May Is Mental Health Awareness Month—But It Shouldn’t Stop There
I wanted to share a quick post for National Mental Health Awareness Month and touch on a few things that feel especially important to me as both a mental health worker and an advocate.
You’ll see the posts and reminders to “check on your people,” and that matters. But awareness alone isn’t enough. For some of us, this isn’t seasonal—it’s constant.
I’ve always cared about mental health, but working in a Local Mental Health Authority in East Texas changed how I see it. I watched providers and social workers show up every day with real compassion—while being overworked, underpaid, and pushed toward burnout. Not because they don’t care, but because the system asks too much with too little support.
And when providers are stretched thin, clients feel it too.
That experience is what pushed me back to school. I earned my Master’s in Psychology, and now I’m working toward my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Not because I have all the answers, but because I want to be part of making things better—more accessible, more sustainable, and more human.
If we’re serious about mental health, we have to talk about access, affordability, provider burnout, and the quiet stigma that still exists. The system isn’t where it should be—but that doesn’t mean it can’t improve. It just means it needs people willing to stay in it and push for change.
If you have questions, need help finding resources, or just don’t know where to start, you’re always welcome to reach out through my contact page or email me directly at alexandria@amvankova.com. I’m not a licensed clinician, but I will always do my best to help you navigate what can be a very complicated system (If you’re in Texas, Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) can help connect you to services).
If You or Someone You Know Needs Support
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) — Call or text 988 (24/7, free, confidential)
Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
SAMHSA Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
NAMI — nami.org
FindTreatment.gov — treatment locator
Also, you can always visit your local ER
Mental health deserves more than a month—but if May gets people paying attention, it’s a start.
Much love as always,
AMV
