Have you ever seen people wear green ribbons? Did you know that green ribbons represent mental health awareness?
Mental health awareness month was first celebrated in 1949 in America. Since then, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the month of May. The organisation chooses and celebrates a different subject each year. The theme for last year, 2022 was – back to basics.
What is the Mental Health Month?
Mental Health Month is an opportunity for individuals and communities to come together. It raises awareness about the importance of mental health. The stigma around mental health still haunts people even in today’s time. Despite the increased awareness, there are still places where talking about mental health is taboo. People find it hard to talk about. Therefore, it is important to have awareness spread about mental health in order to encourage people to seek and provide help when needed and to promote mental health wellness.
There are still debates and discourses about mental and physical health. Many people still tend to give more importance to physical health as compared to their mental health. The importance of mental health is frequently ignored. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental illness affects approximately one in four people globally, yet two-thirds of those individuals do not seek professional help. There are many reasons for this including the stigma, the lack of appropriate help etc. Thus, Mental Health Month is very important as it aims to break down the barriers that prevent people from seeking help and promotes mental wellness.
Why is it necessary?
Raising awareness of mental illness and removing the stigma associated with it are two of the most crucial parts of Mental Health Month. Because of the intense societal stigma associated with mental illness, many people with the disorder are reluctant to seek assistance or disclose their condition. Stigma can make individuals feel isolated and ashamed of their condition, and can prevent them from seeking the help they need. By promoting awareness and understanding of mental illness, we can reduce the stigma and encourage individuals to seek help.
Mental Health Month aims to not only educate people about mental wellness and the importance of taking care of their mental health but also includes promoting self-care practices such as exercise, healthy eating, and stress reduction techniques. During Mental Health Month, we not only learn about the importance of mental health wellbeing, but we are also inspired to make changes in our own life to better our own mental health and to be aware of the mental health of those around us. In addition to raising awareness and promoting mental wellness, Mental Health Month is also an opportunity to advocate for better mental health services and support.
Key takeaways
We emphasise throughout Mental Health Month that individuals should not hide or be ashamed of their mental illness because it is commonly treatable. Mental health of individuals is very important as it affects not only them and their day-to-day functioning but also those around them. Seeking help early on can make a significant difference in an individual’s recovery journey. Just as early diagnosis allows us to cure cancer, early detection also allows us to effectively manage mental health concerns,
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