May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a perfect opportunity to discuss the importance of mental health and take stock of how we are personally managing the stresses, fears, and pressures we each face daily.
Mental Health in America
Up until the last decade or so, mental health was not considered a priority for the majority of American people even though, according to John Hopkins Medicine, 1 in 4 adults in the US have a diagnosable mental disorder. Those who struggle with depression, anxiety, mental disorders, and the like have been ignored, judged, ostracized, and abused by society at large. Not until very recently have we truly taken notice of just how common mental illnesses are and how vital awareness of mental health truly is.
Mental health comprises our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and it has a major effect on our entire lives. It affects how we think, how we behave, and how we feel. It also affects how we handle stress, make decisions, and relate to those around us. It touches every part of our lives, and just like physical health, is a major factor when it comes to living a fulfilled life. Then why is there such a stigma about caring for our mental health and seeking out medical advice or treatment if needed?
It’s time to recognize that mental health is a right that all people deserve and that asking for help is appropriate and courageous. To judge and stigmatize people struggling with their mental health is never helpful. If you’re struggling, we stand with you, we see you, and we are here to help.
You Are Not Alone
Caring for your mental health is sometimes challenging, we get that. For generations, the idea of practicing self-care has been viewed by society as selfish or weak. This is simply not true. We never look down on someone for getting the help they need for physical injury or illness, and mental care should be no different, especially now with the daily worries surrounding a global pandemic, war, intense and constant public scrutiny, and everything else we each personally face. Taking care of our needs–physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental–and asking for help when we need it is one of the bravest things we can do.
If you are struggling with your mental health, know that you are not alone. Approximately 280 million people in the world struggle with depression at least some of the time, according to the World Health Organization. It is time for us to recognize that mental health matters. We must stand together and celebrate self-care, support those who are struggling and ask for help when we need it.
Resources to Help with Your Mental Health
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, here is a list of helpful resources.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-8255 (available 24/7)
National Alliance on Mental Illness
The NAMI HelpLine
1-800-950-6264 (Monday through Friday, 10am – 10pm ET)
Find A Mental Health Provider: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
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