As you have probably seen by now, May is mental health month. There has been a lot of chatter about mental health since the pandemic began and it has been increasingly apparent that mental health should absolutely be considered just as much as our physical health. It is actually difficult to separate these two, mental and physical health, because they work so closely together and inevitably influence each other. So, we hear this umbrella term of “mental health”, but do we actually stop to consider what it means and everything that it encompasses? You might be surprised.
Broadly, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences our relationships, work performance, ability to manage stress, sleep patterns, and so much more. Our thoughts, mood, and behaviors rely heavily on our mental state- and yet- mental healthcare lacks funding, support, accessibility, and coverage from insurance plans. There are various insurance plans that do not cover any mental healthcare at all, which is completely disturbing at this juncture in society.
Americans are over stressed, over worked, under compensated, overly stimulated, and overly sedentary. The mental health crisis in America goes back way farther than the start of the pandemic. Numbers of people diagnosed with depression and anxiety have long been on the rise. Along with suicidal ideation and the percentage of adults with a mental illness who are uninsured. However, during the pandemic, we have seen the largest increases of depression, anxiety, suicidality, and mental health issues over one year’s time. Those struggling the most are youths aged 11-17, seeing the highest increases by age. Yet, 60% of youths with depression do not receive any mental health treatment. There is no doubt that when our routine and habitual lifestyles are uprooted, we struggle to find our footing and make sense of a new norm. Since the pandemic, more people are being screened for mental health issues than ever before and those seeking help are struggling most with loneliness and isolation.
Mental health is about psychological flexibility and our ability to cope with, and adapt to, life’s struggles. There are various factors to consider when we look at mental health:
· Genetics- biology
· Environment- living situation, housing, people around, work
· Life experiences
· Trauma
· Family history
Who we are, who we become, how we learn to cope, and our norms and values heavily rely on who raised us, where are genes came from, and what we have experienced in life. These are foundations to our mental health. What most do not consider, is that our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, how we handle situations, and how we function in the world is a direct result from what we were taught or shown to do. With awareness comes change.
Other areas to consider when thinking about mental health:
· Diet- Is my diet nutritionally supporting my brain and gut?
· Movement- How often am I moving each day?
· Relationships- Who do I associate with and who do I let into my life?
· Self-talk- What am I saying to myself every day?
· Stress levels- High, low, manageable?
· Support Networks- Who can I count on? Who will be there for me when I need them?
· Social media usage- How often am I scrolling? Am I comparing myself?
· Sleep- How many hours? How restful is my sleep? How often do I wake up?
So, what is positive mental health? Or good mental health? Some might believe that the absence of emotions is positive mental health, but it’s not. Our ability to display a full range of emotions and cope with those emotions is what creates positive mental health. As humans we were meant to experience happiness, sadness, anger, grief, joy, and more. However, when we become stuck in our emotions or we feel a lack of understanding or control over our emotions is when help may be necessary. When we can be productive, make meaning, realize our full potential, connect, and cope with diversity, then we are working towards positive mental health.
Mental health does not discriminate. It impacts every race, culture, religion, age, gender, ect. Most notably, Black and African American individuals have experienced the highest average percent change over time for anxiety and depression. Asian or Pacific Islanders are shown to be seeking mental health resources more than ever before, and Native American (or American Indian) populations have demonstrated the highest average percent change over time for suicide ideation. Yet, these populations also have less resources, less accessibility to care, and have the highest percentages of uninsured individuals.
It is evident that mental health should be taken more seriously, accepted widely, and funded generously. We do countless studies on how to live longer and how to extend our youth, yet it is a known fact that severe mental health issues can take years off of one’s life and shorten life expectancy drastically. The World Health Organization reported that severe mental health disorders have a 10-25 year reduction in life expectancy. THAT IS A LOT!
Whether you are stressed, grieving, anxious, depressed, unsure- reach out to a licensed therapist today and book an appointment to help yourself live a life you want to live, deserve to live, and can be proud of. Your health and wellness depends on it.
Throughout the next few weeks of May we will cover various topics that shine light on mental health and how to encourage more positive mental health practices. Be on the lookout every Wednesday in May!
Be Well,
Kelsey
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
https://www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/news/mental-health-impact-on-life-expectancy/