Mental Health Awareness Month: The Strength in Every Mental Health Story

As we recognize National Mental Health Awareness Month, we're reminded of this year's powerful theme: "In Every Story, There Is Strength." This celebration serves as a crucial time to raise awareness about mental health conditions, reduce stigma, and highlight the importance of mental wellness for everyone.

Sandra Mills, Ph.D., clinical director of Lee Health Behavioral Health Center, says the theme highlights how sharing our experiences helps promote the understanding that mental health challenges are not defects of character. 

“Today, we recognize that mental health is simply another aspect of our overall wellbeing—as essential and worthy as primary care treatment for infections, physical ailments, and diseases,” Dr. Mills says. “This year’s theme highlights how sharing personal experiences can foster understanding and help reduce the stigma around mental healthcare.”

The evolution of mental health treatment and its perception

Dr. Mills notes that, historically, mental healthcare was poorly understood, often feared, and stigmatized as a result. 

“Not so long ago, the approach of professionals in the mental health field (medical, psychological, and psychiatric) to mental health challenges was far from compassionate. This was reinforced by portrayals of ‘insane asylums’ and treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as frightening experiences,” Dr. Mills says. “Movies like ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest’ and ‘Shutter Island’ dramatized and promoted historical approaches that lacked patient dignity and understanding.”

Mental health treatment has come a long way, she says, and so has its perception. Among its many messages, National Mental Health Awareness promotes the idea that mental health “is as crucial to our overall well-being as our physical health,” Dr. Mills says. 

“Mental health conditions, like primary care issues, require proper treatment, like any other part of our body system. They deserve the same attention, treatment, and care as a primary care issue,” Dr. Mills says. 

Our minds require balance just like our bodies

Just as our bodies function optimally when in homeostasis (balance), so do our minds. When this balance is disrupted—whether by chemical imbalances, trauma, stress, or other factors—we experience symptoms that signal something needs attention.

"Our bodies work perfectly when they're in homeostasis, and minds are the same,” Dr. Mills notes. “When we develop a fever from a flu infection, we get treatment that reduces the fever, clears the infection, and puts us back to our normal selves,” says Dr. Mills. “Our brains work the same way.”

This medical model, she says, helps us understand mental health conditions as legitimate health issues requiring proper treatment—not as character flaws or personal weaknesses.

Normalization helps reduce stigma and encourages treatment

Normalization, in its simplest form, means making something normal or regular. Dr. Mills says that when public figures, media personalities, or social influencers speak openly about their mental health journeys, they contribute significantly to this normalization process. 

By normalizing conversations about mental health, we create a world where no one has to suffer in silence, Dr. Mills says.

“Their vulnerability helps others recognize that mental health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of success, wealth, or status,” she says. “National Mental Health Awareness Month helps us understand that mental health challenges are incredibly common, a normal part of the Human experience.”

Approximately one in five adults in the United States experiences mental illness each year. “By acknowledging this prevalence, we reduce isolation and encourage those struggling to seek help,” Dr. Mills adds.

Community support plays a vital role in mental health recovery

Support groups provide tremendous value for those facing mental health challenges. Like behavioral addiction recovery programs, these groups offer:

• A community with shared experiences and a common language
• A space free from judgment where people can speak openly
• One-on-one relationships that foster growth and accountability

Professional therapy can offer these benefits, too, Dr. Mills notes. Therapeutic approaches include group therapy and individual counseling, where patients are met with what she calls “unconditional positive regard,” a concept pioneered by Carl Rogers. 

“This simple act of holding space for someone without judgment is often reported as the most healing aspect of their journey,” Dr. Mills says. 

It's OK to not be OK

Human imperfection should be embraced and not hidden, according to Dr. Mills. “Rather than hiding our struggles, we can embrace them as part of our unique stories.”

She says the Japanese art of Kintsugi beautifully illustrates this concept. In this tradition, broken pottery isn't discarded; instead, the cracks are filled with gold, creating something even more beautiful than the original.

“Our mental health journeys—including the struggles and healing—can similarly transform us into stronger, more compassionate individuals. Even broken crayons can still color.”

Mental Health Awareness Month serves multiple important purposes

National Mental Health Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to:

• Educate ourselves about different mental health conditions and treatment options
• Break down stigma by speaking openly about mental health
• Support those struggling by listening without judgment
• Advocate for better access to mental healthcare services
• Recognize our own mental health needs and seek help when necessary

As we observe this important month, let's remember that seeking help for mental health challenges is not a sign of weakness but rather an act of courage. Let's commit to treating mental health with the same importance we give to physical health, and to seeing the strength in every mental health story—including our own.

If you are in a crisis

The statistics on suicide are staggering. The age-adjusted suicide rate in 2022 was 14.21 per 100,000 individuals. If you are in a crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Lifeline provides confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. 

Support is also available via live chat. Para ayuda en español, llame al 988. 

How are you feeling?

If the answer is “overwhelmed with emotions” like sadness, depression, or anxiety, reach out to our experienced, compassionate professionals at Lee Health Behavioral Services at 239-343-918

Florida Department of Health in Lee County Resources

Mental health first aid training: Empower yourself to recognize warning signs

• The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) is highlighting the importance of mental health by offering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to the community. 
• Participants will develop the ability to identify indicators of mental health crises and substance abuse, offer support in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and facilitate access to mental health resources.
• For location, times, and dates, go here.
• For more information, contact Noelia E. Martinez Irizarry at Lee-PIO@FLHealth.gov or at 239‑332-9653.