Written by Hania Yousuf | Verified by Dr. Maham Yousuf

Being conscious of your general well-being is essential so that you can recognize any signs and ask for medical assistance when required. Although everyone is aware of the symptoms and treatments for prevalent diseases, such as the flu, migraines, and the most recent COVID-19, many people still don’t know how to take care of their mental health.

Never before has the debate around mental health awareness been so prevalent, essential, or prominent. After all, understanding how to take care of your behavioral health requires growing awareness. Raising mental health awareness can help you not only recognize the mental issues symptoms and receive treatment from skilled health professionals, but it can also help end the stigma associated with mental illness that forces so many individuals to suffer in silence.

Let’s uncover all the details regarding stigmas associated with mental health, the importance of mental health awareness, and how you can access the best mental health services near you. Continue reading to learn more.

What are the Mental Health Stigmas?

Mental health stigmas tend to stem from either a sense of fear or a lack of awareness. Sadly, this confluence can contribute to a poor perception of people struggling with mental health problems.

The idea of stigma towards mental illness is more complex than one overall concept. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) specifies three distinct types of stigmas. The first kind, public stigma, relates to the undesirable opinions of other people regarding mental illness. The second type of stigma is self-stigma, which refers to the negative opinions that people with mental disorders hold about their condition. Institutional stigma is the third type. This pervasive stigma involves both public and private sectors that restrict access to care for people with mental disorders by taking measures like cutting back on funding for research into mental health diagnosis.

While institutional and public stigmas result from external forces, self-stigma is from within. People who experience self-stigma often suffer psychological stress, and they might think they are the targets of injustice. Because of this, they may act victimized while urging others to treat them differently. A trained mental health counselor may be able to assist people with behavioral disorders in coping with existing stigmas, especially self-stigma. And this is where mental health awareness can play a lead role in educating people about such situations and the right way to deal with them.

What is Mental Health Awareness?

So, what is mental health awareness, and why is it crucial?
By sharing personal experiences, mental health awareness campaigns are trying to dispel the stigma around psychological disorders and mental health issues. This initiative aims to raise awareness of those who are suffering from mental illness or sickness and encourage them to speak up and get help from a professional.

Conditions That Call for Mental Health Awareness

As per the reports given by World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 970 million people of all ages suffer from depression symptoms. These figures demonstrate the tragic reality of how prevalent mental illness is. 

This is another reason NAMI observes May as Mental Health Awareness Month. This month-long campaign aims to raise awareness among people suffering from depression that they are not alone in their troubles and that seeking help may make a world of difference. More people might benefit from being aware of these prevalent conditions if we utilize this approach of celebrating mental health awareness days each year. 

Here are some prevalent conditions that require more awareness:

• Major depressive disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Suicidal ideation

Although the signs and symptoms of these mental health conditions differ, they are all capable of drastically influencing your life. These disorders do not only negatively affect your personal life but also your social and professional life.

Unfortunately, many people don’t get the required therapy since mental health is stigmatized. Even if there is treatment, some people are unaware of it. Because of this, they turn to harmful coping techniques to numb their mental sorrow. This ultimately contributes to their feelings of isolation and discrimination.

Mental health awareness helps you access all this information, allowing you to identify the risks and seek treatment for any disorders you or a loved one may have.

What is the Importance of Mental Health Awareness?

Mental health awareness is an essential and fundamental concept for transitioning to a more assertive mental health approach. Below are four key ways that being aware of mental health issues can benefit you:

Helps you Comprehend Your Symptoms

A diagnosis can be magical at times. It can be highly encouraging, especially with mental health issues that are difficult to spot — and perhaps impossible to figure out — on a test. It can make patients feel less alone and make it simpler to find therapy from a mental health specialist. Even though the symptoms of each mental health problem differ, here are some warning indicators to look out for:

• Appetite loss
• Changes in sleeping patterns or habits
• Making rash decisions
• Suicidal ideas
• Addiction to drugs or alcohol

If you haven’t been feeling like yourself lately, you might be suffering from a mental health issue that requires immediate care from a licensed healthcare professional.

Encourages a Conversation

Mental health awareness is an ongoing debate, but it has been held in murmurs until now. But as distorted thinking is a typical characteristic of many mood and anxiety disorders, addressing it can be quite helpful. 

The key to reducing the symptoms of many mental health issues is creating a support system and communicating with a qualified mental health professional.

More Resources for Behavioural Health

Another important advantage of raising mental health awareness is that more resources for mental health will be made accessible as more people become aware of the need for mental health care. People would not be able to recuperate without access to mental health services.

The following are the most critical mental health resources:

• Mental health/Psychiatric facilities
• Behavioral health services
• 12-step programs
• Medical detoxification from alcohol and drugs
• Intensive mental health care
  

You can find all the tools you need in mental health facilities to treat co-occurring illnesses, recover from mental health issues, and learn how to take care of your health after treatment.

Better education

Family members, friends, coworkers, parents, and caretakers must understand how mental health influences day-to-day life. Although having a mental health problem can make life more challenging, it does not necessarily mean that you can’t live a happy and exciting life.

It is easier to care for yourself and thrive when the people around you recognize the importance of mental health care and prioritize it.

Tips to Help Raise Mental Health Awareness 

How can anyone, particularly non-clinicians, help raise mental health awareness? Learning to discuss mental health openly is a crucial component of it.

Here are the top three tips for raising public awareness of mental health issues.

Be a Voice for Yourself

Many of us believe that our physical health deserves primacy over our mental health. We often prefer taking a sick day from work when we are physically unwell, but we may not do the same if we are emotionally drained or depleted. The next time you decide to take a break, tell your coworkers up front that you’re doing it for your mental health.

You can encourage others to advocate for their mental health by engaging in self-advocacy. You’ll also motivate others to follow your example.

Keep the Conversation Going

As previously stated, stigma and prejudice are two of the most significant barriers to a meaningful public discourse about mental health, but they can be addressed. We can’t think only about heart, brain, or kidney health without also thinking about overall health. We must take a holistic approach to people and utilize the resources and techniques that benefit the mind and the body.

Don’t Forget About the Children

Children are generally inquisitive about all topics, including mental health. Adults can assist them in understanding that mental concerns are real and treatable disorders. You have the power to guide the discussion for upcoming generations.

FAQs

Why is mental health awareness important?

As previously mentioned, discussing mental health openly assists in reducing stigma and myths while also inspiring people struggling to get assistance and find a support system. Friends, family, and caretakers must comprehend how mental health affects daily living.

What is World Mental Health Awareness Day?

Aside from NAMI’s May awareness month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World Mental Health Day on October 10 every year. The World Federation for Mental Health adopted “Mental health is a universal human right” as the topic for World Mental Health Day in 2023.

What are the roadblocks to mental health care?

Aside from difficulties in obtaining care and managing insurance for mental health therapy, the most prominent obstacle to mental health therapy is a lack of mental health awareness. Learning the signs of various mental diseases and getting therapy to improve your life’s quality of life is reliant on mental health awareness.

Conclusion

Choosing a broad approach to mental health awareness is crucial. We may remove barriers and reduce stigma surrounding mental health issues by understanding how psychological, physical, and social factors are interlinked.

Everyone can help someone suffering from a mental illness feel better. Hold dialogue and encourage those who require support to seek it. For a healthy future, let’s create a caring community that places a high priority on mental health issues by raising awareness and encouraging compassion. Together, we can change things.