May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a period dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of looking after our mental health and mental wellbeing. It reminds us that our mental health is just as important as our physical health and deserves our attention, care and action.
At St. Clair County Community Mental Health, we know we are making progress in helping our community understand the care they need to ensure all of our residents have the right tools and resources to properly care for their mental health. But we are also painfully aware that a major obstacle remains: stigma. Despite awareness and education efforts, too many people continue to suffer in silence, afraid to speak up or ask for help for fear of judgment, discrimination or lack of understanding.
“The statistics are stark,” said Deb Johnson, CEO of St. Clair County Community Mental Health (SCCCMH). “One in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness, and more than 40 percent of adults and adolescents in St. Clair County report being depressed in the past year. Yet stigma keeps more than half from getting the care they need.” 
Deb Johnson, CEO of St. Clair County Community Mental Health
Stigma casts a dark shadow over individuals struggling with behavioral health disorders and fosters a culture of shame. It manifests in a variety of harmful ways, from derogatory language and negative stereotypes to bullying, social exclusion, and discrimination in employment, housing, and health care. It perpetuates isolation, worsens symptoms, and is often fatal. The human cost is devastating.
“We cannot accept this as the status quo,” says Kathleen Gallagher, chief clinical officer at SCCCMH. “We must continue to work to drown out whispers of stigma with messages and actions of empathy, acceptance and support for those who are suffering. We must understand that behind every diagnosis is a unique individual with dreams, fears and inherent worth.”
It starts with education: breaking down myths, increasing knowledge about mental health, and having open and honest dialogue about these issues in our communities, schools, workplaces and homes. We need to amplify the courageous stories of people living well with mental illness to inspire others. We need continued support to improve access to affordable, quality mental health care as a basic human right. 
Kathleen Gallagher, chief clinical officer for St. Clair County Community Mental Health;
Most importantly, it calls on each of us to examine our conscious and unconscious biases, choose our words more thoughtfully, and show our loved ones who struggle with depression or addiction the same compassion we give to those battling any other illness. Stigma stems from a fundamental lack of knowledge and understanding that mental health is inseparable from overall health.
“Through collective action, we can break down walls of unjust prejudice,” Johnson said. “Starting with speaking up, educating ourselves, and standing up for those who need it most, including ourselves, we can create communities of true inclusion, acceptance, and recovery for all. We have an opportunity to demonstrate and celebrate the incredible resilience of the human spirit.”
We have a dynamic opportunity. With the evidence-based practices, access to a wide range of services, and community education and support that SCCCMH provides, we can work together with our community to chart a new path for mental health for all residents. Cultivating a community where individuals feel recognized, heard, and valued builds bridges to health and fosters hope, healing, and resilience.
SCCCMH offers free Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to St. Clair County residents. MHFA helps start conversations about mental health and substance use by teaching people how to identify, understand and address signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use issues. Research shows that people who receive MHFA training have less fear and hesitation to take action and experience less stigma. For more information about MHFA or to register for upcoming presentations, visit: Mental Health First Aid – St. Clair County Community Mental Health (scccmh.org).
For more information about the services and supports offered by St. Clair County Community Mental Health, please visit: Click here for detailsYou can find resources, program information and how to connect with services if needed online. You can also search St. Clair County Community Mental Health on Facebook for information on mental health care and programs offered to the public to build your resilience toolbox. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, our Mobile Crisis Unit is available to any St. Clair County resident 24/7 at no charge by calling 810-966-2575.
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