Wondering what world mental health day is? As an Atlanta counselor, I love that we have this day and I figured I’d take some time to share about the 2024 mental health day theme, and what we can do to spread awareness about mental health.
World Mental health day is an established day that we observe in order to bring awareness to mental health issues, and encourage support and resources to be utilized for those struggling with mental health symptoms.
For some, the topic of mental health and the struggle with it, still feels taboo. Maybe they come from a culture that doesn’t believe in mental health. Maybe they come from a family that values having it all together and doesn’t talk about problems. Maybe they’ve been exposed to a religion that stigmatizes mental health and presses the idea that it is a moral or religious issue…whatever the case may be World Mental Health Day helps to break down those barriers and encourage people to seek support.
I like to say that mental health is not a respecter of persons. Meaning, it can hit every race, every social class, every culture. While some are more at risk for certain issues, we are all able to suffer with mental health symptoms and I think some people are really suprised by this.
So what should we do about it?
As an Atlanta counselor I encourage people to work to normalize mental health. A whopping 59 million people had mental health issues in the United States in 2022. 1 in 5 people will experience suicidal thoughts in their lifetime. Now is the time to recognize that mental health issues are part of the human experience. Instead of hiding or shunning, we work to nonjudgmentally and with care approach symptoms and work to give support. It may not always feel safe enough to talk about your mental health struggles (for example talking with your boss at work about your challenges may not be the best idea if their own perception of mental health issues is unhealthy), but we can help others by sharing our own struggle so they realize they’re not alone. You’d be surprised to know how many times you’ll learn that your sister also has ADHD, or your friend struggles with anxiety, or your mother also struggled with post partum depression.
What kind of support is there for mental health issues?
1. Counseling – Seeing an Atlanta counselor can really help to figure out what it is you’re dealing with (whether it’s depression, anxiety, disordered eating, trauma, or relationship issues) and can teach you practical skills for managing the symptoms, reducing the symptoms, or even getting relief from them altogether.
2. Medication – some people have great experiences with medication, and it can really help bring down problematic symptoms so that you’re not suffering so much. This is best done with a psychiatrist who is trained in mental health issues specifically.
3. Support Networks – You can find support with emotionally safe friends or family, but some people don’t have those. So, there are groups you can attend where people just like you are struggling and can share openly and honestly about what works and what doesn’t work for them.
4. Mind/Body options – There are several interventions out there that can assist with mental health issues and go beyond medication and counseling. One is neurofeedback (brain training), another is TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation – this is a medical procedure), and another is ketamine treatment. I don’t specialize in any of these treatments but what I love is that for people who are treatment resistant, meaning they’ve tried counseling and tried medication, there are other options out there. When considering any of these, speaking with a trained specialist who knows if it would be a good option for you is the best approach. And of course, there’s more. Sometimes yoga, exercise, being outdoors in sunlight, nutrition, and more impact mental health. Talk to someone who is an expert that can assist you with exploring what could work for you.
Keep in mind that we all can do something for World Mental Health Day, even if it’s just doing a check in for your own mental health. We all benefit from exploring how we’re sleeping, how we’re eating, if we’re getting movement, if we’re connecting with emotionally safe people, if we’re engaging in self-care, if we’re keeping up with hygiene…check in. And if you’re struggling, reach out. An Atlanta counselor can help.
