May is Mental Health Awareness Month

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn (WDEF) – Each year, millions of Americans are impacted by mental health issues. Unfortunately,  public stigma continues to have a negative impact on this conversation.

However, Mental Health Experts are taking advantage of May as Mental Health Awareness Month by speaking up and reminding residents to check in with their friends and family.”

“It’s something we don’t talk about in school ; we don’t learn about the brain; we haven’t understood the brain very well until recently. We always thought of mental health as something that’s ethereal, a moral failing or some sort of character flaw when really we are just starting to understand that mental health is just a function of your brain in the same way that heart health and heart illness are a function of your heart,” says Eve Knight, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital. 

According to recent data, 1 in 3 individuals have clinically significant  symptoms of mental health problems – with suicide being the 2nd leading cause of death in teenagers. 

“In Tennessee specifically suicide is the second and third leading cause of death for ages 10-34. It’s stayed true for the last 7 or 8 years. Part of the reason for that is because not a lot of teens die, so when you have a teen death it’s rare,” says Knight. 

Experts say in Tennessee you are more likely to die by suicide than in a motor vehicle accident-so its important to normalize speaking up, when you find yourself or someone you know-feeling depressed. 

“Our brain is a part of our body so mental health is physical health as well. It’s natural for us all to experience a little bit of physical and mental health symptoms. Good news is that treatment is 90% effective if you get it early and catch the symptoms. Oftentimes you will make a full recovery and actually come out better off on the other side,” says Knight.

Some suggestions about how to talk openly about mental health with a family or friend who seems depressed include  listening without judgement , being a safe space for them and their problems,  engaging in activities they enjoy and implementing an open door policy when it comes to communicating. 

Always remember that you are important and your life does matter.