Family Counseling Center Recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month

The Family Counseling Center is joining with mental health professionals from across the country to recognize and promote May as Mental Health Awareness month. First observed in 1949, the goal is to raise awareness and educate the public about strategies for attaining metal health and wellness, as well as the realities of living with mental illness.

Since the start of the pandemic, more and more people have been talking about mental health, which has aided in the growing recognition that mental health is an important component to overall health and well-being. While 1 in 5 people will experience mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can affect their mental health. Around half of all people in the United States will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life.

“Everyone should have the support they need to thrive,” said Michael Countryman, Executive Director of The Family Counseling Center of Fulton County. “The Family Counseling Center has been working since 1976 to help provide the support and guidance individuals and families need to build healthy lives. Our organization’s services include school-based counselors, family peer advocates, therapy, and a crisis unit – each piece works like a scaffold for overall mental health.”

Mental health refers to our emotional and social well-being and impacts how we think, feel, and behave. Individuals struggling with mental health conditions deal with changes in emotions, thinking, and/or behavior. Screening can help catch mental health problems early. Mental Health America (MHA) provides resources and free screening on their website. A screening only takes a few minutes, with information about next steps provided based upon individual results. MHA’s screening is free, anonymous, and confidential.

More information on Mental Health Awareness month can be found here.