World Mental Health Starts Here

This year’s World Mental Health Day may be the most important one since the holiday was established in 1992. World Mental Health Day, which fell on October 10th, was initially started through the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) which is a global mental health organization that holds members in over 150 countries, the United States being one of them. In the last 28 years there has not been another year that has had a greater impact on the entire world’s mental health than 2020. COVID-19 has quite literally changed lives all across the globe. From the anxiety of avoiding the virus, to the loneliness that isolation has brought on, to the financial stress of facing unemployment, there has been a definite increase mental health concerns among most of us.

A study by the CDC in June of this year found that 40% of adult Americans reported struggling with mental health or substance use. Additionally, the study found a 31% increase in anxiety/depression, a 26% increase in trauma/stressor-related disorder symptoms, a 13% increase in substance use, and an 11% increase in suicidal ideations since the beginning of the pandemic. These findings reflect the need to fight harder against the stigma of mental illness more than ever before.

All too often, individuals feel ashamed in seeking help with emotional health issues, which prevents them from getting the support they need. This can ultimately lead to further damage to themselves or other people. And these effects reach all of us whether it’s a friend, family member, or coworker, as most of us know someone who has struggled with their mental health. At Focus Integrative, our providers are working everyday to stop the stigma against mental illness, but it takes more than just professionals in the mental health field to see a real change. While raising awareness globally is the aim of World Mental Health Day, everyone can do their part in their own community.

So how can you start fighting stigma right here in Knoxville? Here are a few ways!

1)    Talk Openly About Mental Health. If the opportunity to talk about mental health arises, and it is an appropriate time, talk openly about it! Talk about it like it is a normal part of everyday conversation because it can be. One of the most important things we can do is to ask how someone is doing and ask how they are really doing. This is such an easy way to start a very natural conversation about mental health.

2)    Educate! Educate! Educate! It is essential to educate both yourself and others on mental health and it’s illnesses. There are lots of great resources out there to learn more about mental health and mental illness. You can visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website or start Googling on your own.

3)    Encourage Equality Between Physical and Mental Illness. It is common for people to talk about broken limbs, diagnoses of the flu, and other physical ailments all of which are usually well received. However, when someone brings up concerns with psychological health, it can be met with awkward silence. Instead, begin to encourage those types of conversations by listening and even asking questions. This shows that you care about his/her emotional well-being and that you are also interested in learning more about the situation.

4)    Normalize Seeking Help/ Treatment. If you see a counselor or therapist, then don’t tell your friends that you are “running to the store” instead of your therapy session. If you struggle with depression or anxiety and are managing it with medication, tell your loved one about it instead of blaming it on hormones or lack of sleep. Learning to be open with those who are close to you not only helps you, but it also helps them understand and normalize behavioral health.

5)    Fight Self-Stigma. Again, if you are battling your own mental health or illness right now, give yourself the grace and space to deal with it. It is so much easier for us to tell others to seek help, but for some reason we often do not allow ourselves the same courtesy. If something doesn’t feel right, start the conversation with your doctor instead of telling yourself that you will “just get over it” or you’re “just being dramatic”. Real change starts within ourselves.

Join us in the fight against mental health stigma by trying one of these tips. If you are looking for a provider in East Tennessee, Focus Integrative Centers is a great place to start your journey to healing. We have a skilled team of psychologists, therapists, and dietitians that are here to serve you. You can give us a call at 865-622-7116 or click here for more information.

Contributed by Kaitlyn Tucker, MS, RDN, LDN, IOP and Outpatient Dietitian for Focus Integrative Centers

 

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