Each year, 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder.1 Additionally, over 50% of adults with a mental illness have not received treatment.2 Because of how prevalent it is, there’s a good chance that you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health.
Mental health issues are distinct from physical issues or challenges in that they are frequently not outwardly apparent. Unlike a broken arm, where the cast serves as visible proof of injury, depression or anxiety may not be so easily visible. The objective of Mental Health Awareness Month is to promote the discussion and normalization of mental health issues, in order to make them more widely recognized and accepted. We have answered a few questions so you may participate during this important month.
Why does mental health matter?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health is defined as a person’s “emotional, psychological, and social well-being”. The impact of mental health spans various aspects of our lives, including our cognitive processes, emotional responses, behaviors, decision-making abilities, and social interactions. Because of this, mental health holds significant importance in maintaining our overall health and well-being, and this holds true at every stage of life. Mental health and physical health are closely intertwined; one can easily affect the other.
What can I do to raise awareness?
It is essential to spread knowledge about mental health to decrease discrimination and motivate people to seek assistance when needed. An effective approach to contribute to Mental Health Awareness Month is strengthening your understanding of diverse subjects associated with mental health. This can involve learning about specific mental illnesses through research studies or other resources.
Developing a more comprehensive view of mental health can be advantageous when understanding its impact on individuals’ lives. Additionally, it can help to dispel misconceptions and prejudices about mental health topics that may have been held previously.
If you are not well-versed in various mental health subjects, you can do some personal research using various online resources. Several organizations, including Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the National Institute of Mental Health, strive to raise awareness about mental health and can offer valuable information.
Here are some actions you can take to help:
Help a loved one by being there for them. Mental Health Awareness Month provides a chance for you to concentrate on exploring ways in which you can offer support to your loved ones. Check in on the people dear to you. Be an active listener and be there for them, as you would want them to do the same for you. Having compassion and empathy can help more than you think.
Be honest with yourself and others. Don’t be ashamed to admit you need help. Reach out to close friends and loved ones to talk. Sometimes mental health struggles can seem invisible and discussing them with trusted people helps to acknowledge the issues.
Avoid stigmatizing language. Your daily vocabulary matters more than you might think. You may be attributing to mental health stigmas without realizing it because stereotypes of mental health are seen everywhere. Don’t use language that is stigmatizing, like “crazy” or “psycho,” which reinforces negative stereotypes of those with mental illness.
Additionally, it may mean refraining from consuming media like movies and TV shows that utilize stigmatizing language and actions, such as depicting individuals with mental health conditions as threatening and undeserving of compassion.
Learn more about mental health. The more you know about the subject of mental health, the more you can help yourself and others around you. There are many online resources such as blogs, podcasts, and videos that can help you learn more. Education is an important tool in fighting stigma, promoting the normalization of discussing mental health, and seeking help and treatment.
What if I’m struggling?
If you need help, it’s important to seek support as soon as possible, no matter the obstacle you face. Your job may offer free counseling sessions through an EAP, and often there are therapists in network with health insurance carriers. Finding a counselor can be daunting, but make sure to find one that specializes in the subjects you need the most support on. Additionally, some therapists work on a sliding scale, which means they will work with you at an affordable price for their sessions. If you’re having no luck finding a therapist, you may ask your primary care provider to suggest mental health resources or alternatives to counseling.
It’s also important to practice self-care. Self-care goes beyond bubble baths and pampering yourself; it’s about giving yourself the proper care you need. This means drinking the appropriate amount of water, eating nutritious meals, and getting some form of movement or exercise. It can also mean scheduling that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off for a while. Taking care of your physical health can do wonders for your mental health.
Educating yourself about mental health can enable you to recognize the signs of common mental health disorders and identify those in your life who may be struggling. This does not mean you have to step in and be their therapist or “fix” them, instead, it allows you to be there for them in their time of need. Additionally, you can help by encouraging them to seek professional help or simply by checking in with them on a regular basis to see how they are doing.
It’s important to always keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with seeking help if you are struggling with your mental health. Having poor mental health can affect your overall quality of life and can make it difficult to be present at work and do things you enjoy such as your hobbies. Achieving and maintaining health and wellness includes physical health in addition to mental health.
Mental Health Awareness Month allows everyone to help normalize mental health, illness, and struggles. Take care of yourself and be a helping hand to others.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1(800) 273-TALK. Their 3-digit dialing code 988 can be used across the U.S.
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[1]: nimh.nih.gov
[2]: mhanational.org
