Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Centers Executive Director Erik Sievers.
WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Winona-based Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Centers is using the month to raise awareness of mental health being an essential part of overall health.
“The intention of [Mental Health Awareness Month] is to highlight how common it is and some of the challenges still that are out there for people who need help with their mental health and what’s available for them,” Executive Director Eric Sievers said.
Sievers says local health agencies have recently seen an uptick in anxiety and depression. He says there are numerous barriers to accessing mental health care.
“There’s a lot of different statistics out there,” Sievers said. “One that really concerns me is that on the average someone usually suffers with a mental health condition on the average about 11 years before they get help.”
Sievers says mental health conditions are fairly common and says he hopes community members can use the month to normalize addressing their mental health struggles.
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