Gold Counseling

MAY 2025  •  MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDER-DEBEE GOLD, LCSW

This past year, mental health awareness became deeply personal for me.

Before Christmas, my 95-year-old grandmother passed away. She had lived a long life, and there was so much to be grateful for: her strength, her history, her love, her grit, her stubbornness, her presence in our family. And still, grief came.

That is one of the truths about loss: gratitude does not cancel grief. Knowing someone lived a full life does not mean the ache disappears. Being prepared in some ways does not mean your heart is prepared in every way.

In the weeks and months that followed, I noticed how grief showed up in everyday life. It was not always dramatic. Sometimes it was fatigue. Sometimes it was a quiet sadness at unexpected moments. Sometimes it was difficulty concentrating, feeling tender, or needing more space than usual. Sometimes it was the strange reality of continuing ordinary responsibilities while carrying something deeply personal inside. Sometimes it was worrying about other family members and their grief.

That experience reminded me again that mental health awareness is not just about diagnosis or crisis. It is about noticing our humanity.

It is noticing when we are grieving.

It is noticing when we are tired.

It is noticing when we are functioning but not really feeling okay.

It is noticing when our children, spouses, parents, friends, or coworkers seem different than usual.

It is noticing when the weight we are carrying begins to affect how we sleep, work, connect, parent, communicate, or care for ourselves.

Grief is not something we "fix." It is something we honor, move through, and make space for. But grief can also become heavier when we carry it alone. Mental health awareness means knowing the difference between normal pain and pain that needs more support.

As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, I hope we remember this: mental health care is not only for moments when life is falling apart. Sometimes it is for the quiet moments when life has changed, our heart is hurting, and we need support finding our way forward.

About This Issue

In this issue, we explore what mental health looks like in daily life, how to recognize when something more than stress is happening, how to find the right help, and what warning signs look different across age groups. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and awareness begins with honest conversations like the one above.

PART 1: WHAT DOES MENTAL HEALTH LOOK LIKE IN EVERYDAY LIFE?

Emotional Regulation

The ability to feel emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Healthy regulation means recognizing frustration, sadness, or anxiety and responding rather than reacting.

Relational Connection

Feeling genuinely seen and understood by at least one person. Isolation is one of the most reliable predictors of declining mental health.

Sense of Purpose

Feeling that daily actions have meaning whether through work, caregiving, faith, creativity, or contribution to others.

Coping Flexibility

Having a range of strategies to manage difficulty: talking to someone, physical activity, rest, creativity, problem-solving; not just one coping tool.

What Mentally Healthy Days Can Look Like

•       Disagreeing with a partner or coworker and returning to connection afterward

•       Feeling sad, anxious, or irritable and noticing it without it derailing your day

•       Knowing when you need rest and being able to take it (or ask for it)

•       Asking for help before reaching a crisis point

•       Being able to laugh, play, or be present with people you care about

Mental wellness is not the absence of hard feelings. It is the presence of enough resilience to move through them.

PART 2: HOW TO GAUGE WHEN MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS INTERVENTION

DIMENSION

NORMAL RANGE

INTERVENTION SIGNAL

Duration

Days to 2 weeks

Symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks or do not improve after the stressor has resolved

Intensity

Fluctuates; can be distracted from it

Overwhelming, disproportionate, or intrusive; feels impossible to manage

Function

Some impact, still managing

Unable to maintain work, school, relationships, hygiene, or safety routines

Seek evaluation promptly if you observe:

•       Any expression of wanting to die, not exist, or hurt themselves

•       Sudden, unexplained behavior change in a person who seemed stable

•       Complete withdrawal from all relationships and activities

•       Inability to care for basic needs (eating, hygiene, safety) for multiple days

•       Psychotic symptoms: hearing voices, beliefs disconnected from reality, extreme paranoia

•       Giving away possessions, saying goodbyes, or expressing hopelessness about the future

PART 3: SIGNS TO WATCH BY AGE GROUP

MENTAL HEALTH SIGNS BY AGE GROUP

Children (Ages 3-12)

• Frequent unexplained stomach aches, headaches before school or activities

• Excessive fears, nightmares, or new sleep disruptions

• Regression to younger behaviors (bedwetting, thumb-sucking, clinginess)

• Explosive tantrums or aggression beyond developmental norm

• Sudden drop in school performance or refusal to attend

• Social withdrawal-avoiding friends, play, or family

• Loss of interest in previously loved activities or toys

Adolescents (Ages 13-17)

• Significant mood changes lasting more than a few days

• Increased irritability, emotional outbursts, or hostility

• Withdrawing from family, friends, and usual social groups

• Declining grades, skipping school, loss of interest in activities

• Changes in sleep (sleeping all day or not sleeping at night)

• Secretive behavior around devices; exposure to harmful online content

• Self-harm behaviors: cutting, burning, scratching (often hidden under clothing)

• Substance use: alcohol, marijuana, or other substances

Young Adults (Ages 18-25)

• Inability to maintain employment, coursework, or independent living

• Isolation from support systems; cutting off family or friends

• Substance use as primary coping mechanism

• High-risk behaviors: reckless driving, unsafe sex, financial impulsivity

• Persistent feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, or "not belonging"

• Difficulty forming or maintaining close relationships

• Anxiety that prevents participation in normal daily activities

Adults (Ages 26-59)

• Chronic irritability, cynicism, or emotional numbness

• Persistent fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or forgetfulness

• Inability to experience joy or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities

• Relationship conflict, emotional unavailability, or social withdrawal

• Neglect of health: skipping medical care, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep

• Work performance decline, absenteeism, or loss of career motivation

• Increased alcohol consumption or reliance on substances to "get through"

Older Adults (Ages 60+)

• Expressing that life has no purpose or that others would be better without them

• Confusion, memory issues, or disorientation beyond typical aging

• Withdrawal from social activities and long-standing relationships

• Changes in appetite or significant unexplained weight change

• Refusing medical care or stopping previously important health routines

• Hopelessness expressed about health, future, or family burden

• Increased alcohol use (often underestimated in this age group)

PART 4: HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT INTERVENTION

Outpatient Therapy

Weekly or biweekly sessions with a licensed therapist (LCSW, LPC, MFT, psychologist). Best for mild to moderate concerns.

Intensive Outpatient (IOP)

Multiple sessions per week, often 3 hours each. Appropriate when weekly therapy is not enough but hospitalization is not needed.

Partial Hospitalization (PHP)

5-6 hours/day of structured mental health programming. Appropriate for moderate to severe symptoms with functioning still intact.

Inpatient/Crisis Stabilization

24-hour care for acute safety concerns. The goal is stabilization, not long-term treatment.

Psychiatry

Medication evaluation and management. Often paired with therapy for best outcomes.

Where to Search:

•       Psychology Today therapist finder (psychologytoday.com)

•       Your insurance company's provider directory

•       SAMHSA Treatment Locator (findtreatment.gov)

•       Community mental health centers (often sliding-scale fees)

•       School counselors or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

•       Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) for uninsured clients

What to Ask a New Therapist:

•       What is your experience with my specific concern?

•       What treatment approaches do you use?

•       How do you measure progress?

•       What does a typical session look like?

•       How do you handle crises between sessions?

•       Do you have availability for my schedule and budget?