Awareness for mental health struggles, resources emphasized during Mental Health Awareness Month

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – This May, Mental Health Awareness Month, Emplify Health is hoping to raise awareness not only for those struggling with mental health, but also for the resources available to combat those struggles.

“Struggling with our emotional health and mental health is a normal part of our human experience and we’re not alone in that,” said Daniel Gesell, team leader of therapy services and inpatient hospital at Emplify Health Green Bay Psychiatric Center. “If you’re dealing with depression and anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone and there is help and support out there.”

Last year, Wisconsin saw 920 deaths by suicide.

“It’s drawing awareness to that number, and the need to support people with mental health in our communities, in our schools, in our places of work and in the settings where we live with people knowing that mental health is real and the danger of suicide is really real as well,” Gesell said.

Gesell said he hopes Mental Health Awareness Month prompts community members to pause and consider their own mental health.

“It gives us an opportunity to look at ourselves and say, ‘How am I taking care of myself from an emotional health standpoint?’ and make sure we’re learning and educating about that,” he said. “We need to be aware of our own mental health and take care of ourselves… Some people put it off and say, ‘This feels like a big deal to step out and get some help.’ It’s easy when we’re struggling with mental health to just feel like we’re just reacting day to day and it’s hard to be intentional and take that moment to stop and be like, ‘Hey, do I need to do something for myself here?’ That can get in the way of people asking for help as well.”

Despite seeing annual increases in those seeking mental health services, Gesell said many people still feel alone in their struggles and don’t realize that others in their community are experiencing similar challenges and utilizing resources to overcome them.

“As much as we work on education and normalizing mental health here, there still is a stigma for that,” Gesell said. “I wish people knew that [mental health resources] are something that’s very available and that our community, our friends and our family are utilizing them. I think people may be afraid, still, to talk about that. It feels like you’re on an island and alone going through this, but it’s something that so many people are going through. When we have the courage to talk about and share about it, we start to learn that we’re not alone in that struggle.”

As with many other areas of healthcare, Gesell said it’s best to start treating mental health concerns before they become critical.
One way people can make sure they stay on top of their mental health is by making note of changes in their lifestyle that could indicate a problem.

“One of the things we’re always looking for is how it’s affecting your overall functioning day to day,” Gesell said. “Maybe you’re starting to find you’re not sleeping well anymore and that can be a warning sign. Or you don’t have an appetite and you’re not eating regular meals or as healthy as you used to be. Sometimes it’s a loss of activity and not engaging in things socially or physically as you normally would. When you start to notice that those emotional things are affecting the way we live everyday, that can be a sign to say, ‘Hang on, I want to get some help before this gets worse.’”

For those who realize they may need help, Gesell said the first step is talking about it with someone you trust.

“When we hold struggles internally in our minds, those feel insurmountable,” he said. “Being able to talk about it with someone you trust — a trusted friend or family member — and sharing that you’re having some of these struggles, you’ll often find other people can relate and are struggling in similar areas as well.”

“Another great step is talking with your primary care doctor — a doctor that you have a relationship with — and just sharing, ‘Here’s something I’m concerned about,’ and letting them know…” Gesell continued. “They can often share resources and do a good assessment of what are the next steps to help people in that situation.”

More information about Emplify Health Behavioral Health and its services can be found at bellin.org/services/behavioral-mental-health.

The National Suicide Hotline can be reached at 988 for those experiencing a mental health crisis.