It’s Okay to Not Be Okay: Tips and Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month (May is mental health month. Remember you are not alone. Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer )

By: Anita Everett, M.D. DFAPA, Director of the Center for Mental Health Servic

It’s May, so just checking in… “How is everybody doing?”

In case you missed it, Sesame Street’s lovable Elmo posed that very question on social media earlier this year – and the responses came flooding in. From relationship problems to financial troubles, and feelings of exhaustion, angst, loneliness, and disconnection, people shared their struggles. At last count, Elmo’s post had garnered more than 217 million views, 15,000 reposts, 165,000 likes, and 45,000 responses on one social media platform alone. What this helps reveal is that many of us are NOT okay – and it’s important to acknowledge and address that, and make sure people know that help is available. SAMHSA has several supports and resources that can help.

(Remember SAMHSA stands for SUBSTANCE ABUSE MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTARATION. If you google them you will get the latest updates. Join a group on line or in your community who is dealing with same issues as you.)