May is Mental Health Awareness Month; BCHD Reminds Community “It’s OK to Not be OK”
Each year, the month of May brings awareness to the importance of mental health. In 2020, we are all impacted by COVID-19, and now more than ever, during physical distancing and uncertain times, it is important for the community to come together around mental health. Mental health affects millions of people across the United States, including the Beach Cities, where many people are dealing with mental health issues. The 2019 California Healthy Kids Survey found that 18% of Beach Cities 11th graders reported considering suicide in the past 12 months, while the 2017 Gallup Well-Being Index reported 43.4% of Beach Cities adults said they experienced significant daily stress in their lives. This year, Beach Cities Health District’s It’s Okay to Not be Okay campaign promotes mental health as a critical part of overall well-being and emphasizes the importance of individual’s mental health during this time. In addition to raising awareness, the campaign focuses on building social connection, tips and tools, virtual educational events and support groups, and information and resources available online. “Now more than ever, we need to take care of one another. We need to check in and we…
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