Taking Care of Our Mental Health in Unprecedented Times

Unprecedented. It’s an adjective that has increased in popularity over the past several years. As a clinical social worker with a background in mental health, this term has taken on new meaning. The COVID-19 pandemic was frequently referred to as unprecedented. The current political environment also has been referred to as unprecedented. Synonymous words could include things like uncertain, unpredictable, and scary, all of which have an impact on our mental health.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it serves as an important reminder that mental health challenges are common, affecting one in five people each year, and are treatable. There has been increasing recognition that maintaining good mental health is a key component of overall health and well-being and some declines in stigma associated with specific mental health conditions in more recent years. We all need to recognize that mental health challenges are common, often have biological origins, and are a normal reaction to environmental and social conditions.

With the constant barrage of information and a steady cadence of news available to all of us, it’s easy to begin feeling anxious, sad, overwhelmed, or angry, to name just a few of the more common emotions. Unfortunately, we are surrounded by negative information that can easily erode our feelings of stability and well-being. Under these conditions, it’s important to regularly check in on yourself, your friends, colleagues, and loved ones because social connections and relationships are one of the strongest protective factors. There are easy ways to do that, whether it is a simple phone call or get together, or a free, quick, anonymous screening. In addition, there are a range of tools and resources right at our fingertips that can support our mental well-being. We all need to promote positive mental health and normalize when our or other’s mental health is declining.

We also need to help ensure that society prioritizes mental health and take action. Current congressional deliberations and discussions could significantly impact the resources that support mental health including possible reductions to Medicaid and Medicare or elimination of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), the restructuring of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), or changes to the Mental Health, Substance Use or Social Service block grant programs.

At Social Current, our federal public policy agenda includes several key mental health-related priorities including advocating for funding and legislation that supports suicide prevention hotlines and protecting Medicaid funding, which supports nearly 20% of the U.S. population. Many people are unclear how easy it can be to take action and engage in advocacy for things that are important to us. Making calls, sending emails, and sending emails to your senators and representatives are easy activities with ready-made scripts and automated processes readily available. For more information on how you can take action, check out these resources from Social Current, Mental Health America, and National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s all be sure to take good care of ourselves, take good care of our loved ones, and take action to promote and protect mental wellness for everyone.