May is Mental Health Awareness month: a month that is completely dedicated to raising awareness for such an important yet extremely underrated issue. Mental health is often times overlooked in society because it is considered to be a sensitive and “taboo” subject. Far too many people don’t want to acknowledge the severity of mental illnesses because they don’t believe them to be true. This negative stigma is, unfortunately, the reason why so many people choose to suffer in silence and never reach out for help, due to the fear of being judged or shamed by others. Yet, it’s so crucial to disprove this idea and to let those who are suffering know that they are not alone.
For some reason, in more recent years, I have noticed that people seem to romanticize mental health disorders. People throw around terms such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, and OCD as if they aren’t serious illnesses that can lead to some even more serious consequences. It seems as though teenagers think it’s trendy to have depression or anxiety or the like. It’s almost as though some people use it as a means of gaining attention from others; however, these illnesses are extremely serious and have high potential to lead to suicide- something nobody should ever desire or fake. (With that being said, I do still believe that every case of potential mental illness should be taken seriously and with much care.) Social media seems to portray depression as something beautiful or as something that should be desired, and too many people have started to buy into this idea. There are endless accounts on Twitter and Tumblr especially that glamorize the idea of having depression, especially for teenage girls. They drill the idea that being a vulnerable, tragically sad girl is the way to be to get boys who will save them from themselves and then everything will be happily ever after. The end. However, the end for this fairy tale version of depression is the polar opposite of the actual potential endings of people’s lives who suffer from this illness. According to save.org, 90 percent of all people who have committed suicide have pre-existing mental health issues. People are dying from suicide as a result of mental illness every single day and some people still have the audacity to joke about it or pretend they want to have one. Lack of sleep, loss of appetite, and inability to complete normal daily tasks are not side effects that people should be craving.
This stigma makes mental health seem unimportant and inferior to physical health when in reality mental health is just as important -- if not more important -- than physical health. It is crucial for people to be in a healthy mindset in order for them to live a happy, healthy, and productive life. Additionally, people seem to have a negative opinion around the idea of taking medication for mental disorders. However, if it’s completely normal to take medicine for an illness of the body, why isn’t it acceptable to take medication for an illness of the mind? With stigmas such as these that aren’t being addressed or changed, there is no way people’s opinions on mental health will change.
It is absolutely imperative that we as a society end this stigma and romanticism of mental health disorders that affect people so negatively every single day. Mental illness is not pretty. Mental illness is not trendy. Mental health is not a joke.
It’s time to open up the discussion for mental health and make it a more comfortable subject to talk about. It’s time to start emphasizing the importance of mental health like we do physical health, because both are as equally important. It’s time to acknowledge that mental illnesses are just as legitimate as physical diseases, despite us not always being able to physically identify them. It is time to end the stigma and take a stand!
So what can you do for the month of May, as well as every other month of the year, to contribute to mental health awareness?
1. Always be kind.
Everyone is fighting a battle. You don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Always show kindness and compassion, even to those you might not really know. A smile may make someone's day!
2. Don't judge a book by its cover.
You’ve probably heard this saying a million times, but it’s so true. Don’t classify someone who is diagnosed with a mental illness as anything less than a human being. They are not crazy. They are not insane. They are human too, just like YOU!
3. Educate yourself.
Learn the facts. Research what types of mental illnesses are out there and determine ways to identify them. Look for the signs to help eliminate the problem before it becomes too late. Don’t be afraid to reach out to professionals for advice or help. Seeking help is OK!
4. Tell someone you love them.
Three simple words can save someone from suffering alone. Love is the most powerful and comforting tool for regaining strength.
5. Be open and honest with yourself and others.
If someone you know is struggling with a mental illness, be open to them. Sit with them, talk with them, support them, and find ways to help them. Or, if you feel as if you’re struggling with a mental illness, be open with someone else about what you are feeling. No one should ever suffer in silence.
Make yourself aware of mental health not just in May, but every day of the year. If you or someone close to you suffers from difficulties with mental health, just remember: "Tough days don't last -- tough people do."
Mental health disorders are real and more common than you may think. So this month, help take part in National Mental Health Awareness and strive to support those that suffer by letting them know they are not alone, and that the possibility of healing and thriving is tangible. And to those that suffer from these disorders, you are not crazy or dangerous, or any of those other labels people may throw around.
You are not your illness.
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For more information on mental illnesses go to: https://www.nami.org
If you or anyone you know is struggling, please take advantage of the following:
Mental Illness Hotline: 800-950-NAMI
Crisis Call Center: 800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863
Suicide Hotline: 800-784-2433
Eating Disorder Association Hotline: 800-931-2237
National Mental Health Association Hotline: 800-273-8255