May is Mental Health Awareness Month – aiming to shed light on mental health issues, reduce stigma, and promote resources for those affected.
Launched by Mental Health America in 1949, each year, the organization releases a toolkit of materials in support of the initiative and the corresponding theme. This year, the focus is on Where to Start offering tips on ways to alleviate daily stress, build up mental health, and advocate for improved programs in communities.
In conjunction with the month, Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from May 6-12 in Canada and is led by the Canadian Mental Health Association. Their theme this year is Compassion Connects, exploring the mental health impacts of compassion; and how to practice self-compassion.
The goal of these events is to educate, advocate and support:
- Educating the public about common mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, as well as less talked-about conditions like schizophrenia and eating disorders.
- Advocating for increased access to mental health services, resources, and treatment options, while emphasizing the importance of seeking help and support when needed.
- Raising awareness to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness by promoting open dialogue, empathy, and understanding.
Factors That Affect Your Mental Health
Mental Health America suggests that people typically recognize when stress from relationships and work affects their mental health. However, they often overlook when external factors are the cause. It’s possible that at least one of these four things is currently influencing your mental well-being, even if you’re not aware of it.
Current Events
Violence affects people globally. You might have family in a conflict area, worry about rising hate based on identity, or feel overwhelmed by graphic images online, even if you’re not directly involved.
Loneliness
Those with lower income, young adults, parents, members of underrepresented racial groups, or those dealing with mental health issues, feel the loneliest. Loneliness raises the chances of developing anxiety, depression, and even serious conditions like psychosis and dementia. Limited social interaction can be as harmful to lifespan as smoking a pack of cigarettes daily or alcoholism – and twice as harmful as obesity.
Technology
While constant access to the internet can be great, it has its drawbacks. For example, exposure to non-stop bad news and politics can dampen anyone’s mood and cause anxiety about the future. Social media platforms influence depression and lower self-esteem due to comparison. Working from home and receiving after-hours email notifications on your phone blur the lines between work and personal time, increasing the risk of burnout.
Social Drivers
Your surroundings – where you live, work, study, and play – not only affect your physical health but also your mental well-being. Economic status, education, neighborhood, and access to resources like healthy food, healthcare, and green spaces all play a role. Research also links financial worries to mental distress. With salaries often lagging behind rising costs, a 2023 Gallup poll found that 42% of Americans fear they won’t afford their monthly bills.
Supporting Mental Health
Mental Health America provides a comprehensive toolkit of helpful resources, prompts, worksheets, roadmaps and word banks to help cope with mental health struggles.
Here are some more things you can try:
1) Take a mental health screening.
2) Find your support system: friends, family, meet-up groups; counselling.
3) Set tech limits and boundaries.
4) Take action and advocate for causes important to you.
5) Identify your triggers and work through them.
6) Build a coping toolbox.
7) Find healthy coping skills such as: reorganizing your home, watching a movie or TV show you love, letting yourself cry, making a gratitude list, volunteering, getting active, and making travel plans. For ideas, click here.
What business leaders can do:
1) Be transparent with your team about how you prioritize mental health in both your personal and professional life.
2) Teach employees about the mental health benefits and resources available through your organization.
3) Implement flexible work arrangements to accommodate employees’ varying needs and promote work-life balance.
4) Provide mental health training to educate managers and employees on stress management techniques, and how to support colleagues in distress.
5) Arrange a workplace wellness event for all employees.
6) Enhance your organization’s culture by evaluating its mental health policies.
7) Brighten up your workplace in green, the recognized colour for mental health awareness, and encourage staff to wear green during May.
Let’s come together to shine a light on mental health issues and support those affected by mental illness. By raising awareness, fostering empathy, and promoting access to resources, we can create a more compassionate and inclusive society where mental well-being is prioritized for all.
Let’s continue the conversation, break down barriers, and work towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially.
