10 Oct Today is “World Mental Health Day”. Do we need all these “days”?
As noted in the header, today is World Mental Health Day, which is part of Mental Health Month which follows and/or includes World Suicide Prevention Day, RUOK?Day and more.
Which begs the question … do we really need all these “days”?
Now, I might be a bit bias but my response is an unequivocal … YES!
Why, because although we’ve come a long way since my early training, and conversations about mental health are both more common and more positive or constructive, we still. have much work to do.
Too many people are still suffering in silence and too many are even dying by suicide, at least in part because they feel isolated and alone.
Each one of these “days” spreads awareness and smashes just a little bit more of the stigma associated with mental ill-health; and each time we raise awareness and reduce stigma we make it easier for those in need to seek help.
If you’re tired of having to be part of all these “days”, think about how tiring it is to be part of the community of those with depression and anxiety and other forms of severe psychological distress, and even more so, to feel like no one understands.
Whether you have or know someone who has a mental illness or not, you can still help; by talking and listening and by spreading the message that it’s OK not to be OK and that help is available for those who’re not OK.
In doing so, you might get the help you need OR help someone else get the help they need; you might even save a life!