In today’s fast-paced world the importance of mental health cannot be overstated. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act in our daily lives.

A sound mental state is crucial to our overall well-being and quality of life. Unfortunately, with the ever-increasing demands of modern life, many people neglect their mental health. This can lead to a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse and other mental health disorders.

It is important to recognize that while May is Mental Health Awareness Month, attending to your mental health is just as important as physical health. In fact, the two are intricately linked. Poor mental health can lead to a range of physical health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure and chronic pain. This is why taking care of our mental health is not a luxury but a necessity.

We have all heard by now that there is a strong link between physical and mental health. This is because our mind and body are closely interconnected and influence the other’s functioning. When we experience physical health problems it can impact our mental health, and vice versa. For example, if you are experiencing chronic pain or illness it can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety and stress. Similarly, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression can lead to physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue and insomnia.

Taking care of your physical health can have a positive impact on your mental health and well-being. Engaging in regular exercise, eating a healthy and balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can help to improve your mood, reduce stress and anxiety and boost your overall mental health.

On the other hand, prioritizing your mental health can have a positive impact on your physical health. This is because when you take care of your mental health you are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors and are better equipped to manage stress and other challenges that can impact your physical health.

Why is mental health more of an issue today? Each day we are all exposed to various stressors, a fast-paced world and a ton of information coming at us. This can all take a toll on our mental health. As a result, many common mental health issues have emerged in recent times.

One of the most prevalent mental health issues is anxiety. With the constant pressure to perform, meet deadlines and succeed in all aspects of life, it is no surprise that many people experience feelings of anxiety and panic attacks. Depression is also becoming increasingly common, which can be triggered by numerous factors such as trauma, stress, loss and genetics.

Another common mental health issue is addiction. In today’s world we have easy access to various substances and behaviors that can lead to addiction, such as alcohol, drugs, gambling and social media. Addiction can have a severe impact on mental health, leading to co-occurring disorders like anxiety and depression.

Moreover, many people are also struggling with self-esteem issues and body image concerns, which can lead to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. The constant pressure to look a certain way and fit into societal norms can have a significant impact on mental health.

It is important to recognize these common mental health issues and seek help when needed.

Despite all the recent attention, the stigma surrounding mental health remains and can have a negative impact on how individuals perceive themselves and seek help. Unfortunately, many people still view mental illness as a weakness or personal failing rather than recognizing it as a legitimate medical condition. This stigma can leave individuals feeling ashamed and isolated, causing them to avoid seeking help or talking about their struggles with loved ones.

Moreover, the stigma attached to mental health can prevent individuals from receiving the treatment they need, leading to prolonged suffering and worsening of symptoms.

It is crucial to break down these stigmas and create an open, supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking help when they need it. By prioritizing mental health and acknowledging the validity of mental illness, we can create a more compassionate and understanding world for those who are struggling.

It is important to have conversations about mental health with friends and family, to educate ourselves and others and to support those who are seeking treatment. Together we can work toward a world where mental health is seen as a priority and everyone can feel comfortable seeking the help they need.

Prioritizing mental health is crucial in today’s fast-paced world. With so many demands on our time and attention it can be easy to neglect our own well-being. But by making simple changes to our daily routine, we can prioritize mental health and improve our overall quality of life. What are some ways to prioritize mental health?

• Make time for self-care. The key is to find activities that help you relax and recharge, and to make time for them on a regular basis.
• Maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Find healthy ways to regulate your stress levels.
• Do a mental health self check and find free expert-vetted resources at Teton.CredibleMind.com.

As a call to action I encourage everyone to take a moment to check in with themselves and prioritize their mental health. Whether it is taking a break from work, talking to a trusted friend or professional or simply taking a deep breath and practicing mindfulness.

Every little bit helps.

Poor mental health can lead to a range of physical health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure and chronic pain.

With the month of March we turn our attention to spring. That attention includes an awareness of usual things or planning for the things that we look forward to each year. But did you happen to know that a Bipolar Awareness Day is observed across the globe on March 20 each year? It is most likely something you are not aware of unless bipolar disorder is an issue that affects you or a loved one in some way.

March 20 is Vincent Van Gogh’s birthday. The famous painter was posthumously diagnosed as having bipolar disorder. The vision for the day is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorder and to eliminate social stigma.

Have you ever wondered about bipolar disorder? According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the disorder — formerly known as manic-depressive disorder — affects about 10 million people, or 2.5% of the adult United States population.

The disorder refers to cycles of extreme mood swings of high energy (mania) to extreme lows (depression).

People in a manic episode may feel excited, impulsive, creative, euphoric and full of energy, with little need or ability to sleep. As the mania increases they might engage in risky or unhealthy behavior, such as using drugs and alcohol or going on spending sprees. They may talk quickly, jump from one topic to the next, experience hallucinations or have delusions or thoughts of grandiosity. A hypomanic

September is the month set aside for suicide prevention, but this topic is in the forefront of most discussions about mental health both in our community as well as across the state and the country. Suicide prevention is important every day. The topic is always difficult to discuss. An interesting statistic that is being studied by the CDC is that while the rates in the U.S. have been increasing steadily over the last decade, they in fact declined nationally 2% in 2019 and again in 2020 by about 3%. While we know more people were struggling over the last couple of years, the pandemic normalized talking about mental health as well as increasing access to treatment through telehealth.

Suicide is a complex issue. Not only can it be affected by an underlying mental illness, it can also be complicated by social, relational and community issues. Not all populations showed a decrease. Rates remained steady for young adults and people of color. While there is positivity in the decreases, we must continue to remain aware, educated and diligent in prevention and treatment efforts with continued focus on those subpopulations most at risk.

The suicide rate in Wyoming tends to be one of the highest in the U.S., usually within the top three with Montana and Alaska. The statistics are heartbreaking for those lives lost but also for all the people left behind. Teton County has been lower in number than other counties for the last decade or so but every single one is a devastating loss.

What can you do? There are several options for free training that can help members of the community recognize and respond to someone who is struggling. The Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center’s Mental Health First Aid program is one. This training deals with a variety of mental health issues in an eight-hour training. Specific to suicide prevention is safeTalk (two hours) and Question, Persuade & Refer or QPR (one hour). These trainings give community members the skills to recognize the warning signs of suicide, ask questions and provide resources for intervention. They are free to the public (offered by Teton County Prevention Coalition) and can be set up for anyone interested.

Many people first reach out to loved ones, clergy, teachers or friends. Many times there is fear about approaching the subject, not wanting to say the wrong thing. So how can we go about discussing the issue respectfully and responsibly?

• Be as direct as possible when talking about suicide.

• What can you do when you suspect someone you know is depressed or thinking of suicide? Be there and be direct.

• Do not be afraid to ask the question, “Are you having thoughts of suicide?” One of the biggest misconceptions about suicide is if you ask the question, you may plant the idea. But asking the question shows support and concern.

• If someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts, don’t dismiss or minimize the person’s comments (i.e., “It’s really not that bad”). Instead, face it head on.

• Talk to the person about your concern. Ask if she has been thinking about attempting suicide or has a plan for how to do it. Having a plan indicates a higher risk of action.

• Seek help. Contact the person’s doctor, mental health provider or other health care professional. Let other family members or close friends know what’s going on.

• Call a suicide or crisis hotline number (988).

• Make sure the person is safe. If possible, eliminate access to any means used to attempt suicide. For example, remove or lock up firearms, other weapons and medications.

• Call 911 if the person is in danger of self-harm or suicide. Make sure someone stays with that person.

Education plays a crucial role for communities in preventing suicide and eliminating the stigma of mental illnesses. Articles about suicide can educate readers about risk factors, warning signs and local resources for intervention. In addition, there is much more to understand about why people choose suicide as an option.

Many families or loved ones may blame themselves or feel judged by others. Those talking about suicide should be sensitive to tone, content and language. Responsible discussion should avoid judgment — intentional or implied — when reporting the story and should also include education about prevention.

Without a doubt, discussions about suicide should continue to happen throughout our community.

Several organizations and individuals are working as part of the Teton County Suicide Prevention Coalition on initiatives to provide information, support, counseling, training and prevention programs. Contact the Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center, 733-2046, or the Teton County Prevention Management Organization, 264-1536, to schedule or attend a training.

Warning signs and resources:

• Threats of suicide, talking about suicide or wanting to die

• Preoccupation with death, dying or suicide

• Increased alcohol and drug use

• Perception of being a burden to others

• Increased anxiety, agitation or aggression

• Hopelessness, no sense of purpose or reason to live

• Isolation from friends and family

• Rage or uncontrolled anger

• Impulsivity or risk-taking behavior

• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

• Sleeping too little or too much

If any of these thoughts and behaviors apply to you or someone you know, seek assistance or advice by contacting a mental health professional. You may also call the Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center’s crisis line at 733-2046; National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (you can also text HOME to 741741); or call 911.

Last month was Mental Health Awareness month. While there is more awareness in general, there are still areas that need to be addressed.

One issue that is important but does not always get a great deal of focus is behavioral health of men. The suicide rate is four times higher for males than females, and men make up almost 80% of suicide victims in the United State. Men living in small towns and rural areas have particularly high rates of suicide. In fact, Wyoming has the highest rates of suicide in the country. Yet men often seek help for mental health issues less than women yet experience mental illness at the same or greater numbers than women.

While many male celebrities and athletes are being more open regarding behavioral health issues, it is still an area of concern. Why are men less likely to seek treatment for depression, anxiety, substance abuse and general stressful life events? There are several theories about why this happens. There is a great deal of stigma around behavioral health issues in general, but the stigma may be even stronger for men given some perceived norms around masculinity.

Many boys learn early that it is looked at as a weakness to show vulnerability. They are encouraged to suppress most emotional responses like crying. This may become so ingrained that by the time they reach adulthood they may be unable to regulate emotions aside from anger or self-medicating. Anger is one of the few “sanctioned” male emotions. Even when some men do realize that they are depressed or struggling with substance abuse or some other problem, they are still less likely than women to seek help.

Seeking assistance for many men may be viewed in conflict with more historically traditional masculine ideals of toughness, independence and emotional control. A study was done several years ago in the Psychology of Men and it was found that “men with higher levels of traditional masculinity ideology also tended to have a more negative opinion of seeking psychological help.”

Men with these traditional views of masculinity may believe society looks down on a man who can’t “tough it out” on his own. Seeking or needing help has been viewed as a character flaw for men. Even men who do seek counseling may worry about what others think of their need for help. The reality, as found in the study listed above, is that men who score higher on a test of male gender role conflict — a conflict between rigid learned gender roles and the healthy expression of emotion — were more likely to be depressed and also more likely to have a negative opinion of psychological counseling. This leaves many men in a double bind.

So, what can be done to encourage more men to seek treatment?

First, there is much work to be done for reducing the overall stigma attached to behavioral health issues in general, but especially with men. Men’s mental health should be given attention as a social issue like any other health issue, with focus on issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans, unemployment and familial disruption. In addition to stigma reduction, there should be more choice in mental treatment, with more “male” options focused on the unique needs of men.

One such approach are campaigns such as Man Therapy (ManTherapy.org). Many of these issues have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and the campaign seeks to speak to men about issues important to them using humor and support from other men to normalize not only the struggles but also seeking help. Some of the creative and humorous advertisements include my favorite “You can’t fix your mental health with duct tape” or “Get a few things off your hairy chest” or “It’s OK to cry, even when it’s not about sports.” In general, men are more likely to seek mental health treatment for problems that they think other men share. Campaigns or approaches like theses may go a long way to reducing what has been known as the “silent crisis of men’s mental health.”

Through the support of the Teton County Prevention Coalition, residents have access to this resource at no expense. There are also many qualified providers in our area that can offer support at a sliding fee. One resource for finding the right fit is the St. John’s Health Resource Line at 307-203-7880. The Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center and Curran-Seeley also have 24/7 access to support at 307-733-2046 or 307-733-3908.

As we head into April and spring break, along with celebrating the coming of spring it seems like a relevant time to talk about alcohol awareness. While alcohol use issues have always been a public health concern on varying levels, two years of dealing with the pandemic has certainly exacerbated the issue. More individuals are reporting coping with stress with increased substance use, the most common being alcohol.

For most people a glass of wine or a couple of drinks (responsibly) is not cause for concern. For others it may be more of a slippery slope. In a recent community behavioral assessment report, results show that Teton County is not exempt from trends. Community members reported:

“With elevated economic pressures and a widespread tourism-based culture that normalizes drinking, alcohol can become a coping mechanism for stress. The survey showed a high level of excessive drinking in Teton County (44%) compared to the national average (27%). Teton County also has the highest rate of excessive drinking in Wyoming. In particular, men, young adults (18-39), and mid- to high-income individuals are drinking the most. One in every two men in Teton County, regardless of race or ethnicity, reported drinking excessively.”

The report continued:

“Substance use is having a detrimental impact on community members’ mental health. Many community members (40%) report being negatively affected by their own or someone else’s substance use, almost double the national average. A majority of behavioral health providers (68%) name alcohol use as a top factor that strains community members’ mental health. Alcohol is also leading to legal consequences. In 2020, 80% of custodial arrests in Teton County were due to alcohol, the highest in the state. Individuals of greater means and with better legal representation are likely to face fewer consequences as a result of these arrests, while those of less means are more likely to shoulder financial and legal burdens.”

Alcohol use is on a continuum, but when does it become a problem that should concern you?

• Do you feel guilty or ashamed about your drinking?

• Do you lie or hide your drinking habits?

• Have friends or family members who are worried about your drinking?

• Do you feel you need to drink to relax or feel better?

• Have you ever “blacked out” or forgotten what you did while you were drinking?

• Do you regularly drink more than you intended to?

• Have you ever tried to quit drinking and were unsuccessful?

• How much time do you spend each week drinking?

• Do you get urges or cravings for alcohol?

• Do you miss work or other obligations due to drinking?

• Has your alcohol use negatively impacted your work/school or family relationships?

• Have you given up activities or things that you used to enjoy?

• Does your drinking ever put you in dangerous situations?

• Have you developed health issues due to your drinking?

Answering yes does not necessarily mean that you are dealing with an alcohol use disorder. Many people may fall in the category of “problem drinker,” which is not an actual diagnosis but more of a phase to describe those who tend to misuse alcohol but may not need a higher level of intervention. However, some behaviors may fall into the more serious categories.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more standard drinks for women and five or more drinks for men in about two hours. Heavy drinking is defined as consuming eight or more drinks per week for a woman or 15 or more drinks per week for a man. While not everyone who binge drinks or drinks heavily on occasion will develop an alcohol use disorder, this type of risky drinking behavior does increase your risk of harmful consequences. If drinking causes you social, legal or personal problems and you continue to drink despite the negative consequences, it is time to take note.

How does alcohol use relate to mental health? While the two issues can be intricately linked, one may not cause the other but can exacerbate an already present condition. Reaching for a drink may be a way to self-medicate or an attempt to decrease the uncomfortable symptoms that can come with anxiety and depression. While this may seem to help at first, in the end it is counterproductive and can become a difficult cycle to break.

Alcohol is in fact a depressant, but initially it also works as an indirect stimulant. Alcohol alters the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters transmit signals that direct thought processes, behavior and emotions. Alcohol also increases the release of dopamine in your brain’s “reward center.” This increase can make your brain think that you are feeling better. If you are self-medicating, you may keep drinking to get this release, but at the same time you are also altering other brain chemicals that are increasing anxiety and depression. Furthermore, you will have to increase the amount of alcohol over time to attempt to get the same release, creating tolerance.

So if you are already dealing with anxiety or depression, this can exacerbate the issue, and if you drink heavily and regularly you are likely to develop some symptoms of depression. It will take time once you stop drinking for your brain to get back to normal function. In addition, with the decrease in inhibitions that alcohol brings, it can also lead to impulsive behavior. If you are dealing with depression and anxiety, this combination can lead to actions or behaviors that you might not normally engage in if you were not using alcohol, including risky behavior, self-harm and even suicide.

Understanding the relationship between depression or anxiety and alcohol abuse is an important part of removing some of the barriers to seeking treatment. For information on mental health issues, contact the Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center at 733-2046. For alcohol or substance use questions, contact Curran Seeley at 733-3908.