Your Mental Matters ; You Matter

#MAY NEWSLETTER

by Amourie Johnson

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is the time for the community and mental health organizations to join forces and reach millions of people through social media, screenings and local events to help spread the word and help those who may feel like they are struggling alone. The existing stigmas surrounding mental illness cause some people to feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek treatment. Mental health awareness is so important due to these facts:

  • 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 second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34.

(National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 2021)

Considering nationwide proclamations to improve mental health programs, current societal issues prove that evidence-based trainings are essential to assist individuals who are experiencing a crisis. According to a Washington Post database, more than 1 in 5 people with a mental illness are shot and killed by on-duty police officers (Hauck, 2020). Crisis intervention training is beneficial for anyone willing to learn how to recognize and respond to people with mental health challenges, especially first responders. “Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders” (National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 2021). Education and appropriate interventions will eliminate fear and teach people how to safely address this underserved population. In July 2022, a national mental health hotline will go live and provide communities with a range of services to include mobile crisis teams and stabilization programs (Hauck, 2020).

Think about how you can help your community with mental health awareness. Here are a few ways you can participate:

  1. Share your story. We can help others by sharing your personal experiences with mental health challenges and people will see that they are not alone. It’s not necessary to provide uncomfortable details, but enough to make yourself relatable.
  2. Educate yourself on mental health and wellness. Learn about mental health topics and the challenges that millions of people face daily. This will help you check in with your own mental wellbeing and be more empathetic to others.
  3. Talk to a therapist. Last month’s newsletter discussed the importance of counseling in various areas of your life. Talking to a counselor can assist with insight and self-improvement.
  4. Focus on your self-care. We all can get caught up with life and forget to focus on ourselves. Feelings of burn out or exhaustion may require you to take a moment to unwind and recharge.
  5. Support those around you. We can’t always see how mental illness affects people, so learning about symptoms of mental health challenges will allow you to be more supportive. Check in regularly and encourage them to seek professional help as well.
  6. Support a mental health non-profit organization. There are so many organizations that can use the funding to support their efforts. Find one that is a personal connection to you.
  7. Address any stigmas you may have. Sometimes we buy into the myths that people with mental illness are dangerous or can’t keep a job. Reflect on how you are inadvertently contributing to the stigma. If you suffer from mental illness, don’t allow stigmas to prevent you from reaching out to ask for help and seek treatment.

(Better Help, 2020)

It’s important to make mental health a priority and stay connected with friends and family. There are several resources to learn how you can help someone through this journey and not feel alone. Need a mental health day? Check out this link to learn how to ask your boss for one. Your Mental Matters! https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2021/03/how-to-ask-your-boss-for-a-mental-health-day/

 

Amourie Johnson, RN

 

If you or someone you know has talked about contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Disclaimer: Although I am a health professional, I am not a mental health specialist, and this article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice from a mental health provider. The information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and will give credit to the source as a guide and reference to my thoughts and views.

 

 #REFERENCES

Better Help. (2020). Eight ways to participate in mental health awareness month. Retrieved from https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/8-ways-to-participate-in-mental-health-awareness-month/?utm_source=AdWords&utm_medium=Search_PPC_c&utm_term=_b&utm_content=82966818408&network=g&placement&target&matchtype=b&utm_campaign=6459244691&ad_type=text&adposition&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwLKFBhDPARIsAPzPi-LYaNTCWax5yyz7ErWaq5lJ3Sv6IEwHkBDO9isofNb9JBrfDC5kGCMaAmhPEALw_wcB

Hauck, G. (2020). Police have shot people experiencing a mental health crisis. Who should you call instead? USA Today. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/18/police-shooting-mental-health-solutions-training-defund/5763145002/

National Council for Mental Wellbeing. (2021). Mental health month 2021. Retrieved from https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month

 

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