A Mental Health Check-in: How Are You Doing?

There’s been a huge shift during my lifetime in how we talk about mental health. When I was growing up, it was rarely discussed. Friends who struggled with anxiety or depression often did so in silence, and admitting to a problem was widely seen as a sign of weakness.

It’s painful to think about how much isolation that silence caused and how many relationships were strained or broken because people felt they had to suffer alone. The less we talked about mental health, the stronger the stigma became.

Over time, our culture began to change. Starting in the 1970s, mental health became part of a broader public conversation. Schools introduced programs, workplaces began paying closer attention, media coverage expanded, and public figures helped make the issue more visible by sharing their own struggles.

All of that has helped make it easier for people to ask for help. Today, resources like crisis hotlines and support groups are more accessible than ever. The stigma has lessened somewhat, too, and that progress is worth recognizing.

But there’s still more work to do. That’s why Mental Health Awareness Month in May remains so important. It serves as a reminder to keep the conversation going and check in on the people we care about.

Why the work continues

An estimated one in five adults experiences mental illness each year. The causes are complicated and often interconnected, including substance abuse, trauma, financial stress, workplace pressure, and the ordinary challenges of life that can become overwhelming when carried alone.

Loneliness deserves particular attention because it can both contribute to mental health challenges and serve as a warning sign that someone is struggling. In recent years, social isolation has become an epidemic across generations and genders. Adults over 45 report higher levels of loneliness than they did just a few years ago. Younger people are struggling as well, and men now report loneliness at slightly higher rates than women.

Research has also shown that social isolation is linked to a greater risk of depression, anxiety, and other serious health conditions. That tells us something important: Connection is part of how we stay well physically and mentally.

Ways to support mental well-being

Each of us has a role to play in supporting mental health. We may not be able to solve every challenge someone is facing, but we can reach out, listen, and remind people they do not have to carry their burdens alone. All we have to do is use our power of connection.

Small actions can make a big difference. A phone call, a text, an invitation to coffee, or a simple “How are you doing?” — asked with enough patience to hear the real answer — can help someone feel seen, supported, and less alone. Those gestures can lift our spirits, too.

And don’t forget your own mental well-being. Reflecting on what gives life meaning — whether through work, personal growth, or community involvement — can guide you toward stronger relationships and a greater sense of fulfillment. Showing appreciation, offering support, and engaging in meaningful conversations can all help.

What’s more, these qualities reinforce one another. Strong relationships, for example, can build resilience, while a sense of purpose can deepen connections and motivate meaningful action.

Mental Health Awareness Month starts a conversation that deserves to continue well beyond May. Every time we reach out or ask for help ourselves, we push back against the silence that has left too many people suffering alone.

All the best,
Jim

Explore Popular Celebrations Pulse Topics

How Work-Life Integration Is Reshaping Our Lives

Combatting Loneliness One Pen Pal at a Time

Subscribe Today

A dose of inspiration in your inbox, every Sunday!

Community Care: Turning Lives Around, One Job at a Time

Mind Over Matter: Why It's Time to Rethink Aging

How a Friendship Blossomed Into a Book: The Journey of Lodestar