As we come upon May, we’d like to highlight one of the many “national awareness” topics that can get left behind in the busyness of a month that is crammed with festivities — mental health.
What comes to mind when you think of May? Cinco de Mayo, May the 4th, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, graduations, weddings? Yes to all of the above. But there’s an opportunity in our celebrations to recognize that not everyone wearing a smile or toasting with tea or margaritas is happy. That person who came to your graduation open house spent most of the morning overcoming their anxiety of popping into a house full of strangers. The fireworks set off at celebrations could trigger someone’s PTSD. And while we should definitely be celebrating our mothers, some are mourning theirs, aren’t in a good headspace and are having trouble functioning day to day.
Recognition is a great first step. But let’s go beyond that and accept that the stigma we’ve long placed on people receiving help for mental health needs to go away. Most people completely accept that if they are physically ill, it’s OK to see a doctor and to take medication. While treatment for mental health issues, although more accepted now, still holds a stigma. Why is that?
According to information from the Mayo Clinic, “Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function.”
If a person were to break their leg and were unable to walk you would immediately get them to an ER. If a person cannot function in their daily life because of mental illness, why not urge them to seek help? But too often, people who need help are told to “Suck it up, buttercup” or “Life’s hard, deal with it.”
In the meantime, a mom struggling with postpartum depression feels she cannot turn to anyone for help because she’s got to do it all with a smile on her face. She should be happy with her newborn, right? So why is she crying when no one’s around? Why does she not want to be touched?
A teen or young adult is struggling with anxiety and/or depression with thoughts of self-harm or harm to others. They feel they are screaming in a vacuum and no one is noticing.
Fortunately, there is help and there are doctors and mental health professionals willing to listen, provide therapy and prescribe (if necessary) medication. You might need medication for a short period of time, or you’ll make a plan with your healthcare provider for a longer treatment plan.
And we want to let you know: It’s OK to ask for help. It’s OK if you and your doctor decide that therapy and medication are your best treatment plan.
No one should have to walk alone through mental health struggles.
For immediate mental health or addiction help, call the Niagara County Crisis Services Hotline at 988 or 716-285-3515. You can also dial the Mental Health Association in Niagara County Help Line at 716-433-5432, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for all of Niagara County. Its Help Book page at https://helpbookniagara.wordpress.com offers a directory of services for Niagara County residents. The Well Niagara webpage and app are also available and provide information on available resources.
For those who are in a crisis or are thinking of suicide, call 911 immediately. Throughout New York, you can also call the state’s suicide and crisis line at 988 and immediately be connected to “compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress.”
We hope that as we journey through our May celebrations we remember grace and kindness to others, and that if they need help from a mental health professional our words will not stand in their way.