Editor’s note: (If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal ideation or mental health issues, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to reach out to a trained counselor or Please visit the line. site.)
(CNN) May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it looks like we’ll be seeing some violent headlines this year. For many, this constant stream of bad news adds to the stresses of everyday life that may already be overwhelming.
according to National Alliance on Mental IllnessIn the United States, 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 6 children aged 6 to 17 experience a mental illness each year. That’s millions of people. By 2021, less than half of adults will receive treatment.
The mental health crisis in America is affecting everyone.
“One of the things we, as a society, underestimate is the impact our global mental health has on us personally. has seen it too.” Millions of people are transcending grief and loss through her nonprofit. soaring spirit“We can see what happens when people don’t get the support they need. The consequences can be tragic.”
Neff Hernandez is one of many CNN heroes who have found unique ways to help people with their mental health. Some of them marked Mental Health Awareness Month by sharing advice and insights with CNN’s Elizabeth Behranger on what works for their communities. Below is an edited version of their conversation.
Michele Nef Hernandez: Mental health is as important as physical health
for Neff HernandezMental illness is common, but the stigma surrounding it is often a hurdle for those seeking the treatment they need.
Michele Neff Hernandez: When our bodies are not functioning well, it is considered normal and even responsible to go to the doctor to look for the cause or to alleviate the symptoms. Seeking mental health when struggling with mental health, such as mourning a death, experiencing a traumatic event, or dealing with global and national crises that are part of our everyday story We are often hesitant to do so. health support. Stigmatizing narratives that imply that seeking mental health support shows weakness, or that for some reason mental illness or mental health breakdown is shameful, are deeply prevalent in our society, especially young people. It will have a big negative impact.
CNN Hero Michele Neff Hernandez
We need to model good mental health care by learning about mental health with the same vigor as we learn about physical health. Imagine if meditation were as popular as weight loss. Or if picking up a mood stabilizer was seen as picking up a blood pressure medication. And it’s a gift we can give to the next generation. We all need mental health support many times in our lives. What a gift that would be if accessing that help was considered a normal part of life.
We always look at this with sorrow. No one wants to let people grieve. We try to fix it instead of listening to it. We put pressure on grieving people to “get over it” to make other people more comfortable. We set the definition of success after a traumatic event as “getting back to normal,” even when returning to past normal is not possible. The truth is that we are always changed by the challenges we overcome. Integrating what you’ve learned about yourself afterwards is one of the key ingredients to building resilience. Stigmatizing mental health care creates an environment in which those who need it most suffer from loneliness.
Annette March Greer: ‘Prioritize self-care’
Annette March Greer is the 2014 CNN Hero, Roberta’s house, a bereavement center in Baltimore, Maryland. Their programs reach her over 4,000 people of all ages each year. In 2021, the organization will move to a new state-of-the-art center where it hosts face-to-face support groups and serves people suffering loss of all kinds.
Marchgrier emphasizes the importance of putting yourself first in order to improve your mental health.
CNN Hero Annette Marchgreer
Annette March Greer: Everyone seeks some kind of balance, but few find it. Your state of mind is where it all begins. Make self-care a mental health priority. “Self-care is not selfish.” It’s true that if you don’t take care of yourself, you have nothing to give people. This includes healthy relationships that can be compromised due to stress, burnout, and lack of self-care. Negative thoughts and these repressions can cause illness, which over time leads to illness.
Self-care means taking time for yourself, creating a gratitude list, journaling, dancing, laughing, breathing well, smelling the fresh air, and being aware of your surroundings. It means giving away, being in the moment, enjoying the silence as much as possible, and taking time. Play with yourself, pets, exercise, look back, dream about the future, eat healthy, help those in need. All of these self-care activities increase the body’s endorphins, leading to relaxation and balance.
Scott Strode: Combining Community and Fitness
2012 CNN Heroes That Sports Helped Scott Strode Overcome drug and alcohol addiction.he founded phoenix Founded in 2007 to provide free physical activity and a calm support community for those struggling with addiction. Today, the organization is in over 200 communities nationwide and has nearly 200,000 members.
Strode’s research focuses on the intersection of exercise and personal connections that benefit mental health.
Scott Strode: Social connections are powerful tools for creating positive mental health. At The Phoenix, we see every day that belonging and social connections have a huge impact on our members’ confidence and overall well-being. Just spending a few minutes each day in front of other people can be powerful in nature. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever to make those important connections.
Whether it’s gathering for activities or discussing the challenges we face, social connections help us all overcome mental health challenges.
Exercise can also be a powerful tool for improving mental health. Consider going for a 15-30 minute walk or run and inviting a friend. Sharing these physical activities with supportive peers creates vulnerability and can cause others to start sharing about what they may be experiencing.
Mary Cortani “Don’t judge what you can’t see”
Assistance dogs are often a helpful tool when military members returning from deployment are struggling with conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. 2012 CNN Hero Mary Cortani non-profit organizations, Operation Freedom Posehas helped about 600 veterans, first responders, and others train their service dogs.
Cortani stresses that not all wounds are visible and silence is not a cure for mental illness.
Mary Cortani: If the world has taught me anything, it has taught me not to forget to be kind, not to judge what I can’t see. Pain is invisible. Take a breather while crazy days continue. It’s okay to feel down, overwhelmed, overwhelmed, sad, or frustrated. try not to hold it. Ask for help, talk to family, friends, pastors, and priests. Please talk to someone. And those who are listening, really listen and pay attention. There is no shame in asking for help. It takes courage.
We all need to understand that we need to talk about mental health, not buried under the rug.We need open and honest conversations. We are facing a mental health crisis in this country that is only getting worse as the division grows. Fear only adds to it. Mental health doesn’t just affect veterans and first responders. It can affect everyone. Trauma is trauma, and enough repeated exposures change the brain. There is hope, there is healing, but we all need to work together to help those who need our help.
We need to stop the silence surrounding mental health and model healthy behaviors so we can help support and guide you to resources. not even the people who are.
