Mental health- such a taboo topic. But, why? Everyone has mental health, just like everyone has physical health. Both are vital to our wellbeing. Our mental health is concerned with our social, psychological, and emotional well-being. There is no difference in how important each are to us, the only differences is the stigma mental health carries. The stigma of mental health has been around for a long time, but finally we are making some progress to end the stigma! By talking openly about mental health, sharing our own personal experiences, or listening respectfully as someone shares their experiences are how we are ending this stigma. Mental health is important and should be a priority for every single person.
“It is so common, it could be anyone. The trouble is, nobody wants to talk about it. And that makes everything worse. “ -Ruby Wax
This quote is a perfect representation of mental illness. 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. (43.8 million) experiences mental illness in a given year*. Additionally, only 41% of these adults received mental health services in the past year. But mental health does not just impact adults*. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., the 3rd leading cause of death for people aged 10-14, and the 2nd leading cause of death for people aged 15-24*. According to MentalHealth.gov, “Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three-quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24. Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need.”
Mental health needs to be normalized in our lives so we can help one another and realize we are not alone as we may feel. Brightside Bear is passionate about ending the stigma around mental health, creating a safe space for people to reach out for help, and to let people know they are never alone! There are plenty of resources for help!
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Written with love for you,
Brightside Bear
