May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time for us to take a step back and look in the mirror to ask ourselves -- are we doing okay? It's also a reminder to check in with our friends and family members.
All month long on WRAL News at 9 a.m., local experts will dive into how mental health impacts our lives. Here's what we've learned so far.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Mental health for diverse communities
Rosanna De La Rosa, a licensed clinical mental health counselor with WakeMed, discusses how mental health in diverse communities is viewed and how professionals can work to bridge the gap and change the narrative.
Mental health for youth
Dr. Valencia Hicks-Harris, CEO and co-founder of Empower All Inc., and board president Amanda West talk about how their organization works to help young people feel comfortable connecting mental health and growth.
Mental health for veterans
Dr. Sarah Wilson, an associate professor of psychiatry in the Duke School of Medicine and a clinical psychologist with the Durham VA Health Care System, shares why it's so important to support those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, explaining how veterans and active service members can access mental health services and ways to cut back on stigmas around mental health.
Mental health for parents during postpartum
Dr. Crystal Schiller, the Director of the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders spoke about the importance of knowing the signs of mental health impacts during postpartum for mothers and fathers. She explains why having a community ready to rally behind parents who are welcoming a new baby can make a world of a difference to the family.
Mental health and social media
Dr. Micah Krempasky, a psychiatrist and WakeMed's chief medical officer for mental health and well-being, spoke with us about the role social media plays in our mental health every day and how we can use online platforms as more of a helpful tool to make connections online and in-person.
Get Help: County-by-county guide to mental health and crisis resources in NC
In the wake of tragic and traumatic events, feelings like stress, anxiety, grief and depression are natural. Here is a list of crisis counseling and county-by-county resources in North Carolina, as well as nationally.