Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

When a child is struggling with anxiety, depression, or behavioral changes, parents often turn first to someone they already know and trust—a pediatrician, family doctor, or other primary care provider. Pregnant and postpartum women facing a mental health challenge also frequently seek help from their OB/GYN or primary care provider first, before ever seeing a behavioral health specialist.

For many women, midlife is a period of significant biological, psychological, and social changes. One of the biggest is menopause, and there’s a growing understanding of how these hormonal changes can affect mood, sleep, cognition, and stress response.

In one New Hampshire school last year, a sixth-grade student noticed that something was wrong with a close friend. He told his parents, who contacted the school’s counselors. The school responded quickly and connected the friend to the help he needed.Just days earlier, that student had learned to recognize the warning signs of suicide in a lesson funded through SAMHSA’s Project AWARE program, and that gave him the confidence to know what to do.

Every year, tens of millions of Americans experience mental illness—but too many still struggle to be seen, heard, or connected to the care they need. Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to recognize this reality and act on it.Working in the behavioral health field, we know that when someone is going through a crisis, it can be difficult to know how to support them. This month, SAMHSA is encouraging everyone to “See the Person. Support the Journey.”See the Person

Patients with behavioral health conditions are often dually-burdened with chronic physical health conditions. Consequently, providers caring for these patients must coordinate their care to get the best possible health outcomes. The lack of reliable health information exchange and integration of health data across care settings can inhibit this essential care coordination. For example, individuals may face duplicative tests, medication errors, or gaps in care at critical moments.