HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a local nurse practitioner is urging people to check in on those they love.
Ashli Mullins, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Primary Care Centers for Eastern Kentucky, has spent eight years in the field. She said mental health struggles are far more common than most people realize.
“May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s a really good time to check in with ourselves and with our community, our loved ones, our neighbors,” Mullins said. “Sometimes just asking, ‘are you okay?’ can open that door.”
Mullins said almost everyone either goes through a mental health struggle or loves someone who does. She said the warning signs often start small.
“If you notice someone becoming more withdrawn, not doing the things they used to love, or their sleep and appetite change, those can be signs they’re hurting,” Mullins said.
She encourages people to start with the basics at home; sleep, diet, moving your body, finding ways to manage stress, but said someone should not stop there if they are still struggling.
“Seeking professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness,” Mullins said. “We have therapy, medication management, and a lot of different resources to support people.”
For Mullins, this work is personal. She said watching her own family deal with mental illness pushed her into the field and keeps her there.
“I saw a lot of mental health issues in my own family, so it’s very personal to me,” Mullins said. “I wanted to be a resource and a light for others going through the same thing.”
After eight years as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, her message is simple: you don’t have to fix it all, just show up.
Primary Care Centers for Eastern Kentucky will host a Road to Wellness event on May 20. The mental health and wellness fair will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Primary Care Events Center.
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