Mental Health Awareness Month 2024

Connection is a funny thing, isn’t it? Our world is arguably better connected than ever, and our day-to-day lives can be mostly managed from a device in the palm of our hands. Control plus connection equals comfort . . . right?

Unfortunately, the same technology that can offer support and mobilize resources during a crisis can also make us feel more isolated than ever. We can easily text or call someone on the other side of the world, yet it only takes a glance at social media to realize we weren’t invited to a friend’s party down the street.

Loneliness is an increasingly serious public health concern, and in a single year during the COVID-19 pandemic, 40,000 Kentuckians aged 12-17 received a diagnosis of depression; nearly 40% went without care.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Take a moment to commit to our theme, “Time to Check In,” all year long. While this month serves a wonderful purpose in raising awareness, mental health requires support and attention 24/7/365. Below are Mental Health Awareness Month resources that could prove to be helpful any day of the year:

• Tip sheet for checking in with yourself and your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers – so they feel seen and heard

• Interviews with our CEO, Rick Wurth, on the NKY Chamber podcast (around the 8-minute mark) and WCPO’s Cincy Lifestyle

• CHNK's Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts featuring “Pawsitive” Moments with Willow, CHNK’s therapy dog

• How CHNK can help support your mental or behavioral health care needs

Remember: Working on your mental health takes time and dedication – and not just during the month of May! Lean on CHNK as a trusted resource all year long to help yourself and the people you care about as we navigate the complexities of our ultra-connected world.

Here’s to checking in!

-CHNK Behavioral Health