In May, we talk about Mental Health Awareness

Devanshee

In May, we talk about Mental Health Awareness

Mental health is a broad term that includes our social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Unfortunately, it is something that many people overlook completely. However, it’s time to understand the relationship between physical and mental well-being, generate awareness, and end stigmas around mental health.

In May, we celebrate Mental Health Awareness. Image source: Campus Safety Magazine

The importance of staying fit and having a healthy body was taught to us at a young age. Do you remember doing those little stretches in the morning assembly right before prayers? You'd probably recall how you and your friends ran out of the classrooms when it was time for P.E. Come to think about it, the emphasis on physical well-being has always been paramount.

But do you remember having a school counselor talk to you when you felt low? In most cases, the school counselor only entered the situation when things got out of hand. Unlike the morning stretches that were regular, no one checked on how we were feeling. Now that some time has passed and we've become much more aware, don't you think our mental well-being is just as important?

If our thoughts aren't in the right place and our emotions weigh us down, it is only natural for our bodies to reflect the same. Mental health is a broad term that includes our social, emotional, and psychological well-being.

The World Health Organization defines Mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".

One may ask why it's relevant. Many even go far ahead to contend that there's no such thing as poor mental health, and all this sadness and anxiety is just in our heads. But think about it, can you focus on your work if you feel sad, moody, or simply numb? Do you feel anxious or tense while talking to people and feel upset for not having a social circle? Or do you feel tired- you can't work, don't know what to do, but feel restless because there's so much to be done around you?

We can't judge people's mental well being by their outward appearance. We're all different, and naturally, some may feel a little more burdensome than others. But that's nothing to be ashamed of. It's okay to not be okay, and it's more than alright to seek help. Acknowledging that something isn't right and making efforts to overcome it is the first step toward improving one's mental well-being.

Not all happy people feel alright, and not all sad people are depressed. Remember- acceptance, not judgement. Create a safe space and acknowledge the grey area that deals with the spectrum of human emotions and psychological and social well-being. And asking, 'Are you okay?' goes a long way.

Poor mental health isn't only about having depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or learning disabilities. It's also about wanting to do your best only to realize that you can't even seem to push yourself out of bed. It's about not knowing why you feel sad when you desperately want to be happy. It's about wanting to cry and expressing your fears but fearing people's judgements makes you mask it all behind a smile. It's about knowing how you feel but not being able to put it into words, so you choose to suffer alone.

It is essential to understand that each person feels a range of emotions that can't be put in watertight compartments. Poor mental health has direct repercussions on the immunity system of one's body. Excessive stress and disturbed emotional well-being can cause imbalances leading to sickness.

When people understood the gravities of mental disorders and the impact they could have on daily lives, Mental Health Awareness month was first celebrated in the USA in 1949 and since then, it has been celebrated in the month of May in many countries across the world. The purpose of celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month is to generate awareness towards mental health and disorders and create sensitivity among people.

Unfortunately, the stigma around mental health is still prevalent in our societies. The first signs of poor mental well-being are often neglected. One does not have to go through a traumatic incident to feel emotionally unwell. Many factors such as hormonal imbalances, excess exposure to stressful situations such as financial difficulties, comparison, lack of affection etc., also contribute to the deterioration of one's mental stability.

Children as young as eight years old, an active eighteen-year-old, a youthful twenty-eight-year-old, and an eighty-year-old who's in the last season of life could have mental health issues.