Mental Health Awareness Month

Last year in early May, I did something new - I got fairy hair. And not just any color fairy hair, but green to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. As someone with personal and family experience with mental health issues who worked in the mental health field, I was excited to be part of this collaborative effort.

Mental Health Awareness Month was created in 1949 to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and promote mental well-being. Over the years, people have become more aware of mental health issues and more willing to talk about them. But there is still much work to do.

As you likely know, mental health issues are prevalent in our society. One in five adults experiences a mental illness each year. One in six youth ages 6 - 17 years old experiences a mental health disorder each year. Additionally, stigma and barriers to accessing mental health services remain significant challenges for many.

One of the goals of Grace’s new strategic plan is to develop and implement a behavioral health ministry at Grace. (Behavioral health encompasses mental health and substance use and addiction issues.) This goal came out of the recognition that many people in our society are struggling with mental health issues and that we all can benefit from attending to our mental health.

Some of the objectives of this goal are to ensure that people at Grace know how to access trusted mental health resources, provide life skills education that promotes wellbeing, support those who are providing long-term and memory care for others, and partner with local organizations in addressing mental health needs at Grace and in the wider community.

The implementation team for this goal is just beginning to discern how to focus our work. The team is receiving support from a new program through the North Carolina Council of Churches, the Abundant Life Initiative, which accompanies congregations as they “discern where God is calling them to impact mental health and emotional well-being in their communities.” This program offers multiple resources, including staff support, educational offerings on various faith and mental health topics, programming ideas, and the opportunity to apply for grant funding.

Developments related to mental health are also taking place in our community. In March, the initial Henderson County Behavioral Health Conference was held, and I was grateful to attend. The event featured multiple speakers and break-out sessions on an array of topics, as well as networking opportunities. This event will take place annually. In April, I also attended the initial meeting of the new Henderson County Behavioral Health Coalition, which aims to collectively address community needs around behavioral health. I’m excited to see how their work unfolds and how Grace can be a part of it.

As we recognize and celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month in May, look for resources and other information at Grace and on Grace’s social media pages that you can use and share with others. And wear green (or get green fairy hair!) to show your support!

Kimberly Dunbar

Interim Ministry Associate

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