Today's Kindness #396: October 10, 2023
🧠Prioritize Mental Health🧠
Annually, World Mental Health Day on October 10th raises awareness and mobilizes efforts to support mental health.
Mental health is a hot topic. This is good news. It means the stigma for mental health issues is slowly going away. Mental health issues are finally getting the attention they deserve. Healthcare workers and individuals feel they can discuss mental health more openly. However, that doesn't mean there isn't still work to do, however.
As a whole, we often misunderstand mental health because it is hard to define. Additionally, mental health includes several areas. These areas involve one's social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Mental health affects thoughts, feelings, and actions. When we have positive mental health, we handle stress better, our productivity remains stable, and we realize our full potential.
Some people are at a higher risk of getting a mental health disorder. These include those with high stress levels, those who have experienced trauma, and those who have few healthy relationships. However, family history plays a role in higher risk factors, too.
Thanks to increased awareness and increased funding for research, there are effective treatment options for most mental health disorders. Conventional treatment methods include medication, psychotherapy, and hospital and residential programs.
While not everyone faces a life with mental health issues, mental health impacts all of us. That's why discussing mental health with your loved ones is a vital part of this observance.
The World Federation for Mental Health organizes World Mental Health Day. Each year, organizations host a variety of events all around the world to increase awareness about mental health issues. Events include educational seminars, free mental health screenings, walk-a-thons, marathons, conferences, mass media promotions, and public service announcements.
If you know someone who struggles with a mental health disorder, World Mental Health Day is a great way to reach out to them. While many people don't feel comfortable talking to others about their diagnosis, knowing they have someone to reach out to makes a real difference. You can also donate to an organization that advocates for mental health. A few include the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) and the Second Wind Fund. If you think you might have a mental health disorder or are at a high risk of getting one, schedule an appointment with your doctor. You can also discover more about the advancement of mental healthcare.
Share this day on social media with #WorldMentalHealthDay.
"Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary."
~ Fred Rogers