May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As the leaves begin to appear on the trees and flowers begin to bloom, all seems better in the world. It’s amazing just how much the changing of the seasons and the newness of spring can brighten one’s spirit and change attitudes all around.
For some people, however, good weather is not enough to assist them with their mental health needs, and it is important for us to check in with ourselves and with those we love on a regular basis.
We can begin to think and talk more openly about the ways our mental health affects so many facets of our lives, from our eating and sleeping habits, to our relationships—whether personal, romantic, or professional—to the ways we view ourselves, our life chances, and those around us.
My friends who have struggles with mental health issues have told me one of the hardest things they ever did was to tell others they were struggling. However, once they did open up, each friend said they felt like a weight had been lifted off of their body and spirit. They weren’t automatically “cured,” but it was an important first step to acknowledge there was a problem and begin the journey to seek help.
I am also a firm believer of therapy as maintenance. Many of us have best friends and family members we love and trust, but they may not necessarily be licensed professionals to help us with our short- and long term issues. Finding a licensed therapist is difficult and can also be very expensive, but there are more websites to assist individuals, couples, and teens. Websites like The Black Therapy Network (www.theblacktherapynetwork.com), Therapy for Black Girls (www.therapyforblackgirls.com), or Therapy for Black Men (www.therapyforblackmen.org) are great places to start your mental health maintenance journey.
So many families are also living with loved ones who struggle with mental health issues, fearing the day they might need to call authorities to assist them with a family member in severe crisis. The NYC Health Department (www.nyc.gov) has a resource page that helps families with everything from important phone numbers, services provided, transport to an emergency room, counseling, assessment, and other services provided. In addition, by calling the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline hotline by dialing 988, New Yorkers can speak to someone to assist them in their time of crisis (nyc988.cityofnewyork.us/en/).
We must play the cards in our hands, not the ones we wished we’d been dealt. In doing so, we can be more honest about our own needs and the needs of our loved ones. Let’s use this month to assess, learn, and support.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio. She is a 2023-24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.