Dear Mckinley Family,

May is Mental Health Month and we want to take some time to recognize this with an email series. This can be a tough topic to talk about but it’s very real and more people deal with some type of mental illness than you might be aware of. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults in America experience a mental illness.

Click the following link for more stats:

• https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/GeneralMHFacts.pdf
• Mental Health Facts – NAMI: National Alliance on Mental …
  www.nami.org

We have all experienced stressful situations in our lives and sometimes it can be so overwhelming that we need help. It can be hard to ask for help so we want to encourage you and remind you that it is a sign of strength when you can recognize you need help and are proactive about getting the help you need. Whether you or someone you love is dealing with anxiety, panic, or depression, these emails are for you. Please take the time to read them and feel to reach out if you have questions or would like more resources.

In this series, we will cover the following:

1. Signs and symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks and the difference between everyday stress and chronic anxiety:
• How to deal with or manage them
• Who to call and how to find help

2. Signs and symptoms of depression (seasonal, situational or chronic)
• How to deal with or manage depression
• Who to call and how to find help

3. How to offer support to someone who suffers from a mental illness:
• Co-workers
• Friends
• Spouse
• Kids