Each year, mental health becomes more and more of a priority for most people. Today, one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. And more than 3 million adults in Texas are facing life with a mental health condition – more than three times the population of Austin, Texas.
 
With nonstop access to social media, entertainment, news and more, it can be hard to recognize it’s time to give ourselves and our brain a mental break. And ever since COVID-19, the landscape of overall mental health has drastically shifted. More than 50% of Americans reported in 2021 that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on their mental health.
 
Struggling with mental health impacts every area of your life. It can cause students to drop out of school, parents to neglect their children, seniors to disengage from their community and isolate – and those are just a few more blatant examples. Sometimes, it can be hard to spot when you or someone you love is struggling with mental illness.

How to spot the signs

It’s common for us to face concerns in our life from time to time. But spotting the sign of a potential mental illness is when consistent signs and symptoms create frequent stress and affect your day-to-day life and ability to function like you would like to. Signs of a mental illness can vary and affect feelings and emotions, thoughts and even behaviors.
 
A few symptoms can look like:

• Lack of concentration
• Extreme feelings of worry, guilt or fear
• Feeling sad
• Large swings in mood from high to low
• Disengaging from friends and activities
• Fatigue or inability to sleep
• Big changes in eating habits
• Problems with substance abuse

These are just a few signs that can alert you to call your primary doctor or a mental health professional. Mental illnesses are common and typically cannot be treated on their own.
 
If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviors, get help immediately:

• Call 911
• In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 

Take a moment to care for yourself

Supporting our mental health often and consistently can help. While you may not struggle with a diagnosed mental illness, life and the world around us has a way of compounding stress and fear, among other emotions.
 
The National Alliance on Mental Illness actively participates each year for Mental Health Awareness Month by “eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.”
 
This year, they’re celebrating with the Take the Moment campaign.
 
Here are a few ideas on how you can take a moment:

• Take a deep breath and find three things around you that are blue (replace with any color – or even smell, texture, etc.)
• Put your phone away for 10-15 minutes
• Take a walk around your neighborhood for sunshine and movement
• Offer a word of prayer and praise
• Put on your favorite music and enjoy a 5-minute dance party
• Call your mental health professional and set up an appointment

These are just a few ways you can find a moment to relax and relieve the day-to-day stress and mental toll our lives can take on us.

Finding help through Buckner

Through many of our Buckner programs, participants can find support, healing and encouragement through mental illness, trauma and other struggles. For single parents, Buckner Family Pathways® offers a safe place to chase educational and vocational dreams, while also creating a transformative environment cohesive to healing through counseling and community.
 
If you know a soon-to-be mom or a current mother, support her for Maternal Mental Health Month by knowing the statistics and offering an ear to listen. Buckner also has maternity services available to support mothers through postpartum.
 
If you are journeying through Buckner foster care or adoption, we offer a myriad of services to support you through the journey and through post-adoption. And for families looking to reach their full potential, Buckner Family Hope Center® programs offer community events, education and counseling to heal and grow together as a family unit.
 
Most importantly, remember you are not alone in mental illness and there are resources to support you.