What is mental health?
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and we wanted to take some time to honor and speak to the importance of mental health. Furthermore, to encourage everyone to recognize the importance of taking care of their mental health. Now you might be asking yourself at this point, what is mental health?
According to the Oxford dictionary, mental health is the state of somebody’s mind. This definition touches the surface of what it is, but in our opinion doesn’t speak to the importance of it. The CDC states that “mental health includes our emotional psychological and social well-being”. This definition allows us to address the elephant in the room, and if you ask us, mental health is everything. It encompasses the fabric of who we are that allows us to navigate through life’s obstacles and challenges, tolerate stress, engage in meaningful connections and relationships as well as have our basic needs met.
Why is it important to nurture and address any mental health?
Mental health is the foundation of good health and oftentimes mental health is frequently disregarded. Not addressing your mental health needs can have a wide range of consequences. It can make everyday tasks appear more difficult, have an impact on a person’s memory, concentration, and affect relationships. Due to the stigma of mental health, some individuals may be afraid to seek assistance.
We are all used to routine medical checkups, including primary care appointments for things such as comprehensive visits and wellness exams. Regularly attending to one’s mental health can aid in the early detection of warning symptoms such as depression and anxiety. If you want to learn more about mental health or have concerns about your own mental wellbeing, we encourage you to speak with your primary care provider or schedule an appointment for comprehensive exam with one of our P3 providers.
Conclusion
Natural supports such as family, friends, and religious communities may be helpful. Below you will find some mental health resources available to you:
- Mental Health Tips
- AARP Friendly Chat Program AARP Friendly chat program: 1-888-281-0145 https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/friendly-voice
- NAMI https://nami.org, contact numbers vary by state.
- Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386
- Dial 211 for your local community resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, Ayuda En Espanol: 1-888-628-9545
- Contact your insurance member services for more information about an in-network provider
- Comprehensively addressing all your health needs can lead you to living a more fulfilling life.
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