A Breath of Fresh Air for Behavioral Health

For far too long, there has been a stigma surrounding mental health, making it incredibly difficult for the very people who need it the most to reach out. With an estimated 44 million people living with a mental illness and around 60% of them not receiving any treatment; something needs to be done to address this topic.

In recent years, change has been happening. Communities are rallying for a seat at the table and those without a voice are finding space to speak freely. Behavioral Health is now talked about more than ever and professionals in this field are seeing the effects firsthand. Every day, people are choosing to be vulnerable and talk about what shook them, helped them, and paved the way for them to make changes.

So, what does that mean for the residents of Valley County? Do we stop the push? Is the stigma over? I have never known many NE MT folks to be alright with “good enough”. In all seriousness, those who have struggled with their mental health, sobriety, or the safety of their own thoughts need to continue to be brave. Don’t be afraid to share your story and inspire others to find strength in your success. But please, please, don’t leave out the messy parts. The messy parts are the loneliest pieces of us sometimes; but it’s where we find our strength, our purpose, our drive.

As a community, we need to continue to talk about suicide awareness, the need to seek help if you’re depressed or just aren’t feeling like yourself and have social connections and feel loved. Talk to your teenagers about mental health, sign up for an upcoming QPR course, and hug those struggling babies just a little longer.

While you’re out advocating for others, don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Prioritize yourself, set time to do the things you love, lean towards gratitude. Those dishes can wait and who needs to sweat about folding towels? Just take that bubble bath/run/drive or whatever you have been needing. Let’s continue to move the needle towards a healthier community climate and a healthier you.

If you or someone you know would benefit from behavioral health services, please hover over the QR code with the camera on your smartphone to be taken to the local resource guide on the Valley CARE Coalition website. You can also view it by going to: https://www.valleycarecoalition.com/community-resources