May is Mental Health Awareness Month – what better time to shed light on the importance of mental well-being, break stigmas, and foster a culture of compassion and support?! This annual observance reminds us of the intricate tapestry of emotions, struggles, and triumphs that define our mental health journeys. Mental health disorders affect millions of Americans of all ages. As an agency that approaches education and mental health services for children and their families, this is a particularly important month for all of us at Maryvale – and we encourage everyone in our community to think about how they can stay informed and approach mental wellness as an integrated part of life.
Awareness Unlocks Mental Health Clarity
Professionals in the field have observed Mental Health Awareness Month since 1949. The goal of raising awareness is to help everyone – practitioners and members of the public alike - to identify the root causes and impacts of mental illness. In a more informed, caring world, we believe that people can build greater empathy with one another. One of the fundamental pillars of Mental Health Awareness Month is challenging stigmas and dispelling myths. Stigma often leads to discrimination, shame, and reluctance to seek help. By fostering open conversations, sharing personal stories, and providing accurate information, we can dismantle misconceptions and create a more inclusive and empathetic society. With more empathy, we hope people will grow in their desire to end suffering when possible. Creating a familiar set of practices and language around mental health benefits those who are suffering as well as their friends, romantic partners, family members, coworkers, and the broader community. When family members and authorities lack a basic understanding of how mental illness occurs, who it affects, and how to respond to acute issues, people with mental health disorders face risks that could easily be avoided.
How Do Mental Health Disorders Occur?
True or false: mental illness is permanent. FALSE! Just because a person demonstrates symptoms at some point in life does not mean they will be permanently diagnosed with a mental health disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experiences mental illness each year. Mental health conditions are common among young people as well, with 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experiencing a mental health disorder in a given year. About 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and 75% begin by age 24, underscoring the importance of early intervention and support for young people.
Of these conditions, anxiety disorders are some of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting around 31% of adults at some point in their lives. Major depressive disorder impacts approximately 7% of adults in the U.S. in any given year, with nearly 17 million adults experiencing at least one major depressive episode. All of this is to say - almost everyone has come across a friend, family member, colleague, or acquaintance working through a mental illness.
Most of the time, mental health disorders are not obvious. Common conditions such as depression come with symptoms that feel relatable to most people. If persistent sadness, mood swings, fatigue, or an intermittent desire to be alone sounds familiar, you can empathize with people who experience depression. Feelings like these are bound to affect most people at some point, whether or not they are given a professional diagnosis. As a result, it is fairly easy for a mental health disorder to go unnoticed and untreated. Many high-functioning individuals deal with their mental health disorders in private.
Pay attention if someone you know confides in you that they are struggling to overcome mental health challenges. Your actions can make a tremendous difference as a friend, family member, colleague, or neighbor. Simply by being tapped into what a person needs, you can be proactive in checking in with them, recognize what might trigger problems for them, and remind them that they are not alone.
How to be an Ally in Preventing and Treating Mental Health Disorders
Despite the prevalence of mental health conditions, there are massive disparities in access to mental health care. Only 43.3% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in the past year. Why? Stigma remains the dominant barrier to seeking mental health treatment, with many individuals facing discrimination or reluctance to disclose their conditions due to societal attitudes. Socioeconomic factors and a lack of access to proper care are also common reasons that prevent people from getting the help they need.
While some mental health disorders are inherited, many emerge from a person’s lived experience and the conditions of their daily lives. If there are significant risk factors in a person’s life or if they are repeatedly subjected to abusive or traumatic experiences, it is essential to help them identify harmful patterns and provide them with support. In a therapeutic environment, treatment will look different for each person, often balancing various modalities of therapy and medication. If you are interested in supporting someone in preventing a mental health condition, try encouraging them to find safe, healthy outlets for their feelings. Journaling, creative activities like drawing or playing musical instruments, and talking openly with people in groups are all beneficial outlets. Feelings of anger or frustration can sometimes be better dealt with through physical exercise or group sports. Another great way to help someone in need is to offer a fresh perspective or new way of looking at a problem that gets them out of trapped thinking. Encourage an individual who is ashamed or fearful of their mental health condition to be gentle with themselves. Self-acceptance and self-love empower people to feel strong in the face of stigmas and social fears.
As we immerse ourselves in Mental Health Awareness Month, let us come together to embrace a culture where mental well-being is prioritized, stigma is dismantled, and support is readily available. Let this month be a catalyst for ongoing conversations, advocacy, and action to support mental health initiatives and create a brighter, more compassionate future. At Maryvale, our approach to mental health considers a person’s whole experience, including their family background, sources of trauma, whether they live in poverty, and their broader community circumstances. Through community-based services, we believe in promoting positive growth and well-being among children, young people, and their families.
About Maryvale
Maryvale is the oldest children’s charity in Los Angeles, CA. Since 1856, Maryvale’s San Gabriel Valley location has been committed to the needs of underserved children and families, offering services such as mental health services, community-based services, early education services, wraparound services, teen and family services, and after-school programming.
From our Rosemead and Duarte campuses, our senior leadership team seeks to foster hope, empowerment, and change for vulnerable children and families. Maryvale’s staff includes numerous MSW, MAEd, LMFT, and MBA qualified members uniquely qualified to deliver a continuum of services designed to help families in need grow and stay together. Maryvale is a 501(c)(3) charity organization and is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and has earned a Guidestar Seal of Transparency.
