THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Written by Ballzer on May 19, 2021
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it is so important that we talk about mental health and help to fight the stigma associated with mental health!
A big part of breaking the stigma on mental health is awareness so we reached out to Raeanna Johnson, Director of Community Engagement from Tellurian Behavioral Health. We talked about how things have changed in the past year in regards to mental health and what to do locally if you or a loved one is experiencing mental health issues or suicidal thoughts.
Johnson said there’s been an uptick in depression, suicidal ideation, alcohol use, and drug overdoses. The good news is there’s also been a lot more people reaching out for help thanks to a push in talking about mental health.
She said if you or a loved one are in need of help, your primary doctor is a good first step, as well as Tellurian’s La Crosse CARE House, and the La Crosse County Behavioral Health. They can assist with referrals, funding and accessing different resources to help find appropriate care.
Some things to look for with a loved one is general behavioral changes: declining mood, increased irritability, decreased interest in activities they usually love, or change in eating and drinking habits.
What can you do? Just check in and have an open conversation, without judgement. Check in specifically on how their mental health is doing; how they’re sleeping and if there’s something they need. Raeanna also said she’s found sharing something about herself helps to open up the conversation.
You can reach out to the Tellurian CARE House for info on how they can help or to find other local resources via phone, (608) 519-3080, or email: telluriancarehouse@tellurian.org
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