It is World Mental Health Day, and we can all agree that this is such an important topic. As important as it is, this is a topic that has been faced with so much stigma. Public health research has shown that racial and ethnic groups, especially blacks, are more likely to suffer mental illness than their counterparts due to different levels of stress and societal pressures. Suicidal rates have significantly increased as well, yet we are the least likely group to talk about it or even address it. Black people are far less likely to seek care, less likely to pursue or remain in treatment, would continually refuse psychiatric help and have difficulty acknowledging psychological issues in the first place due to the stigma attached and this is steeped in historical and cultural factors.
How do we break the stigma surrounding mental health? It begins with talking about it and incorporating it into our daily lives. One of the main things that affect our mental health significantly, especially in this day and age is stress. It's easy to ignore your mental health when you're stressed, even more so during times of uncertainty. Stress and anxiety levels have increased over the pandemic, with loss of jobs, loss of earnings, loss of loved ones as well as more recent soaring cost of living. What is stress and how does it affect us? Stress is your body's reaction to feeling under pressure. Stress can sometimes motivate us in our daily lives. Yet, too much stress can affect you mentally and physically. Stress can make you feel anxious, irritable or overwhelmed and it can also affect your sleep, eating and even how you engage in your relationships with others.
Few things you can do when under stress:
1. Set the mood – Practicing mindfulness each day will help you to relax, and in doing so feel less stressed. One way to do this is through meditation. It lets you slow down and appreciate what's around you, including your own thoughts and breathing.
2. Keep it clean – It’s true what they say, a tidy home equals a tidy mind. If you're living or working in a messy space, your thoughts will most likely be as cluttered. To help clear your mind and reduce your levels of stress, make sure your environment is clean and organized.
3. Get active – We all know the benefits of exercise for our minds and body. Being physically active is also a great way to practice mindfulness. For example, running, cycling, walking etc. They all help you get in the zone and block out any distractions stopping you from living in the now.
4. Get Help – Please get help. If you have a legacy of faith and have always believed mental illness is embedded in sin, curses or a lack of faith, it is not. Christians have a particular difficulty with experiencing and dealing with mental health illnesses. They often don't recognize it as an illness. Although they would accept that Christians can get physically sick, they seem to think that Christians should not get mentally ill. Please get help if you are suffering from any mental illness. Mental illness is not just the normal feeling blue, forgetfulness, or other emotional and mental factors. Being on medication or going to therapy does NOT mean you have lost your faith.
What can we do to help? STOP THE STIGMA! Accepting the fact of mental illness does not mean that we do not have faith, but it also does not mean that we do nothing - or we are just stoical with blind faith about it. We need to stand up as Christians and do what we can to avail ourselves of help and also to help those who are struggling. It’s so sad to say that I have seen mental illness hit teenagers and young adults in so many different forms; from eating disorders, to suicidal ideation, depression, bipolar, and personality disorders amongst others and the only comfort they received from their parents, guardians or pastors is the famous “IT IS WELL”. As a result, things only exacerbated further from bad to worse. So when I said get Help; I don't mean HolyHelp. Christians and everyone alike, going through any form of mental illness or the other should make use of the medical help and professionals that we have available. Encourage others around you to do the same and create a safe space for people to ask for help.
The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. While today is the day we set aside to recognize mental health struggles globally, please remember that you can always take a mental health day at any time.
Seek Help. Get Help. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you strong.
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