Let’s start with some facts about stats in mental health!
Speaking for recent statistics, According to WHO (World Health Organization) for 2017 study estimates that 792 million people lived with mental health conditions worldwide and in 2018, 970 million people worldwide have a mental health or substance abuse disorder. The recent studies show that the numbers have been increasing since the pandemic! Imagine out of these! Speaking about Canada, in any given year, 1 out of 5 Canadian experience a mental health illness or addiction problem. By the time, Canadians reach almost 40 years of age. 1 in 2 had, has, or has a mental illness. Huge numbers, isn’t it?
I’ll be talking about a few tips on how we can take care of our wellness and help people in the community around us!
How can we contribute and break these barriers?
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Taking the first step of self care.
It is vitally important to take care of yourself first. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean “me first” it means “me too”. This is something that everybody needs to understand. It is not selfish to love and choose yourself. Show compassion to yourself as you show to other people around you. If you need to spread happiness and support people, start that from yourself first. Breathe, accept your flaws, appreciate yourself, practice self reflection, do what you like, celebrate those small achievements. How can a doctor help the patient if he himself is feeling sick? To lead the change and make this world a better place it starts from ourselves.
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Educating yourself and people around you.
Most of the people even today feel socially discriminated against while talking about mental illness or conditions. We need to educate ourselves that there is no shame in speaking about it openly. The mental health condition is exactly like any physical health condition. We go to a doctor if we are physically ill, cold, flu, fever, injured or anything and that’s pretty normal, right? If we tell people about it, we feel their support through their kind words which we hear more frequently “How are you feeling now. I’m here for you if you need any help”, “Oh, get well soon!”. “I wish you a speedy recovery.” To make these statements normal in the area of mental illness as well we need to educate ourselves in terms of the symptoms, cause, recovery options, ask for support if we need one and raise awareness regards to the same.
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Overcoming the shame and openly speaking up.
Like they say words matter, they really do! To break the barriers, we need to provide support to each other by letting them know that we are all in this together. It is normal to feel in the way that an individual is feeling. Sharing personal journeys and stories about overcoming mental health struggles and raising awareness on social media helps to overcome the stigma in the community. Talk openly with family & friends about what you feel and what you’re going through. Everyone has their own different journey and obstacles. After all, we need to spread kindness and make this world a better place.
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Connecting with like minded people.
Having conversations and discussions with friends, family and loved ones can have a huge impact on our life. Connecting with like minded people means being with people who understand you and motivate you to be better. Every individual will need encouragement and support in various aspects of their life. Joining a support group, volunteering, and spending time with people who can understand you will have a positive impact on your life.
Resources:
Mental Illness and Addiction: Facts and Statistics
How to find friends who help you be a better you
Our World in Data: Mental Health
Mental Health Statistics: 2021