Mental Health Is Important Every Day
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Mental Health Is Important Every Day

While we currently celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week, we have to remember to continue the conversation beyond just a week.

37
Mental Health Is Important Every Day
Kathleen Naessens

Go stub your toe as hard as you possibly can against the edge of a table that has been in the same spot for as long as you can possibly remember and then try to tell me it did not hurt.

Let's say you theoretically went and did that, or once upon a time it actually happened. Didn't you yell? Curse? Tell the person in the room with you what happened?

You talked about it to some extent, even if nobody heard and you just happened to curse at the top of your lungs all alone.

Think about emotional pain, often referred to as mental health, as stubbing your toe. The way anyone would validate stubbing their toe and the pain it caused them is the same way we should look at emotional pain.

With this week being Mental Health Awareness Week and this upcoming Thursday being World Mental Health Day, it only felt right to address what this means for us today.

It is much deeper than stubbing your toe, but still deserves to be yelled about. That is actually the entire point.

World Mental Health Week spans from October 6-12. This is a whole week that is dedicated to the soul purpose of talking, learning, and sharing resources about mental illness. Not only that, but an entire day is devoted to openly speaking about mental health, even though the stigma still exists.

I, as well as so many others, are incredibly grateful that this week and this day exist, that alone is a step in the right direction.

Although we see these events stretch themselves to different communities and continue the conversation each year, it has to be known that mental health does not just show up and stick around for this single period of time.

We should probably keep yelling about it like we just stubbed our toes.

This is not the only time that we should be talking about mental health.

This is not the only time to be aware of the healthiness of our minds and others.

The struggles that come with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or any other mental illness do not care what day it is or if they have shown up during the week designated to them. They don't care who's talking or when; they stay all year 'round and sometimes forever.

It has to be remembered that these challenges do not have a start and finish line within this week.

This week of awareness should remind you and everyone to keep mental health, your mental health, at the top of their priority list, no matter what day it is.

It is hard to remember this sometimes, but it's true. Your mental health is the basis for everything else you do. This week and beyond is the time to talk about it.

Let's yell about mental health like we stubbed our toes.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

50892
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32575
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955772
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180794
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments