Rochester Mayor Trent Odell has teamed up with 4C Health to recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
In the spirit of the national campaign, Odell issued a proclamation to raise awareness about mental health and highlight support systems available to those in need. Moreover, his openness to share his own personal struggles has added to the cause.
In a recent interview with WROI Giant.fm, Odell noted that everyone faces challenges with their mental well-being at some point in their lives.
"Your mental health is just like your physical body. It can get sick," he said, adding that stressful life events, such as losing a loved one, experiencing a health issue, or facing financial stress, can have significant impacts on a person's well-being.
Faced with the latter roughly 20 years ago, Odell said he found hope in speaking with others who had been through a similar situation.
"It's humbling to ask for help, but the payoff of being transparent seriously can be the difference between life and death," he said.
Fortunately, he added, the community is "rich in people who are willing to help," citing 4C Health, The Support Cafe, Celebrate Recovery programs at The Cross and St. John's Lutheran Church and a newly formed suicide task force.
Although unique in their own ways, all of them offer connection with others who have shared similar experiences.
"It really comes down to relationship," Odell said of improving one's mental health. "When you go in and visit these places, you build relationships, you build friendships, you build trust, and we have some really great people in all those organizations that are just willing to grab you by the hand and say, 'Hey, I'll help you walk through this.' You're not alone."
Joining Odell in raising mental health awareness is 4C Health's Lisa Willis-Gidley, who noted that while significant progress has been made in openly discussing mental health, access to treatment remains a challenge for many rural communities.
Thanks to a federal grant, 4C Health is able to offer free suicide prevention training and mental health first aid training in the communities it serves.
"We want to equip any and all to have those tools, those basic skills, so that they can support one another," Gidley said.
She also shared appreciation for Odell recounting his experience, saying, "That's what May is all about is having that awareness, reducing that stigma, reminding people that they're not alone, that there are supports out there and there is access to treatment if you need it."
She encourages anyone wanting to learn more about 4C Health's services or training opportunities to stop in, visit its website at www.4CHealthIN.org or call 800-552-3106.
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