'MAY' the Force be with You! May is Mental Health Month.

The month of May, as some of you may know, is celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month. This was initiated in the U.S. in 1949 by the Mental Health America organization, and this year marks their 70th year celebrating Mental Health Month! This organization, along with its affiliates, raises awareness about the importance of mental health by conducting a number of activities that are based on a different theme each year. This year’s theme builds upon the 2018 focus of #4Mind4Body which addresses how our lifestyles impact our physical and mental health, especially for those individuals who suffer from both chronic physical and mental ailments, and for those who take care of them. They release a toolkit of materials annually to help similar organizations and individuals who want to get more involved.

The topics that are featured in this year’s toolkit are:

1) Animal companionship (including pets and support animals)

2) Spirituality

3) Humor

4) Work-life balance

5) Recreation and social connections as ways to boost mental health and general wellness.

The toolkit includes:

Fact sheets on animal companionship, spirituality and religion, humor, work-life balance, and recreation and social connections, and how these issues impact mental health. It also has resources for caregivers. You can access the 2019 May is Mental Health Month toolkit at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may

We all come carrying different weights; whether we are the individual with the mental health disease or a caregiver of the afflicted individual. Unfortunately the stigma that shrouds mental health continues to exist. Organizations such as Mental Health America and individuals such as me work hard to raise awareness about mental health. You can do your part by speaking out! Do not be afraid to talk about your illness. Do not let anyone invalidate how you feel. Your thoughts, your emotions, your health; it all matters!

The World Health Organization (WHO) published a list to show the severity of a mental health ailment if it were a physical disease. Here it is from the least severe to the most:

Lower back pain = n/a

Epilepsy = Mild Depression

Asthma = Moderate Depression

Vision Loss = n/a

Emphysema = Severe PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Disseminated Breast Cancer = Severe Depression

N/A = Severe Dementia/ Severe Schizophrenia

This gives you an idea of how disabling it is to have a mental health illness and how it impacts one’s life and ability to function. Can you believe severe depression is equivalent to metastatic breast cancer? Severe dementia and schizophrenia do not even have a physical ailment equivalent! Those who doubt the severity of a mental health illness should reconsider after reading this eye opening list.

The image below shows how anxiety can manifest itself as both mental and physical symptoms. Mental health illnesses are ‘invisible illnesses’ and that is why it can be difficult for some people to comprehend the severity of the ailment. Many of us fake a smile, say we are fine and go about our day when in fact deep down we may be on the verge of a breakdown.

But do not despair. There are many ways we can help ourselves when we feel overwhelmed, trapped or feel like we are spiraling out of control. Here is a beautiful image that demonstrates the ‘hierarchy’ of mental health needs. Let’s try to find at least some of these needs that can help us immensely such as a good support system and coping strategies (you can refer to my previous blogs and my page 'Our Tool Box’ for more resources).

Below you will find a simple exercise by Dr. Darin Bergen, a licensed clinical psychologist, which can help with our anxiety, stress levels and such.

Another way is to try to re-frame our negative thoughts into positive ones. This is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aka CBT (a topic I am yet to discuss here). It is the image below Dr. Bergen's exercise. Go on! Give it a try!

As we already know having a strong support system, whether it’s your family or friends, is essential for mental health. Many caregivers try extremely hard to understand what their afflicted loved ones are undergoing, and we are very grateful for such good souls. However, sometimes caregivers do not know how to help and that’s okay. Sometimes the best thing they can do for their loved one is just being there for them, and acknowledging how they are feeling.

More resources on how you can help your afflicted loved ones can be found on this site:

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/being-effective-caregiver

Caregivers however need to remember that they too need to take care of their mental health and overall well being.

Another resource I came across is called 'The Jed Foundation.' It is a nonprofit organization that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for teens and young adults. They have crisis numbers that individuals can call any time. To access their resources click on this link: https://www.jedfoundation.org

I hope you find the Mental Health Toolkit and the resources that I have shared here helpful.

Access my other blogs and my page 'Our Tool Box' for more coping strategies. You can also use the forum page to forge relationships with other members and post or ask questions. It is a safe haven with no judgment so feel free to express yourself.

Let’s continue to build this community and make it stronger; make us stronger!

P.S . MAY the Force Be with You! Any Star Wars fans? ;) Trivia: May 4th is celebrated as “Star Wars Day” by saying “May the fourth be with you!

References:

1) www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may

2) http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/being-effective-caregiver

3) The World Health Organization (WHO)

4) https://www.jedfoundation.org/

5) Dr. Darin Bergen

Images from: Mental Health America, mental illness quotes info, the mindgeek and goodivity.