May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a great opportunity to show support for the courage it takes to pursue care, and to celebrate the compassionate, skilled professionals serving in this field.

 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year – but fewer than half of those adults with mental illness receive treatment. Many who do receive treatment have suffered for a long time beforehand, with an average delay between onset of symptoms and treatment of 11 years. (Data source: nami.org)

 

Here are a few tips from us at Saint Louis Counseling for encouraging yourself and others in the journey to mental wellness.

 

  • Empathy and understanding go a long way. Offer support to someone who’s struggling by taking a moment to listen. If that someone is yourself, slow down and take time to ask yourself what’s really going on.
  • Learn to recognize some of the warning signs of mental illness with this resource from NAMI
  • Make a short list of resources that can help, so that you can share them with someone in need. SaintLouisCounseling.org is a great place to start.
  • The next time you’re stressed, try our free, confidential chatbot called Hope. Hope is ready with recommendations for regaining balance and information for connecting with a counselor. Chat with Hope by texting “hi” to 202-949-7249 or visiting SaintLouisCounseling.org (look for Hope in the lower right-hand corner of the page).
  • Thank your family members or friends who work in mental health care. Let them know that you appreciate how they serve people in our community.

 

Mental Health Awareness Month is a way to fight stigma, which can be a barrier to care. At Saint Louis Counseling, we also know that finances can be a barrier. That’s why we don’t turn anyone away for financial reasons.

 

All year long, Saint Louis Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, brings the healing, help, and hope of Jesus Christ to those in need with a compassionate, caring presence.