MAY IS FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Mental Health Awareness Month is more than just a calendar observance—it’s a chance to look inward, speak outward, and encourage others to do the same. As someone who has walked a tough personal journey, I know the value of talking openly about mental health, especially in small, rural towns where silence can sometimes feel louder than support.

Since becoming a full-time member of the Kanokla Design Studio team in January, I’ve been reminded every day how important it is to find connection, express yourself, and advocate for wellness in every form. I’ve been lucky to work in a space that values creativity and community—and those two things are deeply tied to my own recovery.

A recent moment that was deeply meaningful for me was donating one of my photography prints to St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita. That hospital helped save my life after a suicide attempt two years ago. Walking through those halls again, not as a patient but as someone giving back, was an emotional full-circle moment. My art became a reflection of healing—a message for anyone struggling that there is always a second chance to create something beautiful from the dark.

Mental health struggles are not always visible. They don’t always look like what we imagine. And they can touch anyone, anywhere. In rural areas, the challenges can be even more complex. Access to care can be limited. Stigma can be louder. And the idea of “handling things on your own” is deeply rooted in our culture.

But there is also hope—and growing support.

Right here in Caldwell, Sumner Mental Health is doing amazing work to make care accessible. They offer services in Wellington and even come to Caldwell Regional Medical Center weekly. Telehealth and virtual therapy options mean more people can get help without traveling far, and with fewer barriers. Mental health support is no longer just a big city privilege—it’s possible here, in our homes and hometowns.

Through my involvement with the NAMI South Central Kansas chapter, I’ve had the chance to take that message even further. Earlier this spring, I traveled to Topeka for Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Statehouse with fellow advocate Lori Barnes. We stood with others and spoke out about the importance of access, awareness, and policy change. The message that day was clear: mental health matters, and everyone has a voice in making it better.

Being a part of this community and this team has shown me how powerful open conversations can be. At Kanokla, wellness isn’t just an idea—it’s something we actively pursue, through internal programs and intentional conversations. And more importantly, it’s something we live by supporting one another beyond just work tasks and deadlines.

If you’re reading this and you’re struggling, please know that you are not alone. There is help. There is healing. And there are people—whether in your community, workplace, or across a screen—who care and want you to stay.

You don’t have to have all the answers to start talking about mental health. Just being willing to listen or share can break down walls for someone else. That’s how change begins—not with huge gestures, but with real people showing up with empathy and truth.

This May, I encourage everyone to keep the dialogue going. Ask questions. Check in on your people. Speak out. Because mental health isn’t something to be hidden—it’s something to be honored, supported, and understood.

You are worth the light that’s waiting on the other side of your struggle.