The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
Some 450 million people around the world are living with mental illness. Of those, two-thirds never seek treatment. Unfortunately, the stigma associated with mental illness often holds people back from reaching out for the help they need. For this reason, mental health awareness is critical.
What is Mental Health Awareness?
There are two important facets of mental health awareness and special holidays like Mental Health Awareness Day.
First, building awareness about mental health helps individuals who may not be aware recognize their own symptoms of mental illness. Without awareness, many may simply be unaware of their struggles and how they relate to mental illnesses—often very treatable ones.
Second, raising awareness around mental health also helps individuals realize they aren’t alone in their struggles, with nearly half a billion people struggling with their mental health, those that do are far from isolated.
By spreading awareness, there is less stigma attached to mental illness which enables more people to get the help they need. Not to mention, it sheds light on the endless treatment options available for countless mental health challenges including depression and anxiety—two of the most common illnesses.
Why It’s Important to Spread Awareness About Anxiety & Depression
While generalized awareness about mental health is important, it is equally important to focus on some of the more common illnesses—namely anxiety and depression.
The truth is, mental illnesses affect the way we think, behave, and live our lives. If we’re struggling, every aspect of our lives becomes more challenging. This can include our relationships and our careers.
While it is true that each mental health challenge comes with its own set of symptoms, no matter what they are, they affect our lives all the same.
Another reason why it’s so helpful to spread awareness about mental health is because of the coping mechanisms associated with these illnesses.
For example, for those who aren’t sure how to cope with their illness, it’s common to develop a substance abuse problem to push away distressing emotions. Additionally, if you aren’t properly treated for your illness, you could start suffering from co-occurring illnesses as a result.
Mental Health Awareness puts information about mental health front in center for everyone, so it’s easier to make decisions about which way to go with your health and how to handle it. The more you know, the better your decision-making can be.
With anxiety and depression, for example, these two illnesses are tied to one of the greatest mental health risks—suicide. The longer they’re left untreated, the more the risk increases.
Building awareness can empower those struggling, particularly young adults, to get help and reduce their risks of suicide.
To learn more about Mental Health Awareness month and how you can help spread the word, head here.
If you’re interested in having professional assistance to work through your own anxiety and depression, please reach out to me here.