As you walk or drive around at night this month, you may notice numerous buildings illuminated in soft green light. It’s part of the “Light Up Green” campaign—one of many local activities recognizing May as Mental Health Month. The unexpected sight of glowing green buildings gets us talking, asking questions, and thinking about our surroundings. Read on to learn more!
Look around, look within.
Your surroundings say a lot about your mental health. Take a moment to consider your surroundings at home. Do you feel safe? Do you have access to health care and grocery stores? Does your home support you, both physically and mentally?
Where a person is born, lives, learns, works, plays, and gathers, as well as their economic stability and social connections, are part of what is called “social determinants of health” (SDOH). The more these factors work in your favor, the more likely to have better mental well-being. Conversely, when it seems like the world is working against you, your mental health can suffer.
This May, we challenge you to:
- Look at your world and how different factors can affect your mental health, and how you might improve them.
- Appreciate how the work we do at DSS helps improve social determinants of health, improving others’ mental health.
- Consider the impact of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) on mental health: the importance of seeing people like oneself represented, treated fairly, and included fully in the community.
Look at your world
While many parts of your environment can be out of your control, there are steps you can take to change your space and protect your well-being.
- At home: Work toward making your household safe and secure. Remove safety hazards. If necessary, find another space (such as a community center or friend’s home) where you can get the comfort you are missing at home. Keep your space tidy, sleep-friendly, and well-ventilated. Surround yourself with items that help you feel calm and positive.
- In your neighborhood: Create bonds with your neighborhood and community. Get to know the people living around you. Join or start neighbors-helping-neighbors groups. Support local shopkeepers, farmers, and artists.
- In nature: Connect with nature. Hike in a forest, sit in a city park, bring a plant inside. Keep the shades open to absorb natural light.
Take care of yourself. If you’re taking steps to improve your surroundings but are still struggling with your mental health, you may be experiencing signs of a mental health condition. Take a free, private screening at mhascreening.org to help you figure out what is going on and determine next steps.
Appreciate the impact of DSS
DSS helps community mental health in many ways—some obvious, some less so.
For example, Medi-Cal provides medical coverage so that people with low incomes can get the physical, mental, and behavioral health care they need. The County Department of Behavioral Wellness (BeWell) provides inpatient, outpatient, and crisis services for adults, children, and transition-age youth, including people with mental health and/or alcohol and substance use conditions, and individuals experiencing mental health crises. Most of these are funded by Medi-Cal. In FY 2021-22, BeWell served over 12,000 mental health clients and over 3,500 Alcohol & Drug Program clients.
DSS programs improve social determinants of health by helping people secure food, shelter, medical care, and income. For example, in a typical month in FY 2021-22, we helped 48,000 people put food on the table with CalFresh, helped over 160,000 people with health coverage from Medi-Cal, and helped over 6,000 people make ends meet with CalWORKs.
DSS programs also help protect the vulnerable. For example, in the same period, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) served about 4,500 older adults and people with disabilities per month, enabling them to continue living safely at home.
Consider the impact of DEI
People have unique experiences and challenges based on their identities. The goal of DEI efforts is to create inclusive spaces that understand and value differences—including those of neurodiversity and mental health—and address systemic barriers that impact mental health outcomes. When individuals feel included and valued, they are more likely to enjoy mental wellness, and to access the mental health care they may need. Reducing stigma in marginalized communities promotes equity in mental health care. DSS offers a library of DEI resources at http://dsshome/DEI.asp.
Help is available
The world around us can be both positive and negative – bringing joy and sadness, hope and anxiety. You are not alone. Help is always available; you can speak with someone today. 988 is a national crisis line, available by phone or text. The Behavioral Wellness toll-free Crisis Response and Services Access Line can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (888) 868-1649.
To learn more
Want to recognize May as Mental Health Month? See this article for ideas, events, and a list of local buildings participating in Mental Health Month. And see Mental Health America’s 2023 Mental Health Month toolkit for free, practical resources.