The month of May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. Many people nowadays do not care for their mental health as much as they should, and this is a growing problem. Mental wellness is just as important as physical wellness; it is crucial that we take care of our brains.

With our current state of the world, it is no surprise that people are more stressed than ever before. We have wars going on, politicians constantly fighting, AI beginning to interfere with every facet of our daily lives, social media destroying our attention spans, climate change getting worse every year and the list goes on. 

People have every right to be upset. But mental health struggles are just part of being human, and just like how anyone would go to the doctor if they were sick, it can be extremely beneficial to go to a therapist or psychologist whenever you need help.

SUNY Oswego has plenty of resources for students who are in crisis or just need somebody to talk to. The Mary Walker Health Center has a counseling department with various options for whatever circumstance you might find yourself in, including therapy,   gender-affirming care, couples counseling, walk-in therapy sessions and more. 

Mary Walker is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m every week, and you can call their office at (315) 312-4100 to set up an appointment. If you are in crisis after Mary Walker is closed for the day, you can always contact the Dean of Students, Title IX, use the Oz Concern Navigator or dial 911.

But of course, whenever you are feeling down, it is also good to simply talk to a friend or family member. It might be scary to open up sometimes, but the people closest to you in your life can be the best support systems.