In 1949 Mental Health America, a non-profit organization devoted to providing support to those affected by mental illness, designated May as Mental Health Month. This may be the reason you notice a surge of mental health content in your social media feeds over the next few weeks.
You need only talk to the generation above you to see how the subject of mental health has developed through the years. What were once seen as character flaws, or signs of weakness, have since been revealed to be far more complex in nature. I would posit that there isn’t a single human on Earth today who isn’t directly affected by mental illness. From a vast range of clinical diagnosis, to the imprint of past trauma that continues to impact our lives to this very day – I believe we all stand to gain greater emotional peace and mental freedom by engaging in mental wellness practices.
Over the next few weeks I will be looking at ways we can all be more proactive in supporting mental health; for ourselves and those around us.
Educate Yourself
Knowing how to help someone with mental illness can be an overwhelming question. It may be difficult to know what to say, what to do, what to think, or what to feel when you are faced with unfamiliar or confusing behavior from someone you love. One of the greatest forms of support you can provide them, is learning about the symptoms and characteristics of their condition. Taking the time to do this research will help sure up the foundation of your relationship by:
1. Helping YOU recognize the behavior associated with the condition.
Many people who suffer from mental illness can find it very challenging to make and maintain meaningful relationships. This can be due, at least in part, to behaviors related to their condition that sabotage connections to others. Being able to see these indicators, and associating them with the condition – not the person – may help you to find the compassion required to be a little more patient, forgiving, and helpful, instead of taking offense or holding on to resentment.
2. Helping THEM feel understood, accepted, and safe.
Being a safe space for someone is, in my opinion, one of the greatest gifts we could ever offer to someone we love. Offering a refuge free from judgement, contention, apathy, or shame can make all the difference when someone is in the midst of a mental health crisis. When we take time to learn about the conditions affecting those we love, we acknowledge and validate their struggle while simultaneously bolstering the trust and safety they feel with us.
In addition to the ways that education can help you support those who struggle with mental illness, it can also help you take inventory of your own mental health. Acknowledging there is a problem is the first, and sometimes the most difficult step. Once we identify where we may need to pay a bit more attention, we can reach out and find help and support from those who may be more familiar with the path.
There are innumerable resources online that can help you learn more about specific illnesses and conditions, so I’ll just leave you with one that I think is a great place to start. The site is hosted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and provides an index of conditions along with information relating to each one.
Take a look at ‘The Depression Recipe’ video on our YouTube channel for more information on this subject as well.
