If you weren’t feeling well physically, you would most likely visit a doctor, right? So why when you don’t feel well mentally or emotionally are you reluctant to seek professional help? According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), nearly one in five adults live with a mental illness. With that being said, the question is why don’t we seek help? There are a variety of reasons why people don’t seek help, I think the more important question is how can we encourage more people to seek help. Mental health awareness is probably the only solution to break the stigma and help people find professional help to treat their issues. The purpose of raising awareness about mental health issues is to inspire others and to share information, tools, and support, regardless of whether or not you struggle with mental illness. This will help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and give millions of those struggling the much needed help.
How can we create awareness?
1. Openly discussing mental health issues
The stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health is so bad that even admitting to suffering from a mental disorder is taboo. What’s worse is that people are often subjected to unnecessary scrutiny or ridicule, forcing them to hide and deny their struggles.
Therefore, the first step is openly discussing these mental health issues and making it known that they can affect anyone.
When you share your own experiences with mental health, listen to your family and friends’ responses, and encourage them to speak out about their symptoms, you’ll likely encourage them to seek the help as well.
2. Shedding light on the signs and symptoms
Mental illness is very hard to identify. It may seem that the person is perfectly fine and full of enthusiasm from the outside. On the inside, however, they may suffer unimaginable mental suffering.
Educating yourself on the symptoms and how you can assist your loved one should they receive a diagnosis will be instrumental in reducing the number of people suffering in silence without support.
A person suffering from a mental illness may exhibit any of these warning signs:
- Unexplained mood swings
- Antisocial behavior
- Sudden changes in eating and sleeping patterns
- An inexplicable feeling of sadness
Never ignore these warning signs when you see them in a friend or family member. Instead, encourage them to talk about what they are experiencing and help them get the right professional help.
With mental issues like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia affecting millions, it’s high time we advocate the causes, symptoms, and treatments available.
3. Checking your mental health condition
Are you aware that mental health screenings are available just like physical health screenings? If yes, then well and good. If not, you aren’t alone. Many people don’t know such things exist.Screenings are beneficial tools for those who may think they have a mental illness and for those who don’t. Since many people are unaware of this convenience, gathering a list of screening sites and sharing them in your social network is beneficial. Doing so could give many of your followers a tangible first step that could change their lives.
As a first step, you could undergo a mental health screening and share the experience openly on your social media profiles. This will encourage many others to do the same and maybe a life savior for some.
4. Volunteering in local mental health awareness programs
You can increase mental health awareness in two ways:
- 1. Using your online presence and actively participating in local campaigns.
Social media is a powerful tool to advocate awareness of mental health issues and the importance of seeking professional help. May is National Mental Health Month, which triggers an outpouring of online events related to mental health. By sharing these events on your profile, you can do your bit to encourage others to learn more about these pressing issues.
Whether you organize events during May or throughout the year, the goal is to spread awareness about the reality of mental health and how it affects the people around you.
- 2. By proposing policy changes.
Policy changes can significantly impact the lives of people with mental health conditions and their supporters. You may consider supporting campaigns by candidates who emphasize improving mental health through their platforms. Alternatively, you can encourage local government officials to recognize national mental health awareness events or propose legislations to improve access to care.
5. Adopting a holistic approach to help others
Raising awareness is more than just educating people about identifying mental illnesses. Your awareness campaign should make a positive, lasting impact on their mental health. Your approach should also inform people about the importance of self-care and self-love. You can do this by helping them focus on their physical fitness by working out and following healthy practices to improve their well-being. One way to do it is to arrange hikes, marathons, and treks in the name of mental health awareness.