Mental Health is Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For centuries, mental health has had a stigma of being disregarded and has been considered unimportant when it comes to our overall health. Yet, mental health affects millions of people in the U.S alone. Making healthy choices, relating to others, handling stress, and our behavior are all factors of mental health. It includes our psychological, social, and emotional well being and overall health. Mental health is health.
Statistics:
1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34
Ways to reduce stress in 2021:
Lower your News intake
Socialize with your community
Accept the fact that no two people could possibly think exactly the same
Our brains are individualized just like our bodies
Read a book
Breathing exercises such as the “Tracing fingers” technique
Journaling
Avoid people that make you feel bad about yourself or lower your self esteem
Practice mindfulness with you nutrition
Take time in your day for yourself
Attempt a new hobby by practicing any of the arts (music, dancing, creative writing, photography, painting, ect.) Even if you stink
Share your story with someone you trust who loves and appreciates you only if you feel ready to do so, and at an appropriate time. Also knowing the benefits and negatives of coming out. Pros and Cons of sharing your story
How to support friends that share their struggles:
A great step towards healing is being able to share your experience with a loved one. And during this time we tend to quickly jump to “Have you tried...” or “I tried...and it really helped me.” This leads to a feeling of disrespect by a lack of understanding. The upsetting thing is that these advice downgrades or oversimplifies what has happened to you. Instead of disregarding your loved one’s experience and thinking it can be changed with just a slight adjustment of positive attitude, ask them about what happened, what have they learned from their experience, and what has helped them.
Sources: Rego, Mark D. “The Importance of Explaining Our Lived Experience.” NAMI, 19 Apr. 2021, www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2021/The-Importance-of-Explaining-Our-Lived-Experience.“Mental Health By the Numbers.” NAMI, www.nami.org/mhstats.