Reach Out. Check In.
By: Reese Daniel, Co-Chair One Hall Mental & Behavioral Health Committee, United Way of Hall County
Wow. What a few years it has been. In 2019, the United Way One Hall Mental and Behavioral Health Committee formed as a response to a community-wide health assessment that revealed quite a few health needs, one of which was the alarmingly high rates of suicide and suicide attempts in our area. We knew that losing just one person to suicide was unacceptable, so we set a lofty goal—zero suicides in Hall County and got to work. Through our “Reach Out” campaign, we aimed to increase awareness of the issue and provide education on the importance of paying attention to the mental well-being of yourself and others. It was time to be UNITED around mental health because it affects us all.
Who knew that so much would change in three short years? The concerns we had pre-pandemic increased tenfold during COVID. The staggering impact of social distancing, isolation, lost learning, worry, and grief exacerbated an already growing mental health crisis across our country and right here at home in Hall County. As people felt more alone than ever, we knew we had to assure others that we were willing to walk alongside them and let them know that it’s okay not to be okay. Sometimes the best answer is the simplest one – we had to find ways to create community through reaching out.
At a time in our history where you either hear or read about the increases in mental health issues, suicides and overdoses across our country, it is clear people are struggling, and many of these struggles require professional help. But sometimes all it takes is for someone to feel like someone else cares. We can all do our part to reach out to those around us – it’s more important than ever. It’s easy to assume that if someone needs help, they'll ask for it. For some, it is that easy, but for many, reaching out for help is not so simple. So I believe it is my responsibility to Reach Out. There is never any harm in checking in on someone else, even someone you haven’t seen in a while. It’s as simple as saying, "Hey. I was just thinking about you." It’s always better to reach out and learn everything is fine rather than stay silent and learn everything was not. It’s amazing that even when people don’t have much going on, they still appreciate the thought. Of course, I am not perfect, but when we take the time to pay attention, we can see the signs that something is not quite right, and we can say something. It can be scary, and it may feel like it won’t make a big difference, but it may be more helpful to that person than you will ever know. And if one person can help one other person, that is truly a victory.
So, we at the United Way Mental and Behavioral Health Committee are continuing our work by encouraging everyone to not only "Reach Out” if you suspect someone is struggling but also to “Check In" with a trusted family member or friend if you are struggling. You are not alone, and chances are they have fought their own battles too. We all have faced struggles in the past few years—all of us in different ways—but not one person has been unaffected by the events around us.
Asking the right questions and then truly listening is often all it takes, but if you would like to expand your mental health knowledge, we have resources available to empower every person in this community to become a mental health advocate. I encourage you to learn more about Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training or Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training. Both courses will provide you with practical skills to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis. There is also an increased availability of resources across the county to assist with accessing mental health services. To learn more about ways to reach out for help when you or someone you love needs it, watch our mental health resource videos. And if you would like more information about the work our committee is doing, visit https://www.unitedwayhallcounty.org/reachout. We are finding a renewed purpose to reassure every single person that they are not alone.