ALLOUEZ, Wis. (WBAY) — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, dedicated to normalizing conversations about well-being. One healthcare system in the area has marked the month with a display of 920 green pinwheels.
The pinwheels are on the lawn at Emplify Behavioral Health by Bellin, 301 E. St. Joseph St., in Allouez. Green is the color for mental health awareness.
The 920 pinwheels symbolize the number of people who died by suicide in Wisconsin in 2023. That is the most current data due to a lag time in reporting.
Emplify Behavioral Health by Bellin says the display is a way to bring awareness to the community about mental health and the services available in the area.
While many people recognize the importance of mental health as an aspect of overall health, some people still shy away from talking about it, especially when it comes to asking others if they need help.
There’s the idea that asking someone if they are having suicidal thoughts increases the risk, but that’s not the case.
“Don’t be afraid to ask. Bring it up. Be direct. Say, ‘I’ve noticed you’ve been acting a little bit different. Are you depressed? Are you having suicidal thoughts?’ We know the more direct we are, the more honest people will be,” said Dan Gesell, team leader of therapy services at Emplify Behavioral Health by Bellin.
Mental Health Awareness Month is aimed at encouraging people to find support if they need it and not to be ashamed.
“One of the side effects of mental health is that it’s scary to bring out and talk about that. We want people to know that it’s OK to let someone know that you’re struggling. It’s OK to feel like you’re not alone in that struggle. It’s important that we talk about these services. We also want people to know that we want you here if you’re struggling. We want to support them,” Gesell said.
If you need immediate help, you can call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. More local and state resources can be found at wbay.com/suicide-prevention.
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