- November 21, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
by: Taurean Wilson
Flagler Schools mental health counselor
The month of May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month; this month we are focusing on reducing the mental health stigma.
It has been a tremendous journey this school year. I can attest for many it has been exhausting, exhilarating, confounding and breathtaking. It seems that this school year has taken its toll on all of us, causing us to experience many twists and turns and sometimes feeling like things are totally out of control, creating feelings of being lost and alone, stressed and overwhelmed.
These feelings alone can lead to many social stresses that can cause mental health issues, and you know what? That’s OK. Yes, it’s OK to have mental health issues.
Mental health is a human experience, and having a mental health issue is not a destination but a forward continuum with endless possibilities.
Here are some key ways to help reduce the stigma of mental health:
Educate yourself and others
Talk openly about mental health
Be conscious of language
Encourage equality between physical and mental health
Choose empowerment over shame
Show compassion and empathy
Remember the old saying that April showers bring May flowers.
A period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness and joy. Always remember that it is OK to have storms and even dance in the rain, and know that after the rain the sun will always shine. When the sun shines, new beginnings occur. They become like the flowers we see in the May sunshine as they rise and blossom, giving us all the sweet-smelling fragrance of love, joy and happiness that you possess inside.
Our goal this year is for the faculty, staff and students to have a 100% awareness about the mental health and social work support available on campus. If you are in need of services, please reach out to your guidance counselor or call the Student Community and Engagement office at 386-437-7526. We are here to support you during this time and throughout the school year. (During the summer, staff can point you in the right direction for counseling services with school partners.)
