May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and News 12 spoke with one Brooklyn specialist to learn more about what is being done for the mental well-being of New Yorkers.

Dr. Jason Hershberger, of One Brooklyn Health, says that the hardest part of many working to fix their mental health is taking the first step in seeking assistance.  

“Unfortunately, too many people still think of mental health or addictions as moral failings, as something wrong with them or something they’ve done wrong,” said Hershberger. “There’s great treatments out there, but they only work if people start them, and they only work if people continue them.” 

Hershberger says he sees plenty of Brooklyn residents struggle with the stresses of poverty. As the chairman of behavioral health at One Brooklyn Health, he says he also sees lots of people dealing with feelings of isolation that are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

At One Brooklyn Health, New Yorkers have a wide variety of mental health services and resources at their disposal. Hershberger says that they’re rebuilding all of their inpatient facilities and psychiatric emergency room areas, as well as expanding their outpatient services.  

"If people withdraw from fun things, from family things, from work, form living, people are isolated, if they seem hopeless, over pessimistic, if they seem anxious, those are early warning signs that something's brewing,” said Hershberger, who warns those to keep an eye on their loved ones.  

Connecting with families, getting outside for activities, and exercising are great ways to begin to improve your mental health, says Hershberger.