May declared Mental Health Awareness, National Adolescent Health Month

May is all about community awareness, decreasing stigma, and showing support for those who may suffer from mental health and a reminder that they are not alone.

To this end, acting governor David M. Apatang designated the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month and National Adolescent Health Month last Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

Joining Apatang in the proclamation were Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Camacho along with Public School System officials and students and Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Esther Muna along with other staff from CHCC, Community Guidance Center, and Haligi Aware program.

The proclamation itself highlighted that not only is mental health an issue in the community, but it also has quite an effect on the young generation, noting a 2021 CNMI Youth Risk Behavior Survey which showed that 35.6% of middle school youth and 26.9% of high school youth have seriously considered suicide, with 14.7% middle school and 17.6% high school students actually attempting the suicide.

“For many of us, especially those navigating the circular waters of high school, mental health is still an issue. Something that happens to others, or something we’re told to ignore and put your own. But the truth is, mental health is just as important as physical health, if not more so,” said Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School student Jacey Charfauros.

She added, “It affects how we think, feel, and act, changing our experiences and relationships in profound ways. From the pressures of academics to the complexity of social dynamics, high school can be a breeding ground for stress, anxiety, and depression. As a student, I experienced first-hand the toll that depression can take on our mental well-being. We’re expected to excel in our studies, excel in extracurricular activities, and excel in our social life, all while navigating the tough journey of adolescence. It’s no wonder that so many of us struggle to keep our heads above water. But here’s the thing, it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. What’s not okay is suffering in silence, pretending that everything is fine, when it’s not.”

Charfauros urged the community to create a culture of openness and understanding.

“There is help and support available, whether it’s through friends, family, teachers, or mental health professionals. By picking up and seeking help when we need it, we can break the cycle of violence and stigma surrounding mental illness. To the adults here today, I urge you to lead by example when it comes to mental health…Your actions and attitude toward mental health can have a profound impact on the young people in your life. Let’s create an environment where mental health is prioritized and supported not swept under the rug or dismissed as insignificant. By showing compassion understanding and empathy you can create a safer and more nurturing environment for all of us,” she said,

Charfauros also reminded everyone that, “Together we can break down barriers that prevent so many from seeking help… together we can make a difference.”

Apatang in his address said that depression and mental illness affects anyone,

“Depression can happen to anyone at any age. As we become older, we face new social relationships, new pressures from academic, athletic, and other activities. Many of us may not know how to cope with all these overwhelming emotions, which could lead to many factors in our struggles with mental health.”

He shared that whether from one age spectrum to another, “Living with mental illnesses is not easy, but finding the meaning in life, and gaining the feeling of being valued, will give us the strength to drive through any mental health struggles. As part of the older generation, it is my duty, or our duty, to help our youth grow, and help them become a force to be reckoned with. If we are mentally healthy, we can lead a positive quality of life. And that’s for all of us.”

Camacho stated, “It’s great to hear from the students’ perspective as a call for action. And we as a community need to heed to that call for action and actually do something about it…Each of us have our whys or inner whys of why we do what we do and why we’re here present today. And I can just say to look from within because every one individual on this planet has his or her own inner demon that sometimes can be part of the problem.”

He then added, “But then if we create an environment around each other, we create a healthier environment so that our inner demons don’t come up to the point where now we’re needing some help. As a community, we need to thrive together. But then when there’s help that is needed by any one of our team members in the community, in this society, we all need to also get up and take up to bat the role of being a responsible citizen to help the community. Within all these agencies, I think we all have the right agencies. So that the support is there. We just need to make sure that we guide the individuals in that direction.”

Sharing her gratitude to her CHCC team, Muna said, “We have public health and mental health. And that’s the approach that we want to take moving forward, is that mental health is public health. It’s a concern of all of us to make sure that we have the education, the outreach, for services for all of you. Don’t feel like just confined within your walls and that’s all the people that you can reach out to. We are here. So again, I really appreciate the recognition of this month. But it shouldn’t be just this month. All of us should think about mental health as a problem throughout our lives. And from children to adulthood, we all experience it the same way too. We always feel like we’re blocked and everything. But again, there’s always somebody there and we’re definitely here to support you all.”

The CHCC-CGC suicide prevention program is available Monday-Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm, and can be reached at:

(670) 664-LIFE (5433)

(670) 664-LIVE (5483)

If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, especially if you believe someone’s life is in danger, call 911. You can also call the National Suicide prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, which provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress.