IT'S MAY - MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH!!!
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH!!! As a mental health professional, it always seems weird to celebrate mental health awareness month because I celebrate mental health every day in the work I do and in my personal life. I celebrate mental health by taking care of my own mental health, working with clients to achieve and maintain positive mental health, and educating people and organizations about mental health.
GREEN, GREEN, GREEN! This month you will likely see green more often. Green is the official color for mental health. You will see people wearing green tennis shoes and clothing, donning green earrings and bracelets, and carrying green purses and other green items. Yes, I’m describing myself, but I’m not the only person who will be wearing green during May. Okay, I must admit I tend to go overboard on my green, but it’s not just during May. Yes, I have green earrings, green tennis shoes, green bracelets, and many green mental health shirts, but I’m still looking for my green purse. Any suggestions on where I can find a green purse??? Anytime anyone comments on my green, I take advantage of the opportunity to tell them green is the color for mental health and I talk with them about mental health.
MANY ORGANIZATIONS...
Will be sponsoring mental health walks and fundraisers, providing education and facilitating workshops, inviting mental health professionals and people with lived experiences to events, and many mental health organizations and providers will be giving away free mental health swag…bracelets, water bottles, stickers, pens, key chains, and other paraphernalia. I love that so many people want to raise awareness of mental health, but I want to challenge everyone to DO MORE than raise awareness.
I admit by raising awareness it can help decrease the stigma related to mental health. Simply talking about mental health is helpful when we talk about it without the cloak and dagger feel – refraining from talking in secret and making it feel like a taboo topic. Talking about mental health “out in the open” in a regular conversation in a “normal” manner helps decrease the shame and fear that are often associated with mental health difficulty.
Here are a few ways to decrease stigma:
1. Helping people understand there is no difference between mental health and physical health. Physical and mental health are intertwined. Chronic physical health issues can cause sadness and worry, which can lead to mental health issues; just as chronic mental health issues can cause digestive issues and headaches.
2. Sharing education about the widespread prevalence of people struggling with mental health (1 in 5 adults experience mental health concerns in any given year)
3. Identifying barriers to treatment, such as lack of access to treatment, lack of knowledge about mental health symptoms, lack of or insufficient insurance coverage for mental health services
4. Explaining the negative impact of people not receiving services they need. There are 11 years between the start of mental health symptoms and receiving treatment. Just imagine if someone started to have symptoms of diabetes or cancer and did not receive treatment until 11 years later…
There is so much more information to share with people and I encourage everyone to go to mental health websites to gain more knowledge about mental health and mental health services. You can be an advocate for mental health without having the need for mental health services.
Here are some helpful websites:
Awareness is great, but it’s only half the battle. The challenge is to determine what we do with the knowledge we obtain. Are there ways you can help decrease the stigma? Seeking help for your own mental health concerns helps normalize mental health care. Maybe you don’t need mental health services right now, but what about the people you love? Many people tell me I don’t know if family or friends have mental health concerns, or they say I know they have mental health concerns, but I don’t know what to do. My first response, we educate ourselves about signs of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, we can do the same with mental health. Remember just because you know some of the signs of a heart attack it doesn’t mean you can diagnose or treat someone with heart disease. However, knowing the signs you can help someone. If you noticed someone having shortness of breath and sweating profusely, wouldn’t you ask them if they needed some help? Even if you don’t know the signs of a heart attack or know CPR you can provide assistance. It might not be a heart attack, but because you noticed something different about the person you felt compelled to help in some way.
It’s the same with mental health concerns. Although, I strongly encourage my clients to be leery of doing “research on Google,” you can Google signs of mental health illness just like signs of physical health issues. But here’s the thing, just because you know some signs or symptoms for mental health it doesn’t make you qualified to diagnose and treat, but you can ask someone if they need assistance, just like you would with someone sweating profusely and having difficulty breathing. Imagine this, your family member or friend is usually happy and care-free and frequently engages in social events, but then you notice that they seem sad and are not engaging in social events like they once did. You have noticed a difference in their behavior, why not ask them are they okay? They might say I’m just tired from all my responsibilities. But guess what you’ve done by noticing and asking? You have expressed concern for that person and often that can be the beginning of someone seeking out help or feeling cared for and seen. You could be planting a seed. Now they realize someone cares and notices them. They might talk to you about things that are bothering them. I talk to my clients, friends, family and anyone else who will listen about tribes/support networks. We all need people in our lives to notice when things are different with us. I don’t have a huge circle, but I know that there are some people who are going to come see about me!
Who are your people and are you someone who will go see about someone you care about?
ONE THING YOU CAN DO THAT COSTS VERY LITTLE, REQUIRES VERY LITTLE EFFORT…
Identify a couple of people who you will check on and ask them how they are doing. I always ask new clients about their reasons for seeking therapy and more than half of them say somebody told me I should seek help and/or somebody noticed I was different. Some of the “somebodies” are parents, friends, co-workers, family members, neighbors, church members, doctors, spouses/partners. Somebodies are the people that know them well enough to notice when something is different and who they are comfortable talking with about their struggles.
It's May so you will hear and see a lot of ads for raising money and donating towards mental health services and initiatives and that is great. Last year I participated in NAMI Walks and my friends and family supported me by donating to help raise awareness and improve access to mental health services. You can do the same; it’s a great cause! My challenge is for you to also connect with the people closest to you and help support them through their struggles.
Here are ways you can provide support:
· Listen to them share their thoughts and feelings without judgment and trying to “fix them”
· Spend time with them in enjoyable activities and/or sit with them while they do something hard
· Do something for them to help lighten the load (e.g., cook a meal, watch the kids, help them clean, run an errand)
· Be present with them. Don’t underestimate the benefit of just being with someone. It can help them feel like they are not alone
· Help them find resources in the community and choose a therapist. Encourage them to be consistent in their participation in mental health services
· Ask them how you can help
· Ask them how they are feeling. Tell them what you noticed
· Help them make the first appointment to see a therapist
· Be with them when they contact 988 or emergency services, so they don’t feel so overwhelmed
At the bare minimum, tell them you care and want to help them. Provide care and support in a way that you are comfortable.
I would love to hear what your commitment is during May and beyond. Tell me what you decide to DO! Share your commitment by using the contact tab. It might be hard to say or do something but remember…WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!
Until next time Take Care,
Darsha D!