Mental Health Chat
By Stephanie Kinnander, a Prevention Specialist with the Human Service Agency
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and you might be reading this thinking, “I’m doing just fine… do I really need this?”
Well, let’s pull up a chair and chat for a minute.
Mental health isn’t just something we think about on tough days, it’s something we all carry around with us, like an invisible backpack. Inside are our thoughts, feelings, stress levels, coping skills, and the way we connect with the world. Some days that backpack feels light as a feather… and other days, it’s packed with bricks.
Just like our physical health, our mental health needs care and attention. And here’s the thing, it’s not a constant. It shifts and sways with life.
Picture this: a new mom, running on very little sleep after a night of tending to her baby. The morning starts with car trouble, and by the time she gets to work, everything seems to go sideways. On a day like that, her mental health might dip a little and that’s not failure, that’s being human.
We all have those days. (Yes, even the people who seem like they have it all together.)
One of the most powerful ways to lighten that invisible backpack is self-care. And no, it doesn’t have to mean booking a luxury spa day, hiring a personal chef, or disappearing to a tropical island, though, let’s be honest, those do sound pretty nice.
Self-care can often be much simpler. It’s about finding small, doable moments that help you reset. Maybe it’s pausing to take three slow, deep breaths when the day starts to feel overwhelming. Maybe it’s turning up your favorite song on the drive home and singing like no one’s listening.
For me, some favorite little pockets of joy include going for a walk with my husband, enjoying a late-night ice cream snack (because why not?), listening to music, or doing a quick stretch to shake off the day. Simple. Gentle. Effective.
Another important piece of mental health care is speaking up when something feels off. You don’t have to carry everything on your own. Talking with someone you trust, like a friend or a family member, can make a world of difference. And when you need extra support, there are people ready to help.
The Human Service Agency in Watertown offers mental health and addiction counseling, along with a 24/7 crisis line at (605) 886-0123. The Watertown Healthy Youth Coalition also shares a Family Resource Directory each year filled with helpful local resources. An online version is available at www.humanserviceagency.org/NEPrevention/neprcwhy.html.
Across South Dakota, the Helpline Center is available by calling 211, texting 898-211, or visiting their website. And if you or someone you know needs immediate support, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is just a call or text away at 988.
At the end of the day, mental health matters every single day, for every single person. Small steps count. Reaching out matters. And showing up for one another can make all the difference.
So maybe today, take a deep breath, do one small thing that brings you joy, and remember you’re carrying that backpack, but you don’t have to carry it alone.