Mental Health Awareness Month

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? When we decided to discuss this topic, we had no idea that there was a month dedicated to its awareness, we just knew that it was something that we all three wanted to talk about through Modern Musings. 

I really hope that you got a chance to listen to the podcast yesterday! We were so fortunate to have Ashely Roberts, a student of Psychology, join us and weigh in on the discussion. It was comforting to have someone with that background helping guide our discussion. Sadly, in today’s society, many of us have not had much opportunity to speak with others about mental health. It almost seems that we are coming out from under the constraints, and speaking about mental health- is no longer taboo. Even so, it is still a challenge, and we are all learning. 

One thing that everyone must consider, is that humanity’s ignorance as a whole is not in any way malicious; it is just ignorance. The general population of the world is still trying to grapple with the idea that no one is perfect, and that it is okay to be different. We need to be patient with those who do not understand mental health and cannot comprehend what it is like to live with a mental health condition. Since many have felt silenced regarding their mental health and have not found that safe haven yet, 

we must be sensitive to those around us; you can never know what people are going through. There are some staggering statistics that you can review in The State Of Mental Health In America.  

Mental health is a very broad topic, and according to mentalhealth.gov, it covers everything about how you think, feel and act. It also encompasses how you handle stress and relate to others, and how you make choices. These are all determined by key factors, including genetics and brain chemistry, life experiences, and family history.

The biggest term that is cropping up online in the past decade (or more) is “self-care”. On the surface, self-care looks or sounds like taking bubble baths, relaxing, having a quiet moment of reflection, or treating yourself to some dark chocolate. In reality, self-care can be so much more. It means “taking care of yourself”, and can be whatever you need in order to have a stable environment. Sometimes self-care is ending an unhealthy relationship, and sometimes that relationship is a person, but it can also be a thing. I know that we have talked about self-care in various forms, and we will probably touch on the subject many more times.

I am grateful that we are normalizing mental health. It felt so good to talk about my own battle with depression and get it off my chest. People should not feel ashamed to talk about their feelings, stress, fears, etc. These days, you can get information just about anywhere online for anything you need regarding mental health. By normalizing mental health, it could save a life. Someone who is feeling suicidal might feel more compelled to share their feelings knowing that they are not going to be shamed and having the comfort of talking with someone who understands. 

Starting on July 16, 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline will be available by dialing 988 for the United States. Please pass this along, and let others know that people who care are standing by, ready to help!