May is Mental Health Awareness month, but I’ve been reflecting on whether posting about it today is enough. The truth is, mental health awareness deserves our attention every single day of our lives—it’s why this group exists in the first place.
Unpack the Bag was created with a simple but powerful purpose: to provide regular reminders that mental health challenges are real, our responses to them are real, and addressing them matters deeply. This isn’t just a space for passive consumption; it’s a catalyst for conversations that can happen anywhere—in these comments, with a friend over coffee, or with a colleague who seems to be struggling, with a family member at a BBQ.
Sometimes, the image or thought you might save from this group becomes exactly what someone else needs to see. Sometimes, the story you’ve been hesitant to share could be the key that unlocks someone else’s prison of isolation.
This mission is personal for me. At 11, I lost my uncle to suicide. At 27, I contemplated it myself and was blessed to have a colleague recognize the signs and help me through it. During my years in EMS, I lost two colleagues to suicide. Since leaving that field, I’ve buried two more. Each loss reinforces what I know to be true: these tragedies don’t have to happen.
Conversation is prevention. Connection is intervention.
For those seeking other resources, UnpackTheBag.com offers expanded articles and insights on many of the topics we share here plus a resource list of professionals who can help. Over time, we’re building the website into a comprehensive resource hub—a place where help feels accessible rather than overwhelming.
So yes, happy Mental Health Awareness month—but more importantly, I hope you’ll carry this awareness with you through every interaction where someone might need to be seen and heard.
Your turn: Do you have resources, tips, or experiences that have helped you? Share them here. This community grows stronger when we contribute collectively to breaking down stigma, normalizing help-seeking, and supporting each other through both crisis and recovery.
Because unpacking the bag is something we can all learn to do, together.