Mental Health:Your Mind Matters
In America May is recognized as Mental Health Month. Mental health is not just an American issue, it is a world issue. Until we realize that mental health is an integral and important part of health we will continue to have challenges. Mental health must stopped being associated with “crazy people.”
According to the World Health Organization, “mental health is 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.” (World Health Organization, Managing Our Response:Fact sheet 2016)
For over 20 years I have worked with individuals who had co-occurring clinical disorders. I serviced clients who had substance abuse dependencies and mental health disorders most often. In early years of practice the clients disorders were serviced separately. As the years progressed and as clinicians became more informed about mental health it was realized that persons who had multiple diagnoses such as cocaine dependency and depression for example, it was a best practice to treat both disorders simultaneously. We could not address the substance abuse and not address the mental health.
Just as a person treats Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer and the like we must treat mental health as a medical issue. There are many personality and psychological factors that increase vulnerabilities to mental health disorders. Biology also plays a role in this as well. Genetic factors in many cases have contributed to chemical imbalances in the brain.
As a counselor it was not uncommon for me to have to assess clients mental health state and then refer for mental health services. But when a family member had a mental health disorder it impacted me in a different way. I have had to call crises hotlines and emergency responders for family members who denied the fact that they had a mental health disorder. Watching a downward spiral due to lack of mental health care is so very real for me. Yes, I am knowledgeable of the field but when I see my relatives and community citizens not get the care they need it is so very hurtful.
It is still taboo in 2017 concerning mental health for many. In particular, the African-American community in which I am a part of. The notion of strong will and determination run deep in our community. So, to be viewed as having a “weak mind” causes many not to address their mental health. So, in many instances clinicians or therapist are not sought out because it very well can be viewed as a sign of weakness if you sit and discuss your feelings and emotions with a mere stranger. There is still work to be done in the areas of mental health for many communities and ethnic groups.
There are so many complexities in life and everyone does not cope the same. So we must find ways to de-escalate and relax. We must seek help and get the necessary medical treatment to help with mental health disorders. Additionally, many humans are always moving and doing something. The mind is often bombarded with so many racing thoughts. Emotional overload is very common. We must take care of our mental health. Our mind does matter. But we also must take time to just pause and to BE?
