Extreme weather events like Hurricane Milton, loss, work and even family can make you feel bogged down by life. Our mental health is directly linked to our overall health and quality of life, says the Centers for Disease Control.

Recognizing our mental health hygiene and taking care of it — Thursday is World Mental Health Awareness Day — could mean a fuller and longer life experts say.

Dr. Ross Sullivan, the executive medical director of Helio Health, says more than 20% of New Yorkers say they have a mental illness. More than 30% say they have poor mental health.

Sullivan said those are “astronomical numbers." While he noted there is more communication and proactive care being sought since the COVID-19 pandemic, he says there is still a huge stigma. Also, 20% of people who are seeking care can’t get it due to the stigma, practitioner shortages and insurance issues.

“People should be just talking about this stuff. It’s for us to talk about, you know, 'don’t smoke.' Or it is easy for us to say 'don’t do drugs' But it’s harder for us sometimes to say 'Are you OK? Are you feeling down, sad, depressed, anxious? Are you having thoughts of hurting yourself?'" Sullivan said. "These conversations have to become a normal part of everyday life. Fortunately, and unfortunately, it’s important that we talk about this at the dinner table. It’s important that we talk about this at work if we can with our colleagues.”

If you need mental health support and don’t know where to start, call 211 or your health insurance provider, or you can visit the Office of Addiction Services and Supports website or the NAMI New York website.