May – the month for mental health dialogue….

Globally the month of May is dedicated to mental health. As a psychotherapist for me every day is about the significance of mental health and wellness. I believe we don’t just need a to talk about mental health and its crucial significance in our life for one month, this is an inseparable part of our life and health on everyday basis. Biggest challenge for mental health to find recognition is that, it is, ‘invisible’. What is seen is established and what can’t be seen is questioned, that is a basic human tendency. I am sure that numerous times you would have either witnessed, or perpetuated, sympathy with someone you saw with a physical injury like a cast on leg, or disability like someone on wheelchair, but the moment you saw someone exhibiting unusual behavior which presents like mental health issue, a sense of criticism dawned upon. It’s not your fault, as a society we haven’t done a great job in making education and awareness about mental health as essential part of our day-to-day conversations. Someone coping with diabetes can talk freely about it in social setting, and the hosts will do their best to accommodate the dietary need. On the contrary, someone coping with social anxiety can’t say it with the same ease, as it will not only be questioned but also be mocked at, and absolutely not accommodated! Anyone who struggles with mental health issues, has to work extra hard to look for a safe and non-judgmental space to even initiate a dialogue about it, due to the stigma attached to mental health.

Did you know that as per the World Health Organization, all over the world, one in seven, 10 yrs -19yrs old, experience a mental disorder, accounting for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group.  Also, depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders, are the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Sadly, suicide is the third leading cause of death among those between the age group of 16-29 years old. Adolescents with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma (affecting readiness to seek help), educational difficulties, risk-taking behaviours, physical ill-health and human rights violations. Four times as many men than women commit suicide. However, women attempt suicide more often than men (John Hopkins Medicine). About half of all mental illness begin in childhood and adolescence (Kirby and Keon, 2004). Women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from major depression than men. However, men and women are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder (John Hopkins Medicine).

More and more alarming and disheartening research and statistics about mental health can be added, but what is the point? All these number serve no purpose if we don’t streamline mental health awareness and services. As individuals, families, society, community, and country, the responsibility to normalize, address mental health issues freely, falls on each one of us. Here are few steps that you can take on your part:

• Educate yourself about mental health using credible resources.
• Engage in your metal wellness on daily basis.
• If you are not feeling like yourself or are struggling emotionally reach out to a professional.
• Check in with your friends and other loved ones about their emotional and mental health.
• Create a safe and non-judgmental space for your loved ones, to open up about their mental health concerns.
• Engage in open communication with your loved ones.
• Follow and support credible pages on social media, supporting mental health.
• Be mindful about the vocabulary you utilize to talk about mental health.
• Initiate conversation & dialogue about significance of mental wellness, wherever you can, in your given capacity. Remember, each effort matters 😊

If you would like to become an ally of mental health, then don’t hesitate to share this blog further, thank you in advance.