As May winds down, so does Mental Health Awareness Month. We should maintain our awareness every month.
Sooner or later, mental health issues impact us all. Approximately 25% of U.S. adults experience mental illness in any given year. That does not account for children or all of the lives impacted by a person with a mental illness. We know our youth have been dramatically impacted in recent years. Last year, approximately 87% of young people had some mental health problem on a regular basis.
We must rise above the judgment by some that having mental health issues is a sign a weakness or a character flaw. Our mental health is part of our overall health. Seeking help is a sign of strength and self-awareness.
Taking care of one’s self does not end at the end of a month. It is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year job. There is no health without mental health.
For resources, visit www.mhaswpa.org.
Laurie Barnett Levine
South Greensburg
The writer is chief executive officer of Mental Health America of Southwestern PA.