By: Daisy Surjo Vergara, LMHC
What Is Mental Health Awareness Month?
Every May, we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month—a nationwide effort to increase understanding, reduce stigma, and highlight the importance of emotional well-being. Mental health affects everyone, whether directly or through someone we love. (Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month from Mental Health America.)
Mental Health Is Part of Everyday Life
Mental health isn’t just about diagnoses or emergencies. It’s how we handle stress, relate to others, and care for ourselves each day. It shows up in parenting struggles, postpartum changes, work stress, school challenges, and quiet moments of overwhelm.
And it also shows up in joy, growth, connection, and healing.
This month is a reminder: mental health is health. It deserves attention, compassion, and support—just like physical health.
Why Awareness Matters
As a therapist and mental health advocate, I see the courage it takes to seek help. I also see the barriers people face: stigma, long waitlists, financial concerns, and cultural misunderstandings. That’s why we raise awareness—because we can’t change what we don’t talk about. (Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offer helpful tools and resources for those seeking support.)
6 Simple Ways to Support Mental Health
You don’t have to do something big to make a difference. Here are a few ways to support yourself and others this May:
Check in with yourself or a loved one
Talk openly about mental health
Share a trusted mental health resource
Normalize rest, boundaries, and breaks
Seek therapy or support when needed
Advocate for wellness in your workplace, school, or community
How Ohana Behavioral Health Can Help
At Ohana Behavioral Health, we provide compassionate, culturally responsive care for women, children, and families. We specialize in:
We believe healing should be human, not clinical—and support should meet you where you are. We’re here not just in May, but every month of the year.
Mental health matters. And so do you.
