April 30, 2022 by Howard Diamond
HEY HEY, Everyone! Ready for spring weather! May, the fifth month of the year, where we can spend more time outdoors. We can breathe some fresh air, despite COVID19 regulations. Be careful and wear that mask and try not to over congregate in one place. Really, I do feel sorry for the folks out there who suffer from allergies. It must be a bummer and I can relate because I have my own set of allergies.
In addition, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Over the last several years, I have written articles on this topic. This year is no exception, so let’s focus our eyes, clear the wax out of our ears, if necessary, blow our noses and buckle our seat belts. When done, start our engines cause our next journey is about to begin. Let us all remember my saying, “Every Journey Begins With One Step”. Ready! Set! Engage! Is everyone moving? I know, I am.
Every year of Mental Awareness Month has a specific theme. For 2022, the theme is “Together For Mental Health”. According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), “We will use this time to bring our voices together to advocate for Mental Health and access to care. Together we can realize our shared vision of an entire nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy and fulfilling times “.
There are significant reasons for having Mental Health Awareness Month, in accordance with, Mental Health Week, this year from May 10 through May 16. One main reason is to focus on and aim to get people talking about mental health. Also, it helps to reduce the stigma that prevents individuals from asking for assistance with our issues. It is said that in the world population, approximately one in four of us, suffers from mental health problems.
For me, Mental Health Awareness Month exists to make and to educate everyone and be well informed and knowledgeable. My hope is that this will aid in breaking down the barriers of stigma. We can triumphantly accomplish this by trying to ensure that all Americans get the same opportunities equally and fairly. Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval, or when a society places shame on people who live with mental health issues. To be successful in combating stigma happens when all of us are reaping all the possible necessary benefits for our overall physical and mental health.
How can we do our part in observing Mental Health Awareness? Good question. Let’s proceed. Initially, reach out to our friends and relatives and try to explain the issues. We don’t have to be open to talk about our mental health concerns, but it could be good to share. Possibly, we can just slide into the conversation, and wait for the responses. As
individuals who deal with our own mental health concerns, we can understand when someone is needing mental health services. Maybe one day, mental health issues can be discussed in conversation as easily as physical issues.
When anyone does responds positively, we can offer support and try to steer people in a better course of action. Also, we can offer suggestions that might be beneficial to all. We can also ask for the time off and visit our own therapy team. Our therapist can assess
the situation and let us know if someone needs more services or not. When we are mentally sharp, it is easier to offer options to others that might benefit.
Possibly the only way we enjoy life to its fullest capacity and experience its many wonders are when we take care of ourselves. We need to do this both physically and mentally. Don’t be shy and be afraid from talking with others about what is hurting us. At least, try our best, it is not easy. Remember, it is not our doing and it is not our fault, no matter what society tells us.
We as mental health recipients have come a long way. From the times when we were called mental patients, we were treated like outcasts, not only by our families and friends, but also by the entire medical profession situations have changed. Times have begun evolving and
more and more people, including the medical community, are altering outlooks on mental illnesses, now called mental health or mental wellness. Coming a long distance is good, but we need to go even further in our excursions.
As humans we are a set of meticulously-put-together and well-oiled detailed machines. Our minds and bodies work with each other in expert harmony. This brings us extraordinary feats in technology, science, humanities, to name a few. What needs a boost and some
sort of increase is in our mental power; therefore, we need to be taken an improved care of our minds and souls for a better tomorrow and for all our generations to follow.
At this moment it is May, we are celebrating again, Mental Health Awareness Month. Naturally, for all of us that deal with mental health issues plus first as human beings, we will survive. In addition, we serve as a champion of our own issues everywhere, we need to try harder to spread our word of probable recovery. Remember, this begins with one person and another and can spread quickly. Do our part, one person after another.
See you in the News Blogs and Newsletters.
Howard Diamond is a Certified Peer Specialist from Long Island.