May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Month – a moment to raise awareness of mental health, individual struggles and the need for collective actions. More than one in five women are living with mental health conditions in the U.S.  What does this tell us? Mental health challenges are more common than you think and you’re not alone. 

Research shows Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans experienced the largest increase in mental health issues during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic but members of these communities were less likely to receive mental health care than white people. There are a several unique barriers to care that often make receiving quality behavioral health treatment more difficult for people of color.

Staying active and challenging your brain are a few important ways to boost mental health later in life. But for some seniors adjusting to a new season of life can be difficult, especially if they are also managing mental health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 4% of Americans age 70 and older have some form of depression.

Finding the right type of mental health care can be an intimidating. For some, concentrated inpatient care is necessary to address an acute crisis. For others, intensive outpatient care conducted while living at home can provide the right level of support.  

If you’re struggling with mental health challenges that are impacting your daily life, finding treatment options are an important first step, but it can intimidating. If you’re questioning whether mental health care is the right choice for you, consider some of these signs it’s time to talk to a doctor:

One in five U.S. adults is managing mental health challenges. Chances are you have a friend or family member who could use some support. But how do you initiate a conversation about mental health?