May is upon us, and that means the start of Mental Health Awareness Month 2023. Anyone who knows me or who has followed this page for a while, might know that mental health is a cause very close to my heart and something I advocate for year-round.
Mental Health Awareness Month was established in 1949 to increase awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness in the lives of Americans and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. This month provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices and broadcast the message that mental health matters and healing is possible.
During the month, I will be posting weekly key messages, along with statistics and resources, so that you can also advocate and raise awareness around mental health. By learning the facts and sharing the resources, you can make a difference in the life of someone struggling.
Week 1 message: Mental Health Matters.
We all have mental health. It effects how we think, feel, and act every day. However, mental health is often ignored until something is going wrong. The best way to prevent that is to pay attention, even when you are feeling OK. We all have days when we feel better than others. Just like with our physical health, we can all do things that make us mentally healthier.
Mental health plays a big role in your overall well-being. When you’re mentally healthy, you can enjoy your life and the people in it, and feel good about yourself. Keeping up good relationships, managing stress, and creating positive habits is a great way to support your mental health.
Having poor mental health is not the same as having a mental health condition. We all have tough days and weeks, but struggling with your mental health doesn’t automatically mean that you have a mental health condition. To be diagnosed, the changes in your thinking and emotions must be seriously hurting your ability to do the things you want to do, and the symptoms are staying around longer than they should, like weeks or months. For some, this means extreme and unexpected changes in mood, like feeling more sad or worried than usual. For others, it means not thinking clearly, pulling away from friends and activities you used to enjoy, or hearing voices that others do not. No matter what kind of mental health condition someone is facing, it is possible to heal.
So, always be kind and never judge a person by their exterior. You never really know what is going on behind their laughter and smiles. You never really know the true impact you have on those around you. You never really know how much someone needed that smile you gave them. You never know how much your kindness turned someone’s entire life around. You never know how much someone needed that long hug or deep talk. So don’t wait to be kind. Don’t wait for someone else to be kind first. Don’t wait for better circumstances or for someone to change. Just be kind, because you never know how much someone needs it.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~
