While Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 by Mental Health America to raise awareness, reduce stigma and provide support for mental health conditions, it remains just as important nearly 80 years later. From affecting the wellness of an individual to an entire community, mental health has a far-reaching impact.
Our Oakland Together 40 Under 40 alumni from across health and human services agencies have joined to help Oakland County residents by educating and sharing resources on mental health.
“Did you know that resilience can be learned? Teaching a child or an adolescent to persevere through life challenges can have a tremendous impact on how they handle stressors as an adult.
“Learning how to bounce back after negative events can shape a person’s self-esteem and put them on a path to success.”
Jessica Cortez, LMSW, clinical social worker and founder of Bloomfield Child & Family Counseling
Class of 2024
“For many individuals, especially girls, women and those with more subtle presentations, autism can look different. They may be working hard to adapt or ‘mask’ for their environment — but as a result experience anxiety, perfectionism or burnout.
“When we shift our understanding, we can provide more meaningful support.”
Katherine Lewitzke, PsyD, LP, owner and clinical director of Bright Pine Behavioral Health
Class of 2023
“One misconception that needs to change is that staying quiet means being strong. Silence keeps us stuck when we’re struggling. Talking about our mental health is how healing starts, and this is actually what takes strength and courage.
“Whether it’s stress or burnout, anxiety or depression, it doesn’t matter. It helps to talk about it — and when you need to, ask for help. Your mental health is worth it.”
Adam G. Hamilton, clinical director of Oakland Community Health Network
Class of 2022
“Mental health is really about personal growth. It’s about learning how to manage strong feelings, like anxious feelings and depressive feelings, how to manage conflict and how to deal with interpersonal situations. It has much more to do with personal growth and development than anything else.
“I would strongly encourage you to think about getting help as a way to further your development as a person, further your growth and help you learn how to deal better with relationships, how to handle workplace issues and how to deal with stress.”
Anton Babushkin, Ph.D., MFin, founder and CEO of Start My Wellness
Class of 2020
“Don’t wait until vacation to rest. Build micro-restoration into your day, into your week, into your month — but just don’t wait until vacation. Micro-restoration means giving your brain small pockets of recovery — 30 seconds, two minutes, five minutes — instead of pushing until you crash. Our nervous system was not designed for nonstop output. It needs brief resets throughout the day in order for it to stay regulated.
“There’s one simple thing you can try. Once every few hours, step away from your screen. Do something active, like stretch your shoulders, drink water slowly, look out your window or take 10 intentional breaths. These tiny resets lower stress hormones and improve focus more than you realize.”
Napoleon Harrington, DBH, LPC, founder of and therapist at Ambassador Counseling & Resource Group and special lecturer at Oakland University
Class of 2016
Visit the Oakland Together 40 Under 40 website for more news and information on the program.
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