“It’s Ok to NOT Be Ok.” Mental Health Awareness Month

May

is devoted to Mental Health Awareness. A topic that is typically swept under the rug. No one wants to address the topic right! Well, it is my biggest priority to help bring this issue to light and help break the stigma of the labeling mental health issues as being “Crazy”.

First and foremost, you are NOT “Crazy”, it’s called LIFE and it can get hard to cope with alone. The biggest issue that I see many struggling with throughout this pandemic is depression. Depression is a serious mental illness that affects more that 16 million Americans. So many go undiagnosed due to the stigma surrounding the illness. I tell people often; you will see many doctors say that Hypertension is a silent killer. I am here to inform you so is depression. Many people mask the way they truly feel and will tell you they are ok, when deep inside they are struggling and have no idea how to ask for help or where to go to get help. Often, we fear being “Judged” because we do want to reach out for help and so we suffer in silence. I believe in my heart this had led to the increasing amounts of death by suicides in the East Texas Area.

At Oceans Behavioral of Lufkin, we are working to address the growing issue if depression in our communities. We have Community Educators that devote time to serve several different counties and work with our local healthcare partners to educate them on signs and symptoms and helping to get individuals the help they need and deserve.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression and or any type of mental illness, please reach out to us. We can assist and help through any crisis. Remember, it is OK to NOT be Ok, just never give up!! The world needs you and you are ENOUGH! Need to know how to even start a conversation about mental health? Check the chart below!

Be Kind to your mind.

Alana Culpepper, MHRM; MAdEd Community Education Director Oceans Behavioral Health - Lufkin

Lufkin, TX: May and June are very significant months at Angelina Arts Alliance. The 2022-2023 live performances end with Kristin Chenowith, and the final two Discovery Series shows, AND the 2023-2024 season is announced to the public on June 2, at the Lufkin Angelina County First Friday lunch at Crown Colony. The Temple Theater Performing Arts Series, and Discovery Series, the Pines Theater Pines Presents Series, and the collaborative Sights & Sounds Series will all be revealed on the first Friday in June. It is certain to be another season of outstanding artists and performances

LIVE FROM LUFKIN!

TEMPLE THEATER: An Evening with Kristin Chenowith May 6, at 7:30 pm – Emmy and Tony award-winning actor and singer best known for originating the role of Glinda in the Broadway Musical WICKED. Her career spans film, television, voice-over, and stage.

Don’t miss the last two family-friendly shows of the 20222023 DISCOVERY SERIES! The amazing CIRQUE

KALABANTE’S AFRIQUE EN CIRQUE on Sunday May 21, at 5 pm. Combining traditional African arts with a modern circus performance, this magical, high-energy production will keep the whole family on the edge of their seats. On Sunday June 11, at 2 pm, come ‘MOVE IT! MOVE IT! when the curtain goes up on MADAGASCAR – the MUSICAL. All Discovery Series performances are 60-90 minutes long and will take place at the Temple Theater. General admission tickets are just $6 for youth (ages 17 and under) and $11 for adults. You will find show descriptions at www.AngelinaArts.org.