May is here! This is my favorite month of the year because…you guessed it! It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Let me share some statistics to help you understand why this month is important to us:
- 1 in 5 adults in the US experience mental illness every year
- Only about 45% of adults in the US with a mental health condition received mental health services in the past year
- On average, there are 132 suicides per day
- Half of all mental health disorders begin by age 14
These statistics are alarming! Many of us our struggling with our mental health and feel like we have to struggle alone. You are not alone! It is important to break the stigma surrounding our emotional and behavioral health.
Our goal is to end the stigma. Just as we take care of our physical body, it is important to take care of our mental health. Your brain is as much a part of your body as any other organ. However, it tends to be the organ we neglect the most. Did you know that the brain tends to be the least scanned organ in our body?
We neglect our brains by not taking care of some of our basic needs, such as good nutrition, good sleep and movement throughout the day. We also neglect our mental health by not being aware of our emotions and just going through the motions of this life’s responsibilities.
So, how then, do we spread mental health awareness? Here are some tips that can help:
Be transparent with others–If you are struggling yourself, it is ok to share your story. It may open the door for someone else to seek help and support.
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- Educate yourself-Many of the thoughts, attitudes and beliefs that lead to misconceptions about mental health solely come from lack of education. You can seek education from a reliable source, professional or any other vetted educational content. (Psst… you can follow us on IG for some educational content @hope.behavioral)
- Be transparent with others–If you are struggling yourself, it is ok to share your story. It may open the door for someone else to seek help and support. It may show someone that they are not alone in their journey and helps destigmatize seeking help.
- Be aware of cultural biases and educate-Many cultures are still closed off to going to therapy. Be patient but also take the time to educate and normalize mental health concerns. Ask yourself: “what does my culture say about seeking help?” “what are the messages my culture has told me that are keeping from seeking help?”
- Consider mental health concerns as equal to physical health concerns-Your brain is an organ; the organ that has to do with mental health. In the same way that we would go to a cardiologist for a heart condition, it is appropriate to see a therapist or psychiatrist to manage mental health concerns.
Your brain is the command center of your entire body. If your brain is not doing well, it can affect the rest of your organs. Take care of it, as of yet, there are no brain transplant surgeries.
Today is the perfect day to check in with yourself and assess how you are doing emotionally. If you are not sure what you could focus on, make sure to seek help from a mental health professional.
Stay tuned next week we continue to explore ways to enhance our overall wellness. You don’t have to suffer with your mental health symptoms alone.
Need help with managing your symptoms? Don’t hesitate to contact us. Feel free to use our self-scheduling tool as well! We are here to help.
