May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health America reports that one in five people will experience a mental health condition in any given year, and everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. In addition, about half of Americans will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime in their lives, with symptoms starting by age 14 for the majority of people.

For All Season is bringing the topic of mental health into public conversation and awareness through its new “Bringing Mental Health to Main Street” Initiative. Recently, the agency opened a new location in downtown Chestertown, Maryland, bringing services to main streets across the Mid-Shore and making services walkable for people living in the Shore’s towns and cities. In the summer, For All Seasons will open a new location in downtown Cambridge.

“Now is the moment to turn this heightened awareness into powerful, positive action for lasting change. For too long, mental health care has been tucked away, hidden behind closed doors, as if it were something separate from daily life. At For All Seasons, we believe the opposite. Mental health is not a side issue — it is as essential as the schools that educate our children, the hospitals that heal our bodies, and the businesses that keep our communities thriving. That is why we don’t just set up offices. We plant ourselves in the heart of the communities we serve,” Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons states.

Mental health thrives when communities come together. The following are tips for you to engage with your community around mental health issues:

• Share your story – break down stigma through the power of personal experiences in your conversations
• Join or support local mental health initiatives
• Check in on friends, family, and neighbors – a simple “How are you really doing?” can make a world of difference

For All Seasons is committed to helping to create healthy, vibrant communities. This starts by protecting our mental health and providing accessible, compassionate care for everyone who needs mental health services.

“Mental health belongs in the center of our community, where everyone can see it, access it, and know that help is always within reach. These four walls are more than just an office. They represent hope. Here, lives will be changed. Children will receive support that transforms their futures. Families will find the tools they need to heal,” Dorman adds.

For All Seasons Mental Health on Main Street initiative is supported by the Rural Maryland Prosperity Improvement Fund (RMPIF) from the Rural Maryland Council. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds administered by the Town of Chestertown have also funded For All Seasons’ ability to move and expand its Kent County office.

For further information, visit forallseasonsinc.org.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

WUES For All Seasons Sponsored Content – May 2025

Photo: Pictured is the crowd who gathered recently to celebrate For All Seasons’ recent open house for its new location at 315 High Street, Suite 202 in downtown Chestertown.