by Jennifer DalCorso

Each year, millions of people around the world honor the month of May as “Mental Health Awareness Month”. Raising awareness about mental health and its significance in today’s society is crucial and should be talked about without judgment or stigma. Mental health is often stigmatized, both publicly (in ways such as negative or discriminatory attitudes that others have about mental illness) and personally (such as self-stigma, by which a person refers negative attitudes, including internalized shame, that often comes with their own mental illness).

However, mental illness is not as uncommon as we’d like it to be. In fact, according to John Hopkins Medicine, an estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older – about 1 in 4 adults — suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time. Of these, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting forty million adults every year (Brightside Health, 2020). This is due, in part, to individuals experiencing increased social isolation, anxiety, and several other emotions that may negatively impact their level of functioning.

With today’s environment of fear and uncertainty, it’s no question why so many (seemingly well adjusted) people in the U.S. have begun to experience and suffer from depression, anxiety, and crippling stress disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health noted that since the year 2020, nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (NAMI, 2020). For this reason, it is vital for us to raise awareness about mental health during these difficult times, and to take action in order to break down stereotypes associated with mental health.

How can I improve my mental health?

• Don’t buy into the stigmas. First and foremost, understand that we are all products of our environments and in so many cases mental health can even be genetic. You did nothing wrong to deserve this diagnosis. You can only live WITH mental illness, it does not define you!
• Relaxation techniques can help slow down your breathing, lower blood pressure, and reduce muscle tension. Relaxation techniques can assist the body in producing its natural relaxation response. This can include deep breathing, grounding techniques, meditations, and guided imagery.
• Developing coping skills, which are methods used to deal with anxiety, can also help one to respond better to stressful situations. Coping skills may include exercising, taking a bath, reading a book, or talking to a friend. 
• Take care of your physical health, since physical health is directly connected to mental health. This includes getting enough sleep and healthy eating.
• Ask for help when needed. This could include talking to a support system or seeking help through a mental health professional. Therapy can greatly improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of mental illness. Working with a therapist can help maintain good mental health.

If you are struggling with symptoms of mental illness, you are not alone. We urge you to not suffer in silence. Therapists and mental health professionals are available to speak with you and help you create healthy coping skills in order to address your needs.