News

Make mental health a regular checkup

Emily Vickerman is Family Mental Health Navigator at the Children & Family Resource Center.

By EMILY VICKERMAN, Children & Family Resource Center, Published: May 10, 2025

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s a time to reflect on how deeply mental health touches every family, including my own.

Stress, anxiety and the weight of everyday life impact me and many of the people I care about. Some of the most important conversations around mental wellbeing don’t happen in public— they take place around the kitchen table, over late-night text exchanges or on car rides home. 

In many families, mental health can feel like an uncomfortable subject. We tiptoe around conversations, hoping that saying nothing will protect the people we love. What I’ve learned, and what I see in our community, is that silence doesn’t shield us. Often, it makes things harder, because we’re left feeling isolated. Mental wellbeing shouldn’t be a solo journey. When we create a home where mental health is talked about with the same attention and compassion we give to our physical health, we can make a huge difference in our families’ lives.

It’s easy to assume that mental health challenges only happen to other people, but the reality is that one in five adults in the United States lives with a mental illness. Nearly half of teens report facing mental health struggles too. These aren’t just statistics— these are our friends, our siblings, our children, and ourselves.

Mental health isn’t just about getting a diagnosis and going to therapy. It includes how we handle stress, how we connect with people we love, how we bounce back from tough times, and how we care for our whole selves. Whether it’s a teen feeling overwhelmed by school pressure, a parent juggling work and family, or a grandparent facing loneliness, every person in a family has emotional needs that deserve attention and support.

How Families Can Promote Mental Wellbeing

1. Start the conversation early and often. Whether it’s during dinner, on a walk, or at bedtime, a regular check-in with each other can open doors. Questions like “how are you really feeling today?” or “what’s been on your mind lately?” can make a world of difference. When someone opens up, being present (without rushing to judge or fix), is sometimes the greatest gift we can offer.
2. Model what healthy coping looks like. Kids notice everything, especially how the adults around them handle stress. When I’ve taken time to be honest about my own hard days or shown that it’s okay to pause and regroup, it demonstrates to my family that emotional awareness and self-regulation are both normal and necessary. Whether it’s deep breathing, taking a walk, or asking for help, these small acts show our loved ones that caring for our mental health is a healthy daily practice.
3. Watch for subtle shifts. Sometimes mental health struggles show up quietly— a change in sleep, appetite, mood or activities. Addressing concerns early, with care and compassion, can open conversations that might otherwise go unspoken.
4. Know where to turn to for support. We don’t have to do this alone. Knowing what resources are available before a crisis hits can ease the fear of reaching out when it’s truly needed. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. RHA’s Mobile Crisis Unit (1-888-573-1006) is available to Henderson County residents 24/7 in the event of a behavioral health crisis. Children and Family Resource Center’s Family Mental Health Navigation program (828-698-0674 ext. 158) offers free support in accessing the mental healthcare your family needs. For more local resources, visit ly/hcbhr.
5. You don’t have to know all the answers. Being there for someone doesn’t mean you have to fix everything. I often have to remind myself that it’s okay to say “I love you and I’ll support you in getting help” without taking on the full weight of someone else’s healing. We don’t have to get clinical with the people we care about. Sometimes being a steady presence is more powerful than having all the answers.

We break the stigma by speaking up. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from my own mental health journey is that real change begins in small, meaningful conversations. When we talk about mental health openly with our families, we not only support those we love — we help to shift the culture around us. By sharing our own stories, we make it easier for the next person to speak up, ask for help, and feel less alone.

Every family can take steps toward being a safer place, where people feel seen, heard, and supported. It doesn’t have to start with a big moment. You can ask a single question: “How are you feeling today?” This month, and every month, let’s commit to making mental health a regular part of our family’s conversations. The more we talk about it, the more we can heal together.

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Emily Vickerman is Family Mental Health Navigator at the Children & Family Resource Center.