May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Olmsted County recognizes the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health conditions are real and prevalent in our nation. If you are experiencing mental health issues, know that you are not alone, and that help is available. One in five Minnesotans face mental illness each year. One in 10 young people have experienced a period of major depression.
“All Americans face challenges in life that can impact their mental health, especially during a pandemic,” said Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Chair Stephanie Podulke. “I call on Olmsted County’s residents, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, and schools to make a commitment to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, learning about ways to protect mental health, and helping to ensure there are appropriate and accessible services available for all people with mental health conditions.”
Help is available
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call Crisis Response of Southeast Minnesota at 1-844-274-7472. Crisis Response of Southeast Minnesota provides qualified counselors who can respond to any problem 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by phone. Services are no cost, confidential, and immediately accessible.
Opening in Rochester this summer on the Olmsted County government campus – directly behind the 2117 building on Campus Drive Southeast – is the Southeast Regional Crisis Center (SERCC). The SERCC will be a walk-in facility that will provide care to individuals in southeast Minnesota who are experiencing a mental health care crisis. Services will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week – regardless of the type of mental health crisis or ability to pay. The SERCC will serve Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona counties – and it will be operated by Nexus Family Healing – who are experts in trauma-informed care, systemic family treatment, and mental health crisis care.
Emotional wellness during a pandemic
The following guidance comes from the Adult Behavioral Health team at Olmsted County.
During this pandemic, it is more important than ever to pay attention to your mental and emotional wellness. Many of us are balancing more in our lives than ever before adding another layer of stress.
Stress
Stress is a natural part of life and can be a good thing. It is when stress becomes chronic and unrelenting that it can become problematic.
- Stress becomes distress which can have negative effects on us physically, emotionally, and behaviorally.
- You may see that you have a shorter temper and/or changes to your eating and/or sleep habits.
- You may be having a more difficult time finding joy in activities you normally enjoy.
- Physically, you may feel more fatigued, have stomach aches, and/or headaches.
Reach out for support
We hear many reasons why people are not reaching out for support. They may feel others need the support more, things will get better on their own, or they don’t know where to go because this is the first time they are feeling this worried or anxious.
- Know that you deserve to be emotionally healthy.
- Reaching out for assistance when you need help with your own mental and emotional well-being is a sign of strength.
Continue making human connections
We often need social interactions to be healthy. Human connection can often help with our symptoms of distress and be a key tool in making it through the pandemic.
- Please make time each day to talk on the phone, virtually, or any way you can safely.
- Keep connected to those that support you and give you joy.
- Remember if you have a hard time finding support and you are struggling to cope, there are qualified counselors at Crisis Response for Southeast Minnesota that are willing to talk to you anytime day or night. Just call 1-844-274-7472.
“In southeast Minnesota, we continue to build out our system to address all our mental health needs,” explained Olmsted County Director of Adult and Family Services Amy Thompson. “Please reach out to your county, local mental health providers, or peer network for help if you are struggling with stress and your mental health.”
View details about mental health resources in southeast Minnesota on the Olmsted County website.