What is Mental Health Awareness Month?
The number of people in America living with some form of mental illness might surprise you. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), almost 53 million people are affected by it. To put that in stark perspective, that number means that nearly one in five U.S. residents live with mental illness.
Matt Engler, Regional Executive Director at Avenues Recovery Center of Louisiana speaks with WWL about Connecting Medical Health and Substance Abuse
In light of that very distressing statistic, doing things to increase focus on mental wellness, and understanding what each of us can do to put our mindsets in a better and healthier place is probably an excellent idea!
Enter Mental Health Awareness Month 2022.
When is Mental Health Awareness Month?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In 1949, Mental Health America (MHA), then known as the National Association for Mental Health, designated May as the month to concentrate on spreading the importance of making mental wellness an important part of life. Since that time, it has been adopted by almost every organization involved in addressing the well-being of mind and spirit.
Robert Fezekas, Clinical Director of Townsend Recovery Center speaks with WWL Explaining the Connection between Mental Health and Substance Abuse
The realm of substance abuse in particular is a minefield of mental health concerns. Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, are all too common for people struggling with addiction. Illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, among others, have had a known connection to drug and alcohol abuse for a very long time. A very important part of addiction recovery is identifying the areas where a person may be struggling with mental disorders. In the event that someone is suffering from a co-occurring disorder while dealing with addiction, creating a lasting path to recovery without addressing those issues is almost impossible.
There is your very brief introduction to the importance of mental health awareness, especially in the world of substance abuse.
What Is The Colour For Mental Health Awareness 2022?
The mental health awareness ribbon is green, which is shown to be a calming color. People wear the green ribbon and many buildings are lit up in green to show solidarity with those struggling and help to break the stigma around mental health.
Ricky Phillips, DNP at Avenues Recovery Center at Louisiana speaks with WWL about how addiction begins
Now, What Can We Do About Mental Health?
What can we, collectively and each individual alone, do to take advantage of the increased focus of this mental wellness month, and make things better? Not just for us, but for the people around us who we love and deeply care about.
I hope I am not disappointing you by saying there isn’t one simple answer or one simple solution. There are a million angles to these problems and a million little steps we can take. Each person is unique, each battle is different, and each situation calls for its specific course of action.
Does that discourage you?
It shouldn’t!
Because there is a key starting point from which we can all make real progress, and it is there that we all should begin.
Here is the secret. It starts with ATTITUDE.
Ashley Duncan-Soriana, Alumni Coordinator at Avenues Recovery Center at Louisiana speaks with WWL about A Powerful Story of Living Addiction Recovery Out Loud
Changing Attitudes Can Change Lives
And by that I mean changing our attitudes and viewing things a bit differently. Altering our perspectives, even just slightly, can change lives!
Understanding that mental illness and addiction are diseases just like all others is step number one. When we get this, it switches the lens entirely. Guilt is replaced by validation; obsessing over our low self-esteem shifts toward opening a window into what makes each one of us special. It will give us the courage to meet our challenges head-on. The wonder of recognizing the beauty inside us is the great generator of hope and real growth. And when we know that truth, the dark places inside of us can start to fade, lit up by the wonder and magic of self-discovery.
That my friends, is mental health awareness in a nutshell. You count, you are special. It is an illness, and an illness can never define you.
This new attitude is a needle in the hot air balloon of stigma around mental health. Mental illness will no longer be a commentary on who we are. If the struggle is our own, we will be empowered to get screened and to actively seek help for addiction, which may be exacerbating our mental health issues. We will find the way forward to be the best version of ourselves. When we see someone in our life who is in a dark place, we will have the sensitivity to reach them in a meaningful way.
We will understand, we will encourage, and we will uplift.
We will create trust, find hope, and effect change.
This National Mental Health Month of 2022. For ourselves and for those that we love.
What is the theme of Mental Health Awareness Month 2022?
The chosen theme of Mental Health Awareness Month 2022 is “Back to Basics.”
So, let’s all start with the most basic awareness of all. Every person is precious, worthy, and powerful. Remember that always. Believe that always.
It is the foundation of every beautiful thing we will ever achieve.
Don't Wait for Mental Health Awareness Month to Get Help
Recovery is always possible. If you or a loved one are suffering from mental health issues and addiction, our team of experts at Avenues Recovery is always ready to help you take the first step. Contact us to give yourself the best gift of all this Mental Health Awareness Month - recovery.