As Suicide Awareness Month just concluded and Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) will start the week of October 4th, I find myself overwhelmed by the last 8 months. I am reminded now more than ever of the need for each of us to be kind with our words and actions by providing hope, insight, or encouragement, and striving to be mentally healthy through this crisis. According to representative panel surveys in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of individuals reported struggling with mental health or substance use, with 11% reporting they have seriously considered suicide. Though not all individuals with a mental health condition are affected by suicidal thoughts and not all people who attempt or die by suicide have a mental health condition, awareness of mental health conditions and how to stay mentally healthy is crucial.
Not a casserole illness
For a long time, the topics of suicide and mental health conditions had been silenced because many did not know how to talk about these topics. Let’s face it, mental health conditions and/or topics related to suicidal ideation, attempt, or death are not necessarily “casserole illnesses.” You know what I’m talking about…we might bring a casserole to the family next door when someone is diagnosed with cancer or another severe health condition, but that’s seldom the case with mental health conditions or suicide.
It’s important to stop treating death by suicide, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempt as a weakness in character. Many people don’t realize the darkness that overshadows life when one is in a state of suicidal ideation. I’ve heard people make comments about individuals who have died of death by suicide or attempted suicide such as, “They should have thought about their family. How could they do this?” or “They are just trying to get attention!” Sadly, it is sometimes easier for those surrounding a person with suicidal ideation to blame the individual, who is trapped in their mind, rather than to fully sit with the discomfort of realizing the mental anguish they are experiencing.
Globally, every 40 seconds one person dies by suicide. My home state of New Mexico has consistently been more than 50% higher than the US national average regarding death by suicide. This is a call for awareness. Take a look at these helpful resources from NAMI to help you know the warning signs and risk factors and to be prepared for a mental health crisis.
Physical health versus mental health
Though we know the importance of physical health, we don’t treat our mental health with such focus. We must each be aware of mental health and strive to stay mentally healthy, just as we strive to do so physically. With Mental Illness Awareness Week starting October 4th, set aside time in your week to learn more. Did you know that an average of one in five individuals struggles with a mental health condition in the United States? Know the warning signs. Good mental health is essential, especially when we consider statistics like that.
Brain disorders or mental illness are NOT a choice. They are NOT a personal weakness or lack of willpower. There are over 400 brain disorder diagnoses, including epilepsy, stroke, brain injury, PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, Asperger’s, and Alzheimer’s to name a few. They are physical, neurological conditions. Although they are usually not curable, they are both treatable and manageable.
Take a moment to check your mental health temperature. By doing what you can to stay mentally healthy, you are able to support your loved ones and those around you such as your friends, colleagues, and employees.
What can you do to support your own mental health?
Practice self-care (eat well, honor your sleep, exercise, connect with others, get into nature, manage stress)
Seek help if you identify your mental health is at risk and find support
Know your limits and take a break when you need to
Do things that you are good at or that bring you joy
How can you support a loved one with their mental health?
Listen and provide empathy-don’t try to fix everything
Ask how you can help
Refer your loved one to the free resources and support from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Model self-care
What can organizations do to support employees’ mental health?
Understand your employee’s needs through empathy
Be flexible in how you look at the work your employees do - It should not be about the hours an employee works, but rather on accomplishments and results
Provide an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) to support your employees’ mental health
Provide health insurance that has strong mental health coverage
Provide learning sessions on mental health and provide healthy environments
Provide a Mental Health Employee Resource Group or Support Group
Create healthy environments and build psychological safety
“Being vulnerable is actually a strength and not a weakness — that’s why more and more mental health is such an important thing to talk about. It’s the same as being physically sick. And when you keep all those things inside, when you bottle them up, it makes you ill.” — Cara Delevingne
It’s time we put a focus on how we treat mental health, just as we do physical health. What are you going to do to improve your mental health and that of your loved ones or employees?