Trisha Miller, Sr. Learning Consultant, Talent Development
Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder that support is available—and it’s okay to use it. I’m sharing a personal experience to highlight how important those resources can be when life feels especially heavy.
Carrying It All While Continuing to Work
Access to mental health care has always mattered to me, but for a long time it was something I knew existed rather than something I personally relied upon. I was aware that TeamHealth had resources available, but until I truly needed them, they felt like something “out there” for someone else.
That changed when my world shifted all at once.
Within a short period, my youngest daughter (who is in her early 20s) began having issues due to a serious, chronic health issue. Around the same time, my husband experienced a major shift in his health and abilities. He had always been the strong one, a head football coach for years and the natural leader of our family. Once active and independent, he now spends most of his day inside our home, often needing help with everyday tasks.
Earlier this year, my husband was forced to step away from his career due to declining health which was an emotional turning point for our entire family.
At the same time, my oldest daughter and her husband, both working long hours in healthcare, welcomed their fourth child. We helped care for their growing family, as their newborn arrived with unexpected health challenges. This profoundly changed our world.
Reaching a Point Where Support Was Necessary
All of this unfolded over just a few months while I continued working full-time. Eventually, I reached a point where I needed support and really asked for help to deal with the pressing family issues.
That’s when I turned to the resources available through TeamHealth and I was overwhelmed, in the best way, by how much support was available.
How Accessible Mental Health Support Helped Me
One resource that made an immediate difference for me was access to virtual therapy. I was able to connect with a therapist in a way that fit into my life without having to schedule appointments or add another obligation to an already full plate. I could send a message, email, or voice memo (even in the middle of the night if I woke up feeling stressed or panicked) and my therapist responded in the same format, offering real support, coping strategies, and guidance when I needed it most. I also connected with a clinician through telehealth and turned to other digital tools, including short wellness videos and calming music I could access right at work. These moments of support mattered more than I can express.
Teaching a Course Became a Part of My Journey
I began facilitating, “Microstressors in the Workplace” workshop in January 2025. In many ways, it has become part of my own healing journey. Each time I facilitate it, I’m reminded of how deeply small, cumulative stressors can impact our overall wellbeing and mental health. When I was first introduced to the course, it resonated with me on a level I didn’t expect. It gave me language for what I had been experiencing. I began to recognize that not all stress is the same; some drains your capacity, some depletes you emotionally, and some challenges your sense of identity.
Before that, I had been carrying it all as one overwhelming weight, rather than understanding how those stressors were building in different ways. As I continued teaching the course while navigating my own challenges, I found myself applying those lessons in real time. I started reframing my thinking in small but meaningful ways and creating space to pause and respond differently to events and stressors. That experience reinforced my belief in the value of professional development that meets people where they are. While no single course will resonate with everyone, this one helped me regain a sense of control during a particularly difficult time by shifting how I responded to what I couldn’t change.
Mental Health Awareness Month
During Mental Health Awareness Month, let my story be a reminder that mental health matters because we are people first, and understanding what support is available, and how to access it, can make a critical difference when it’s needed most.
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988, or chat online; 24/7 for free, confidential support for emotional distress or crisis.
