When we go to a medical appointment, we expect a routine: height, weight, temperature, blood pressure etc. These measurements give a baseline snapshot of our physical health. From there, our provider may go deeper with lab work or imaging if needed or they may say everything looks good. But what about mental health?
There is no perfect scale anxiety. No thermometer for depression. No cuff that can be read for emotional well-being. Yet, mental health is just as essential to our overall wellness as anything measured in a clinical setting. This month is Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder to us all about how important our mental health is, and how important each person is.
Mental health includes at a minimum our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It impacts how think, play, act, speak, manage stress, relationships, work and make choices. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (www.nami.org), “Mental health conditions are common, manageable, and treatable.” And yet, for generations, they were kept in the dark spoken about in whispers, if at all. That is changing.
Here in our community, we are making meaningful strides. Newport is home to something remarkable: the Front Porch Mental Health Walk-In Center on Lakemont Road, offering 24/7 access to mental health support, something not widely available across Vermont. In fact, this is the only 24/7 opportunity for walk in support in the state. This matters. Immediate access saves lives.
We are also fortunate to have Journey to Recovery Community Center, a peer support recovery center that meets people where they are. Peer support is powerful. It means that the person offering help has lived experience, they understand not from textbooks or quick training, but from life. They provide emotional, social, and practical support rooted in empathy and authenticity. Their work extends beyond individuals into schools, camps, and recovery housing like Ben’s House, creating a network of care.
Grassroots efforts are also shaping change. Norah’s Beads, founded by Susan Jones in honor of her daughter, encourages open conversations about mental health. One bracelet to wear, one to share, this is a simple, powerful, human way to say, “I see you, I care”. The Norah Beads program also helps normalize open conversations about mental health, suicide, wellness and how to reach out at school or use resources like 988: the national mental health crisis line.
Even the arts are playing a role. Borderline Players Theatre Company continues to bring forward productions that tackle difficult topics, and are known for making donations to support organizations like NAMI-VT. Through the universal language of music and the opening dialogue or storytelling, it’s an invitation to change how we approach mental health matters, feel our feelings and share them. Borderline Players will soon be the first theatre company in Vermont to share Dear Evan Hansen, a musical that touches on many themes related to Mental Health Awareness month, and yet, it also encompasses a fantastic way to manage mental health, by having a creative outlet and building community.
Still, there are barriers, especially among generations taught that mental health struggles are a sign of weakness. Seeking help is not weakness, it’s strength. It’s a sign of awareness and an investment in your health and wellbeing. NAMI also shares on their website that 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year, 1 in 20 of those will experience a serious mental health condition. More than 1 in 7 of our American kids ages 6-17 are experiences mental health illness each year. 50% of all lifetimes mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-24. To give this perspective, The Center for Disease Control (cdc.gov) shares that adults experience an average of 2-3 colds per year, and there have been an estimated 9.4 million to 52 million influenza cases in the last 15 years. However, people aren’t dying from these colds and the flu, they are healing. We are humans, when we get sick, if we take care and get help, we can get better! When we don’t, the outcomes can be the same; we can lose someone to illnesses of any kind.
How do we “measure” mental health? We check-in. We notice changes in mood, sleep, energy, and connection. We talk. We ask for help. We support others without judgment. We prioritize rest, movement, nutrition, connection, and purpose, not just for the body, but for the mind. We never shame someone for sharing. We always believe others and we believe ourselves. According to the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org), “Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being.” It deserves the same attention, care, and respect.
Mental health is no longer something to hide, it is something to honor, protect, and talk about openly. Because when we do, we create space for healing, connection, and hope. If you aren’t feeling your best, that’s ok, and very normal. How will you feel better? When in doubt 988 is a fantastic resource to call anytime you need immediate mental health support and Northeast Kingdom Human Servies is also a bridge to many connections of support: 802-334-6744. May you be well this month. May you take time to think about prioritizing your mental health, it matters. YOU MATTER!