May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The event has been ongoing since 1949 and was originally started by Mental Health America to promote recognition, compassion, and resources for everybody. This not only helps those with issues affecting their mental health, but provides information for people who may not understand what it entails. Awareness removes some of the stigma surrounding it, leading to a more harmonious world in which everybody can find balance in their lives. President Harry S. Truman signed the National Mental Health Act into law in 1946.
The official color for Mental Health Awareness is green, symbolizing fresh starts, like the greenery growing all around us during the month of May. Whether you wear a shirt or ribbon, participate in local events or donate to MHA, there are many ways to contribute to bringing mental health into the light and helping learn more about improving the lives of millions who suffer from conditions such as depression, substance abuse or thoughts of injury to themselves.
The latest rankings by MHA (based on 2022 research) find that Connecticut and New Jersey rank the two lowest in the prevalence of mental illness. Colorado and Oregon are at the bottom of the list, showing the most incidents of adults and youth suffering from issues affecting their mental health. Among adults, those states with the highest rankings, and ten others, were found to have better access to healthcare than the bottom ranking states (including the states in the bottom two, plus Montana and Wyoming).
Mental health has some roots in biological or hereditary history, but can come from a variety of causes, some of which we still don’t know enough about. Research shows an estimated one in five people may experience mental health issues in a given year. Depression is listed as the leading cause of disability in people ages 15-44. Mental health is one aspect of physical health: when your mind is not what it should be, your body can suffer for it. Often stigma prevents individuals from seeking treatment, even though medications and therapy are as helpful as your nightly statin or NSAID. Fear of being labeled (or mislabeled) prevents too many people from looking for the answers they need to heal.
The past five years have been tumultuous for everybody, and there is nothing wrong about being stressed by the bombardment of negativity all around us. This is the month to focus on what mental health entails and what we can do to improve our own well-being.
Here’s hoping you will show your support, compassion, and the knowledge that this post has given you. Excuse me while I break out my green tee shirt.
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