Ending Mental Health Awareness Month: Raising Awareness and Taking Action
Maybe you have heard that May is Mental Health Awareness Month and as we end this month, I want to raise your awareness and challenge you to action. As a therapist, I consider it my responsibility to help us all focus more on our physical and mental well-being.
You see, in my line of work, I see the importance of focusing on our physical and mental health because, honestly, they are the same. Our mental health is part of our body and our overall health and the two can’t really be separated. Our body is made up of so many intricate details, connected in such a dependent manner that our physical illness and injuries affect our mental health and vice versa.
So why is there so much stigma surrounding our mental health? I am so glad you asked. When we have a physical illness or injury, there is usually a visible sign that something is not working as it should. However, with mental illness, our wounds are not visible and are overlooked or even judged by others. As a society, we are often avoidant or fearful of the things that aren’t tangible. If we can’t see it, we aren’t sure how to handle it. It’s the same reason we were afraid of the dark as a child, but just like we learned to overcome that fear, I believe we can also learn to understand the importance of our mental health and begin to shift our health focus to include our physical AND mental health needs.
The best place to start is to understand that everyone has physical health AND mental health needs. Most of us have experienced some sort of physical illness in our life and have received treatment and care for this illness or injury. During this time of care, we have often found others to be supportive and encouraging, even offering help and assistance but this isn’t always this case when we have a mental illness. Even saying the words, “mental illness” carries such a negative connotation in our minds. Mental health illness or injuries are often invisible and misunderstood, however, if left untreated, could be just as damaging or deadly as any physical illness we might experience.
Having a mental health condition can be caused by biological, psychological, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. These factors are often beyond our control but can increase stress and dysfunction in our daily life. For example, maybe there is biological inheritance of depression in your family or you experienced a traumatic event that has rewired your automatic response system. Much like physical illness, there are many factors that may contribute to a mental illness, and both need safe, effective nonjudgmental treatment.
All of us experience symptoms of various mental health disorders and most of us are still able to manage all the tasks of daily living with little disruption. In fact, 1 in every 5 people living in the United States, will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder during their lifetime. Although many people living with a mental health disorder only experience periods of dysfunction (when symptoms increase and become overwhelming), some suffer greatly from debilitating symptoms that change the course of their life. We must begin to pay attention to the severity of these symptoms and work on improving our ability to prevent and manage these symptoms by becoming more comfortable with our own need for mental health care.
There are many effective and safe treatment options for managing mental health disorders that may include self-care, medication management and psychotherapy (talk therapy). The first step of receiving any kind of help, is always the hardest. Reaching out to say we need help is scary, but it’s one of the greatest gifts you could ever give yourself. Making your overall health a priority and establishing a routine that promotes overall wellbeing can truly be life changing.
Here are a few tips to help improve your own mental health needs
Be more physically active (walking, lifting weights, dancing)
Hydrate and eat healthy (drink half your body weight in water daily)
Visit Primary Care Physician for regular check ups (check your Vitamin D levels)
Socialize with others regularly (show up for that lunch/coffee with a friend)
Make sleep and rest a priority (give your body time to recuperate
Set health boundaries for yourself and stick to them (respect your own needs)
Let’s stop hiding our struggles and be more honest about what we really need. There is no shame in taking care of ourselves. We want to be our best but that means taking inventory of what our needs truly are and then working to meet those needs without fear or shame. Living a healthier life is completely possible and you deserve to live the life you want.
The most important thing to remember, when caring for your mental health needs is that there is help available. Don’t struggle alone. Reach out to a friend, physician or therapist for support, guidance and encouragement. We are all in this together. Let’s take action today and focus on our overall well-being because we are ALL very important!
Nikki Lewis, LCSW, LCAS, CCS
Redefined Counseling Center, PLLC
www.redefinedcounselingcenter.com
Organizations and resources are here (and waiting) to help. Lean on the mental health providers below for support — or pass them along to a loved one who might be struggling.
Dial 988 for Suicide and Crisis Hotline
Call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline: 800-950-NAMI or text “NAMI” to 741471
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8455 or dial 988
Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 800-662-HELP (4537)
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