May is Mental Health Month

Since 1949, May has been designated to observe Mental Health Month. Nationally, Mental Health America has launched a public education campaign to create awareness and attention to the topic. Here at home, The Resource Center is echoing that message.

“The purpose of the month is to create that awareness,” said Michelle Williams, TRC Director of Mental Health Services. “The goal of the mental health team is to educate and inform the community of the devastation caused from an untreated mental illness.”

Part of that team includes Nikki Pitts, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at TRC’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services office on Fourth Street in Jamestown.

“We see about 110 to 120 people a month,” said Nikki. “We see them for their initial assessment, and I think everyone has to be aware of their own mental health.”

Nikki adds that 85 percent of the population seeks some kind of counseling or help at some point in their life for anything from stress and depression to a more severe diagnosed condition. In addition, mental health can affect anyone and everyone; it knows no age, gender, race, or socioeconomic background.

“It can strike anybody,” adds Kristy Lauer, Program Manager for Gateways, TRC’s Continuing Day Treatment Program in Dunkirk. “So if you need help, go talk to someone.  Everyone needs somebody to talk to.”

In fact, Gateways has an active roster of about 79 people who need someone to talk to.  Kristy adds that each Tuesday during May, she will be introducing a specific focus topic about mental illness to the Gateways Client Council.

In addition to talking about the mental wellness of the community at large, Michelle wants to address the mental health of the staff itself, with a focus on “counselor wellness.”

“It’s a very stressful job for them,” said Michelle, “and it’s OK to say, `I’m stressed and overwhelmed.’”

Luckily for Nikki and Kristy, they have outlets to help them cope.

“I’m lucky,” said Kristy. “It takes me 40 minutes to get to work and back, so I blare the radio and jam to the music in my car. Plus, I have two small kids at home, and work gets lost when I look at their faces.  And I have a big support in my husband. He just lets me vent and doesn’t try to fix anything.” 

“I work out, two to three times a week,” said Nikki. “Or I’ll go for a walk, or just talk to co-workers, family and friends. You definitely have to take care of yourself.”

“Taking time for them is important,” noted Michelle, which is one of the reasons why TRC honored its Mental Health staff at a recognition dinner May 6 in TRC’s Conference Center.  About two dozen people attended the event, designed to show appreciation for the work performed by TRC’s Mental Health staff.

Executive Director Paul Cesana welcomed everyone to the dinner. He noted that counselors often are taken for granted by people who are unaware of what it takes “to keep up that persistence and consistency to improve people’s lives. We thank you for your dedication and commitment to touch the lives of people challenged by mental illness.”

Michelle noted that there have been a number of recent changes among TRC’s Mental Health administration and staff. Because TRC’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services are spread among four locations, the dinner was a good way to bring people together. Saying that TRC’s Mental Health staff work hard every day, she reiterated the importance of counselor wellness.

“Counselors need to take care of themselves, because if we’re not healthy, we’re not helping our patients.”

In addition to the recognition event, Michelle said she would like to see Mental Health observance, awareness and education last beyond the month of May. “We are living in a time of fortunate public awareness and access to information that has assisted in decreasing the historical stigma associated with addressing mental health issues,” she said.

Nikki added, “I would like to see less of a stigma and encourage people to get help, much as they would for diabetes or any other medical condition.” 

“Those involved in the program and those that seek help are very courageous,” said Kristy.  “They took a very important step toward not wanting to feel the way they do anymore. To go through what they have to go through, they are resilient.”

For more information on mental health or to seek confidential help, contact TRC’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services at 716-661-1590 in Jamestown or 716-366-6858 in Dunkirk. For information on the Continuing Day Treatment programs, phone Passages in Jamestown at 716-661-1511 or Gateways in Dunkirk at 716-366-7660.

By Mark Goshgarian, Media Consultant.