A short history of mental health
Mental Health Awareness Month was set up in 1949, the purpose was to raise awareness about different factors of mental health and the importance of good mental health techniques to help us with our overall health.
Each year in May, we can access events and resources to support the awareness to a broader audience. it's important because many people have a conception that having a diagnosis is a limited and unproductive life, which is a myth. Speaking to your doctor and going through the advancements in mental care such as treatment plans is effective.
Local governments and nationwide organisations started to provide various educational actions for the public and people who suffer from mental health to increase their understanding of conditions, prevention and treatment.
Mental health awareness month addresses and breaks the stigma around mental health issues and their treatment.
It’s okay not to be okay: Breaking down the stigma around mental health
Asking for help is a big step and asking for help shows strength because we are not alone, asking for help from those who are willing to help and support us.Multiple factors contributee to mental health stigma:
Miseducation
Social media
Past institutions/ mental illness practice
Breaking the stigma does help many people as they learn more about mental health care and issues:
Talking about mental health - speaking openly about your life in school, work and general anxiety, sharing stories means other people can relate to the experience and provides the false of everyone and everything is perfect.
Providing tools/resources - counsellors and therapists are important to talk to students/employees about mental health is essential to encourage inclusion areas that are making sure individual well-being is a priority. Being familiar with counsel centres and support groups in your area to help get the support and resources
Research - the main reason mental health is stigmatized, not many people understand it, taking the time to learn and do research will help with a better sense of what mental health and mental illness are because we all have it.
All the information above will help you to learn, by knowing more about mental health, so that you can also teach others if someone next comes. sharing educational resources can be easy through social media platforms to encourage others in being welcoming and empathetic.
Feeling support and having a positive outlet at home or in public will dictate the individual's reaction to asking for help.
Why does talking about mental health matter?
We need to understand what is mental health? Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being. these three developments help determine how we handle stress in different situations, how to communicate and relate with others outside of the family household and the making choices in our daily lives. From childhood to adulthood, mental health experiences can change your life but could lead to a mental health problem if not acknowledging the many mental health factors.
Learning about mental health is the first step...
1. Combating mental health stigma
The stigma around mental health does prevent us from recognizing when help is needed. For example, avoiding talking about mental health problems, because we don't want to face discrimination at work, or to be treated differently if our family or community knew about the changes. Talking openly about mental health issues can break the barrier and understand how common mental health is by correcting misconceptions and it's good to ask for help.
2. Understanding you are not alone
knowing you are not alone and many others are going through similar situations allows acceptance. allowing yourself to heal and take one step at a time to process your health. mental health has risen in many countries, 1 in 5 individuals lived with mental illness since 2017. Studies show that mental health issues have risen, but this does not mean that people will have mental illness happen often.
3. Main a good mental health
Discussing mental health is good to help encourage us to maintain our mental well-being daily. the discussion should include information on how to care for our well-being and mental health issues which will benefit others. for example, celebrities and other artists share what they are experiencing, and why they are taking a break from work to focus on looking after themselves and sharing the service they use/support to help with their well-being.
Conclusion
Taking steps to better manage overall mental health through healthy living and stress reduction techniques like using yoga, meditating, and participating in group activities for mindfulness.
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