Mental Health Awareness

Lucy Johnston

Mental health is an integral and essential component of a person’s overall health. An important implication of this definition is that good mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities. It also refers to the presence of overall cognitive, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing.

In this blog, we discuss what mental health is, the importance of raising awareness and breaking the stigma. To learn more, enroll in our Mental Health Awareness Course - now available.
Our mental health is made up of how we think, feel, and interact with the world around us. It can impact us across all life domains including daily living, work and school, relationships, and physical health.

Although there can be a stigma associated with mental illness, anyone can suffer from mental health problems. While certain individuals or groups are more vulnerable because of environmental factors, genetics, and life experiences, no one is immune to poor mental health.

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?

The World Health Organization defines Mental Health as
“A state of complete physical, mental and social well being, and not merely the absence of disease”.

Mental health is about wellness. It can affect a person’s confidence, self-esteem and overall satisfaction with life, and the decline of a person's mental health can have an effect on their overall wellbeing, happiness and productivity.

Maintaining good mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life. On this basis, the promotion, protection and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities and societies throughout the world.
Mental health is complex - multiple social, psychological, and biological factors interact to determine the level of mental health of a person at any point of time. While our personality is relatively stable over the course of our lives, our psychology can change depending on our resilience and the stressors that we may face. This is important to remember – people’s mental health state can change over time. 

RAISING AWARENESS AND BREAKING THE STIGMA

Mental health awareness has different meanings for everyone involved. For those not dealing with a personal mental illness, it is about developing an understanding of another person's mental health needs, and consciously working to create an environment that encourages openness around the discussion of mental health.

For the individual impacted by mental illness, awareness is a developmental process. It does not necessarily occur after a first episode of mental illness, nor require a diagnostic label. Awareness is a complex and individual learning process that involves a growing understanding of the self and the place of mental illness within the self-identity. 

Stigma and lack of understanding of mental health and mental illness are major barriers to awareness.

HOW CAN YOU HELP RAISE AWARENESS?

Talk with people you know - ask family, friends and coworkers how they’re doing and really listen to the answers. If they give any indication that they are depressed or stressed out, let them know that there are resources available to help them.

Open up about your own experiences - if you’ve struggled or are struggling with mental illness, share your story. Hearing another person is going through the same thing you are can be a relief. And, it can be the nudge a person needs to get help and look into treatment.
Encourage kind language - When you hear people around you talk about mental illness in disparaging terms, ask them to consider the impact of their words, and encourage kindness instead. Any language that reinforces the stigma of mental illness is harmful and might keep someone from getting help.

Educate yourself about mental illness - it’s not uncommon for people to misunderstand mental illness. Learn more about it and share what you learn. This can include talking with children about mental health in age-appropriate terms. 

Encourage physical health that supports mental health - help people understand that physical health can have a direct impact on mental health. Eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise and sleep all play a part in a person’s mental and emotional state.

Mental health awareness increases the chances for early intervention, which can result in a faster recovery. Awareness reduces the negative adjectives that have been stigmatised to describe people suffering with a mental illness.

Want to learn more about mental health awareness? Enroll in the TCLH Mental Health Awareness Course.