health field to make a difference in the lives of those living with mental health or substance use challenges. Over the past two weeks, I've been surrounded by hundreds of Kansas Citians who are making a difference just by sharing their stories, listening to the perspectives of those with lived experience, and seeking to understand and learn more about mental health.
Just last week, I attended the Mental Health Kansas City Conference with more than 800 other attendees. While some attendees were mental health practitioners, many others were teachers, members of the business community, parents, and community members who were seeking to better understand the signs and symptoms of behavioral health challenges.
Earlier this month, Wyandot Behavioral Health Network hosted our third annual stART the conversation art exhibition. The exhibition was filled with very personal, powerful, and vulnerable artwork and artist statements from Kansas Citians in various stages of their recovery journey. Each artist made a difference in someone's life by allowing members of the community to feel seen and validated in their experiences. Every guest who explored the exhibition, in-person or online, is making a difference by seeking to better understand what mental health and recovery look like for our friends and neighbors.
Just like those involved with the conference and the art exhibition, we can all be difference-makers by deepening our understanding and having conversations about mental health. Because those conversations help to bring about change that makes mental health care more accessible for all.
If you're looking for a way to make a difference during Mental Health Awareness Month (and beyond), The National Council for Mental Wellbeing suggests Four Ways Forward: raising your voice, prioritizing your self-care, celebrating mental wellbeing, and being the difference for your friends, family, and community. When we do those things, we move closer to a better tomorrow.