Breaking the silence on why mental health awareness matters is important. This is a subject that isn't talked about enough in the news, on the radio, or anywhere else. Mental health is best defined as a person's condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. Since mental health is closely linked to physical health, for example, depression increases the risk of physical illness like diabetes or heart disease. (“Mental Health Awareness”, 2024) Mental health can change over time and there are several factors that affect mental health including what types of demands are placed on a person, their resources, and coping mechanisms. (“Mental Health Awareness”, 2024) Here are a few facts on mental health; more than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental health disorder and over 1 in 5 youth at some point in their lives have had a mental health disorder. (“Mental Health Awareness”, 2024) There are many things we can do for our mental health including self care. Mental health awareness is intended to bring to attention the prevention of mental health prior to it becoming a problem. Also to bring the possibilities of help to the people who need it.
Ageism is another topic where individuals are stigmatized for just being alive. Ageism may have harmful effects on the psychological well-being of older adults, leading to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. (Kang and Kim, 2022) Ageism is a type of discrimination that can take place to old age individuals. For more information on ageism visit the article Mental Health in Older Adults that is located in our blog. Older adults already have many issues to face including depression, substance abuse, dementia, anxiety, mental distress, and suicide. (What to know about mental health as you get older, 2024)
Mental health awareness helps to create an environment where people feel safe to find support and help when they need it. An environment where individuals don't feel like they will be punished for feeling sick and being able to receive help. This is why mental health awareness is important.
In conclusion, mental health is something that affects many aspects of our lives including our physical health. So you may ask, what can we do to maintain our mental health? There are many things we can do to maintain our mental well being. Here is a list of things we can do to ensure we all stay healthy.
- Get regular exercise
- Eat healthy and regular meals and stay hydrated
- Make sleep a priority
- Try relaxing activities
- Set goals and new priorities
- Practice gratitude
- Focus on positivity
- Stay connected
- Remember Mental Health Awareness Month May 1, 2025-May 31, 2025
(“Mental Health Awareness", 2024)
If you are interested in receiving help from a caregiver with companionship, reminders to take a walk, and with other recreational activities click on this link. The care plan form is found on the link mentioned and is used to communicate and document your daily routines including sections on diet and daily activities. This information will only be shared with the coordinator of care and used as a training guide for your caregiver.
Works Cited:
“Mental Health Awareness.” Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center University of Washington, Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center University of Washington, hiprc.org/mham/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
Kang, Hyun, and Hansol Kim. “Ageism and Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults: A Systematic Review.” Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, vol. 8, no. 8, 11 Apr. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9008869/, https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214221087023. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
WebMD. (2024, March 1). What to know about mental health as you get older. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/mental-health-in-older-adults
National Institute of Mental Health. “Caring for Your Mental Health.” National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, Dec. 2024, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.