Dr. Amy Mersiovsky with Texas A&M University Central Texas says “we have a mental health crisis in the US.”
TEMPLE, Texas — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a Central Texas nursing expert is urging residents to pay closer attention to their health and the health of people around them.
Dr. Amy Mersiovsky, Director of Nursing Programs at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, says the United States is facing a mental health crisis — including right here.
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“We have a mental health crisis in the US. And we have so many people that are having a hard time functioning in society,” Mersiovsky said.
One of the first things she wants people to understand is that mental health is not separate from overall health. She says the two are deeply connected.
“I really hate it that we separate mental health from health because our physical health affects our mental health and our mental health can affect our physical health,” she said.
Mersiovsky says a person’s environment, biological traits, and life experiences can all play a role in shaping their mental well-being.
Knowing the warning signs
So how do you know if someone is struggling? Mersiovsky says one of the first things to watch for is a shift in behavior. That could look like someone who was once outgoing suddenly becoming withdrawn.
“They’ve never called into work before, and now they’ve called out three times in three weeks,” she said.
She also says to watch for extreme emotional swings that seem out of character.
“They may have incredible highs in their behavior, kind of a euphoria, or they may have some incredible lows,” Mersiovsky said.
Drawing from her own experience working in mental health care, she described what severe depression can look like in a clinical setting.
“When I worked in mental health, we would have patients who came in and they were incredibly depressed,” she said. “They’re just moving incredibly slow. Their thought process is slow.”
Other warning signs include changes in sleep or eating habits — sleeping too much or too little, overeating or not eating enough — along with shifts in physical appearance, substance abuse, delusions, or hallucinations. Any mention of thoughts of self-harm should be taken seriously and addressed immediately.
A unique challenge in Central Texas
Mersiovsky says Central Texas faces a distinct mental health challenge because of its large military community. Thousands of active duty service members and veterans in the region carry the invisible weight of combat experience — and their families do too.
“We have so many of our service members who have been in those war zones before,” she said. “Their families have had to navigate that and worried about them.”
Taking care of yourself and each other
Mersiovsky says the foundation of good mental health starts with the basics: getting enough rest, eating well, and finding ways to reduce stress. But she says community support is just as essential.
“We have to support each other and help each other what we can,” she said.
And when professional help is needed, she says there is absolutely no shame in seeking it. Therapy and counseling can provide coping tools and a safe space to process difficult emotions. Medication is also a viable option for many people, as mental health conditions are often rooted in brain chemistry.
“No one should be ashamed if they need help,” Mersiovsky said. “Mental health plays a part in all of our health from start to finish.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Call or text 988 to reach a trained counselor.