Mar 07 Letter to the editor: Understanding, supporting mental health
Tribune-Review – When someone chooses to step out of the shadows of depression and ask for help, it is a profound demonstration of strength. When someone like Sen. John Fetterman shares this information publicly, it shows countless others who are working on their mental wellness they are not alone.
According to the CDC, more than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime, and about one in five Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.
Mental health conditions are among the most common health conditions in the U.S. This isn’t an issue we can continue to ignore. Many people connect with Fetterman’s story because they’ve been there. They know what it’s like to juggle a high-pressure job, family and a variety of responsibilities.
We need to remove the stigma associated with mental health conditions and increase awareness that these conditions are highly treatable. Check your own mental wellness and the mental wellness of the people around you. If you’re seeing red flags, consider talking to a trusted loved one, your primary care physician or a faith leader, or call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Together, we can work toward a future where mental wellness is understood, supported and accepted.
Joni Schwager
Point Breeze
The writer is executive director of the Staunton Farm Foundation.