mental health awareness Archives

Make Mental Health a Priority

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), “1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.” Mental health affects all ages, from children to adults, and it is part of our overall health and well-being. Let’s explore why mental health is so important and how we can make it a priority. What is Mental Health? First, let’s start by defining mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes mental health as a “state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Taking care of your mental well-being does not mean an absence of negative emotions or feelings, but it does mean practicing healthy [...]

Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health Awareness Read Time: 1 min 58 sec Mental health refers to your overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is important at every stage of life and it reflects how we handle stress, relate to others, and the kinds of choices we make. A person’s mental health can change over time as they have added stress in their life. Part of mental wellbeing involves balancing ongoing stressors with proper coping strategies and interventions. Mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and drug and alcohol abuse are a source of tremendous pain and suffering. They are also very common health problems in society today. Researchers tell us that each year 1 in 5 Americans will experience a diagnosable mental illness, and more than half of us will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in [...]