Mental Health Awareness…..How Can You Help?

In today’s world, we all have someone we know and love that is affected by a mental health concern. How can you help? That’s simple, talk about mental health!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Samaritan Center and Good Samaritan encourages everyone to talk more openly about mental health concerns, day-to-day living, and the struggles you may face. By talking about these concerns in everyday life, we help reduce the stigma long been associated with mental health.

“Our organization strives to provide high-quality services to thousands of clients, in collaboration with our community partners,” said Brock Lough, Executive Director of the Samaritan Center. “We are grateful that our leaders have deemed behavioral health an issue of importance to have a month dedicated to enhancing awareness. We have come a long way in improving services available for mental health and substance misuse in our society, but as a community we must continue to work vigorously on expanding services as the need is still great.”

According to Mental Health America, more than 50 million Americans live with a mental health issue here in the U.S. That’s one in five of your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors live with a mental health concern each day. Mental health is as important as our physical health and should be treated as such. People feel comfortable talking about high blood pressure, diabetes or heart conditions; let’s start talking about anxiety, depression and stress.

Anxiety and depression continue to be the leading mental health concerns for Americans and post-pandemic research shows more and more people are seeking help for these diagnoses. Dr. Michael Drake, Clinical Director of Operations at the Samaritan Center, says that everyone can play a part in helping improve awareness by recognizing the signs of someone living with a mental health concern. “It could be as simple as noticing that someone has stopped a routine habit like attending church, taking their dog for a walk, or not attending the monthly school’s PTO meeting,” said Dr. Drake. “Simply reaching out to your friend or neighbor and asking how their day is going can be the perfect opening to help them open up and talk about their concerns”.

The first step in receiving care is as simple as calling the Samaritan Center, 812.886.6800 for an appointment. The Samaritan Center is a Certified Mental Health Center staffed with professionals that can diagnose and treat behavioral and mental health concerns for patients of all ages in Knox, Daviess, Martin and Pike counties.

In May 2020, Samaritan Center received a $4 million Federal grant to increase the access to and improve the quality of community mental health and substance use treatment services. Those monies allowed additional direct service delivery staff, including case managers, therapists, a primary health nurse practitioner, and peer recovery specialists to the staff of Samaritan Center, significantly reducing the wait time for initial access to care.

“Mental health care is paramount in creating a healthy community. Good Samaritan understands the importance of patient wellness, which includes both physical and mental health care,” said Rob McLin, President and CEO of Good Samaritan. “I could not be more proud of the work our Samaritan Center team does each day helping individuals and their families through some of their most difficult times.”

Throughout the month of May, Good Samaritan’s Facebook page will be sharing tips and information on Mental Health as well as motivational and additional resources about these illnesses.

If you or someone you know is in need of help, contact the professionals at Samaritan Center, 812.886.6800, to learn more about the programs and services available to assist you in your care.