May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time to raise awareness and help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. We know that nearly 1 in 5 American adults will experience a mental illness in a given year. Yet for so many people, talking openly about mental health and seeking treatment still feels out of reach. No one should have to tackle the challenges of mental illness alone. This is why awareness is so important. By raising awareness of mental health, we can educate about the realities of mental illness. Increased awareness creates more opportunities for honest discussions about mental health, which could give someone the nudge they need to make the brave decision to ask for help and start their recovery journey.
Over the years, I have had the great joy of watching so many people rediscover themselves and their purpose along the road to recovery. I’ve watched individuals who faced significant barriers overcome those obstacles to find their voice and become community leaders. I have seen children who once struggled with mental and behavioral health issues go on to graduate high school and lead healthy, happy lives. To witness that transformation from hopelessness to hopefulness – it is a truly beautiful thing. And it is happening every day.
If you want to get a glimpse of what recovery truly looks like, I invite you to join us at The Velvet Nova this Friday evening for the stART the conversation art exhibition. Many of the artists included in the exhibition have lived experience of mental health challenges. And each of those artists is at a different stage of their recovery journey. Through their art, they beautifully capture the trials and the triumphs of the recovery process. And they remind us that recovery is possible.
As we head into the home stretch of Mental Health Awareness Month, consider how you would respond if someone opened up to you about a mental health challenge. Would you know what to say or how to connect them to resources? If not, now is the time to learn more about mental health and the support services that are available in your community. You can play an important part in someone’s recovery journey by simply being there to listen, offer support and give them hope that recovery is possible.