It is May, which is the month that recognizes mental health awareness. Every person has mental health, and it is important to nurture, take care of, learn, and turn to others, as you do not have to be alone. It’s okay to not be okay. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. There are a multitude of mental illnesses. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 adults in the US has a mental illness (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2025). We have indeed come a long way in accepting mental health and creating awareness. Unfortunately, some mental illnesses still experience stigma today. According to the CDC, mental health stigma is defined as negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold towards those who experience mental health conditions (Mental Health Stigma, 2025).

As a counselor, my passions include creating a safe place to talk about anything that you want to work through and breaking the stigma of mental illnesses. Life comes with challenges and pain, and you can get through each. Together, we can reduce stigma by taking a curious approach to try to understand what someone else is experiencing, educate ourselves on different mental health conditions, and practice love, patience, and acceptance. I strongly believe that those with serious mental illnesses can improve, and it is much easier to improve when love, patience, and acceptance are extended.

Some of the most helpful tools that we can use to improve our mental health include identifying and using coping skills that work for us. Some may like listening to uplifting music or walking in nature, while others may enjoy talking to a trusted person. As a counselor, I encourage discovering what makes you happy and then implementing these tools while tending to the uncomfortable feelings that you may be experiencing. Let’s come together in both our successes and sufferings. Again, you do not have to be alone.