May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this May, it is probably more relevant than ever before. No matter our political views, one thing we can all likely agree on is this pandemic has impacted our mental health in one way or another. You may be feeling the challenges of anxiety, grief, isolation, anger, and stress either directly on you and your family or through the changes in your day-to-day life. You may feel frustrated with not being able to provide for your family, not knowing what or who to trust in the news and on social media or feel the divide both as a country and possibly as a family.

I am not a doctor or psychologist, but I did study psychology quite a bit in college and to this day, I continue to be fascinated with the way our mental health is affected by our overall health and how our overall health is affected by our mental health. The two go hand in hand. And we are not talking purely about stress here! I don’t think you need a degree in the field to understand that the mental health of the country, and the world, is taking a serious hit.

Our world has been turned upside-down. We are now being told to stay inside our homes and that it would be best to not come into contact with others. When we must be around others, we are told to stay at least 6 feet apart and wear a mask. I’m not here to debate this advice or to say whether or not I agree with it. There are two sides to every story. With every action, there is an equal and opposite action. That’s physics and I don’t think we are in any place to argue against physics or Newton’s Third Law. So, I will leave it at that.

What I am here to talk about is that our country had a pretty substantial mental health issue even before the shelter in place protocols taking control of our lives. Before this pandemic, I truly believed that the solution to most of our country’s problems could begin to be found in addressing mental health concerns. I still believe that to be true, but now I think there is more to it. The issue of mental health is a starting point but there is a lot more work that needs to be done.

This past weekend, I became aware of someone I used to be close to had committed suicide a few weeks ago. Although I have lost touch with him over the years, family is family, and I hope he can now rest in peace. I don’t know details but do I know that learning of that news made this topic a bit more personal to me. Mental health issues are real. They are scary. But they can be addressed through support.

Even though it may be scary to admit that you need help, especially now, it is important to know that your feelings are real and there is hope on the other side. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for most of my adult life. You probably would not have guessed that, if you know me. But it’s true. And it’s important to understand that I am coming from a place of experience and zero judgment. I’ve been there. I know how scary it is. And how lonely it can feel. Mental health is so extremely personal that an individualized approach is the only way any sort of treatment can be successful. But the first step is asking for help.

As a nutritionist, I also cannot stress enough the fact that living a healthy lifestyle is so important to balance our mental health. Whether you have a clinical diagnosis or not, nutrient deficiencies can cause depression and exacerbate other symptoms. Physical inactivity, substance abuse, and lack of sleep are also very real contributing factors. Make sure you are keeping active, getting sunshine, taking a break from social media and the news, and eating lots of fruits and veggies. That’s just good advice for everyone!

I have compiled a list of some resources for you. If you or someone you know needs help, please don’t delay seeking support because of the pandemic. Professionals are ready and more than willing to help! We are all in this together!

Association for Mental Health and Wellness http://mhamonth.org or on Facebook at @MHAWSuffolk

Crisis Text Line https://www.crisistextline.org – Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. Their website also has other resources for various mental health topics including handling isolation during the pandemic.

National Association of School Psychologists https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/helping-children-cope-with-changes-resulting-from-covid-19 -- They have great resources for talking to children about the pandemic. Their advice is great for adults too!

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine blog post “Foods to Boost Mood During COVID-19” https://www.pcrm.org/news/blog/foods-boost-mood-during-covid-19-social-distancing

Peace, Love & Kale!
Lindsay