May Wellness:

Mental Health Awareness Month

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with mental illness. Mental health is an incredibly important part of overall health. May is a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and to help reduce the stigma so many experience.

Myth: Mental health problems don’t affect me.

Fact: Mental health problems are actually very common. In 2020, about:

• One in five American adults experienced a mental health issue
• One in six young people experienced a major depressive episode
• One in twenty Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, it was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24.  It accounted for the loss of more than 45,979 American lives in 2020. (Source: Mental Health Myths and Facts, MentalHealth.gov).

The question then becomes - how can we help? By making the discussion of mental health as common as talking about arthritis or a recent cold, we normalize the discussion of mental health being just as important to a person’s overall well-being. Talking about stress management, self-care, and mental health in meetings and via email communications can reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

Check to see if your employer offers an EAP program (Employee Assistance Program) that typically offers a limited amount of free therapy sessions per year to help support employee’s and their family’s mental health. Mental health inpatient and outpatient benefits match your medical benefits, insurance coverage is there to support you and the care you may need.

Fortunately, most mental health conditions are very treatable. Seeking support through your family, friends, co-workers, and medical professionals can ensure you find the help and care you need.

Additional Resources

Rethink Mental Illness- Mental Health treatment covers a range of things people can do to get more control and better quality of life. This includes things like talking therapies and alternatives to medications. This website discusses treatment, support, and care.

Need Help? If you need suicide or mental health-related crisis support, or are worried about someone else, please visit 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org (TTY: 1-800-487-4889), or use the Behavioral Health Treatment Locator to get help.

 Find a Provider- A roadblock to finding professional help is cost. This website can help you find in-network providers to help reduce your out of pocket cost for pursuing therapy and treatment.

Upcoming Events

June 6^th Noon- Making the Most of Your Health Plan Virtual Webinar- Attend this live webinar to learn all about the tools and resources you have as an Excellus member including telemedicine, wellbeing deals and discounts, preventive screenings and more! Each class provides the same information. Email hcwellness@tompkins-co.org to be sent the webinar link.

June 1^st- 30^th - Hiking Challenge- This challenge will encourage you to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors! Send in your best two photos of your NYS hike to win a NYS Empire Pass. Photos can be submitted via email to hcwellness@tompkins-co.org or via our Facebook page: GTC Municipal Health Insurance Consortium

July Feed Your Wallet Challenge- A 4-week financial wellbeing challenge. Who wouldn’t want extra money every month? Just as it is important to feed your body, your wallet deserves some nourishment too. More information to be announced.

July 12^th 9:00am- Making the Most of Your Health Plan Virtual Class- Attend this live webinar to learn all about the tools and resources you have as an Excellus member including telemedicine, wellbeing deals and discounts, preventive screenings and more! Each class provides the same information. Email hcwellness@tompkins-co.org to be sent the webinar link.

August- Eat Fresh Challenge- This challenge is to promote buying local produce and eating locally grown foods to promote healthy eating. More information to be announced.

August 8^th Noon- Making the Most of Your Health Plan Virtual Class- Attend this live webinar to learn all about the tools and resources you have as an Excellus member including telemedicine, wellbeing deals and discounts, preventive screenings and more! Each class provides the same information. Email hcwellness@tompkins-co.org to be sent the webinar link.

Dive deeper into your wellness journey by following our Facebook page, GTC Municipal Health Consortium for more wellness information throughout the year.