This article originally appeared in the June 2024 DNR Field Notes newsletter

Although May was Mental Health Awareness Month, we should make it a priority every month to acknowledge the challenges many people face. Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year, and the pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health across the country.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 U.S. adults reported in 2020 that the pandemic significantly and negatively impacted their mental health – that’s about 52.9 million people. Those with existing mental illness diagnoses noted an even greater impact across the board.

You’re not alone

Burnout, stress and the weight of mental illness can be overwhelming. But you’re not alone. If you’re struggling, talk with a mental health care professional, call a helpline, connect with friends and family or join a support group; these resources are here to help you.

Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a mental illness, it’s good practice to assess your own mental wellness and be mindful of those around you. You never know what someone might be dealing with.

Know the warning signs

Worried about someone you care about? Know the common warning signs of mental illness – try to understand what they’re experiencing and how their daily life is impacted. Mental illness can be isolating and knowing someone cares is often the first step for seeking treatment.

Even small actions can have big impacts on mental health; whether it’s moving your body, making sure you’re getting enough nutrition, spending time outside, catching up on sleep, spending time with loved ones, practicing deep breathing exercises, taking social media breaks, getting creative, practicing gratitude or more, these actions can help soothe some symptoms of mental illness.

Help is available

Everyday actions are not a cure for mental illness, and mental illness is a serious medical condition; check out the mental health resources below for more detailed information.

• Employee Service Program - ESP provides high-quality professional assistance to state employees and promotes wellness. ESP is comprised of licensed master-level social workers (moving up here because it makes more sense). Their services are part of state employee benefits, are confidential, voluntary, available to employees and family members.

• Stay Well – Cultivating Joy - A collection of animated videos exploring ways to move beyond pandemic struggles and reclaim personal joy.

• Stress and Coping - Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to deal with different types of stress.

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Free, confidential support 24/7 for people in distress. They offer prevention and crisis resources. Call 1-800-273-8255 or 988.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness - Provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all people affected by mental illness can build better lives.

• People Seeking Help - Free and confidential resources for connecting to skilled, trained mental health professionals. Lists helplines and offers assistance for locating a provider in your area.