Mental Health Needs More Than Just an Awareness Month

Don't get me wrong, having a mental health awareness month is absolutely a step forward in the right direction. In fact, the first step to action is awareness. After all, you can't create an intervention or find a solution to a problem that you don't know about. You don't know what you don't know, am I right?

For the most part, society has gotten to the point where they know that mental illness is not just some imaginary ailment that people make up when it's convenient. Now, most people do acknowledge that mental illness is a real problem that affects millions of people in one way or another.

Yet, not many people go beyond this awareness piece. And that can be detrimental to any forward progress. While it's great to point out that there is a problem, making grand claims to show you care is not the same. Finding solutions to help aid those who experience mental health issues requires action, and quite honestly a change in how we treat those with mental health challenges.

So many of us have been in a situation where we notice that a friend, family member, partner, or coworker isn't acting the same. Maybe they have stopped coming out for drinks after work, stopped speaking out in meetings, or even stopped eating. Or, maybe you notice that your sister is spending a lot more time in her room, or your friend has developed large bags under his eyes.

Instead of trying to figure out what's going on, we gossip. We talk to our other family members, friends, or coworkers and remark on the changes. But who takes the time to talk to that person?

If you are the person who takes the extra time to talk to the person you suspect is struggling, then I applaud you. Unlike so many of us, you are doing your part to acknowledge mental illness. As for the rest of us--and trust me, we've all done it at some point in our lives--we just watch as this person fights their inner battles with little support.

As someone who has been studying psychology and working in the psych field, I feel like I'm in my own little bubble of people who know the huge impact that mental health has on so many people. I feel so fortunate to work alongside so many people that are passionate about mental health and are doing all they can to help those who face these challenges.

But then I step out of my bubble and see the lack of resources, people not having access to psych professionals, and most importantly, the disconnect between awareness and action.

The best way to explain this phenomenon is to share this euphemism:

Say you find a large glass of spilled milk on the counter and you gather everyone in your household to let them know that not only is there spilled milk all over the counter, but the milk is going to cause problems if no one cleans it up.

It's pretty clear to see that the milk is a problem that will only cause more problems if no one works to clean it up when it was first knocked over. In fact, the longer the milk sits there, the more it will spread and the larger the effect it will have. Plus, if you leave it out for an extended period of time, it will start to emit an odor so foul that you won't even want to be in the same room. Now you have a much bigger problem on your hands.

Had the milk been cleaned up when you first noticed it was a problem, the nasty smell could have been easily avoided.

This is what happens when someone you love starts to show signs of mental illness. This is what happens when you say someone is not the same or acting differently and then do nothing about it. While your loved ones won't start to smell (ideally), they will continue to struggle with their mental illness.

But what can you do? Luckily, you don't have to have a master's in psychology to help someone who is experiencing mental health challenges.

If you suspect someone you love is going through something or experiencing depression, anxiety, panic, or any of the other big names, ask them what is going on. By working through it together and finding ways you can support your loved one, you're doing your part in the action.

There is a craft to this process because you don't want to just come in with some grand gestures and telling this person that you are going to fix their problems with a snap of your finger. Instead, the best thing you can do is listen.

You can tell that person that you noticed something wasn't right, and that you are there if they need to talk. Sometimes, simply having that support can do wonders. You've made yourself an ally, and now that individual knows that you are a safe person to talk to.

You can also invite that person out for a drink, a walk in the park, for a lunch date, or coffee. Be persistent, but not annoying or judgemental. There is a good chance that the person will decline, but the thought and the continued action will feel good nonetheless.

You can inwardly acknowledge that mental illness is a lifelong battle and that it doesn't fix itself overnight. This aspect of mental illness may be one of the most difficult for people to swallow. Like a sore throat, a cough, or a headache, we want mental illness to have an easy fix. While it would be great to simply pop a pill and your anxiety or depression are magically cured, it doesn't work like that. Yes, there is medication available, but it only helps to manage mental illness; it's not a cure.

Finally, be kind. You never know what someone is going through, and even if you have similar experiences, everyone experiences situations--such as grief, a breakup, loss of a pet, or anxiety--differently. Part of this is understanding that you'll never understand, and the other part is simply being there to listen.

Regardless of what stage you are in when it comes to your understanding of mental illness, let's keep up the awareness and start to move towards the action.

Thank you for listening to my TED Talk. Chao!