National Wellness Month

August is recognized as National Wellness Month, a time to focus on building healthy habits that improve our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. While many people think of wellness as eating healthier or exercising more, I believe one of the most important parts of wellness is something we don’t always see or talk about: our mental health.
As a police officer with more than two decades in law enforcement, I understand what it is like to put everyone else’s needs ahead of your own. We are trained to be problem solvers, protectors, and helpers. We answer calls on people’s worst days, often carrying the weight of those experiences long after the shift ends. Over time, that weight can become overwhelming if we don’t take care of ourselves.
I know this because I’ve lived it.
Years ago, I was involved in a critical incident where I used deadly force on someone who had armed themselves with a hatchet inside a busy Walmart Store. The person died, and the incident forever changed my life. Like many first responders, I believed I had to handle everything on my own. I buried my emotions, convinced myself I was fine, and continued working while silently struggling. Eventually, that approach caught up with me.
Seeking help wasn’t easy, but it was one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made. Counseling, peer support, healthy coping strategies, and learning to prioritize my mental wellness helped me recover. Today, I proudly serve as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS), using my experiences to encourage others to ask for help before they reach a crisis.

Mental wellness doesn’t mean you’ll never experience stress, anxiety, or difficult days. It means developing healthy ways to manage life’s challenges. It means getting enough sleep, staying active, maintaining supportive relationships, talking to someone you trust, and recognizing when professional help is needed. Just as we maintain our patrol vehicles and equipment, we must also maintain our minds.
This message isn’t only for first responders. Mental wellness is important for everyone. Parents, students, teachers, business owners, retirees, and children all face stress in different ways. Taking time to care for your mental health isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. When we are mentally healthy, we’re better family members, better friends, better employees, and better members of our community.
During National Wellness Month, I encourage everyone to take one small step toward improving their well-being. Go for a walk. Spend time with loved ones. Take a break from social media. Practice gratitude. Reach out to someone you’ve been thinking about. And if you’re struggling, know that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Our physical health and mental health go hand in hand. Both deserve our attention.
Let’s continue breaking the stigma surrounding mental health by having honest conversations, supporting one another, and reminding people that they are never alone.
This August, make your wellness a priority, not just for one month, but for a lifetime.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and take care of yourself.