“Mental Health is Health”?
What does the phrase “mental health is health” mean?
For the past couple of years, this term has blown up. What was once seen as taboo or stigmatized l is finally being recognized as normal and necessary. When we say mental health is health, we are recognizing the impact a person’s mental health can have on overall health. Poor mental health can lead to death, impact hormones, and digestion, or exacerbate chronic illnesses.
In 2018 the CDC evaluated the leading causes of death in the united states population. They found that suicide was the second leading cause of death in ages 15-44. Suicides outnumber deaths by homicide, heart disease, flu, and diabetes. Heart disease, flu, and diabetes all have preventative care that is thought of as routine health care. Most people are comfortable with proactively treating or managing these illnesses with their doctor. But…Our society has taught us to all but ignore our mental health symptoms until it becomes too severe. Society is not always right. You should treat and manage your mental health symptoms just as you would your physical symptoms.
As a therapists, We observed mental health symptoms were amplified during the pandemic. I know many of us were feeling lost, and discombobulated during the pandemic. Now that the threat of the pandemic has decreased, the urgency for mental health care remains on the rise. So much so, we are currently in a mental health crisis. According to the CDC [the percentage of adults with recent symptoms of anxiety or a depressive disorder, from August 2020–to February 2021, increased from 36.4% to 41.5%, and the percentage of those reporting unmet mental health care increased from 9.2% to 11.7%].
So if you are one of the many people currently struggling with mental health concerns. We implore you to seek assistance in managing your mental health.
You can:
talk to your primary care doctor
seek therapy
talk to your Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, Iman, or Spiritual leader
Call a crisis line.
If you feel like you want to commit suicide. Please seek assistance from a crisis line.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 or Crisis Text Line: Text Hello to 741741
And if you are in the area of Charlotte NC and looking for a new therapist. Please check out Wiley and Wilburn Counseling Services. Ph 704-663-5179 or email at wileyandwilburn@gmail.com
Stay Healthy, and remember that mental health is health!
