We all know the standard greeting, “How are you?” and its polite companion answer, “Fine.”
It’s unusual when the response to “How are you?” reaches beyond manners to an uncomfortable truth: “Not good.” Sam Winter had a feeling that something was wrong when his buddy Max didn’t show up for practice. It’s not that Max had never missed practice; it was that Sam knew that Max had been struggling with depression and anxiety.
So, Sam texted Max, “Hey, are things cool? How are you?” “Not good,” was Max’s answer. Sam knew exactly what to do. He had been trained in mental health first aid where he learned how to recognize and respond when someone might be experiencing a mental health or addiction problem. Because Sam knew what to do, Max got help and is doing much better today.
When we don’t have an action plan for stepping in, the stories can end much differently. May is Mental Health Month. In January, the National Council for Behavioral Health launched the “Be 1 in a Million” campaign — a national effort to train one million people in mental health first aid. The training takes much of the hesitation out of offering support to someone in an emotional crisis. It provides critical tools for helping people that can mean the difference between life and death. The Behavioral Health Network would like you to become part of the “Be 1 in a Million” movement. Get trained. Spread the word. For more information on this, call (413) 301-9352.
Kathy Wilson
Springfield
The writer is president & CEO of the Behavioral Health Network.