Mental Health Matters

May is Mental Health Month and as times have changed, mental health has become a number one concern in today’s society. For a lot of us, mental health was something that just was not discussed back in our day. Most certainly people had issues then too. Yet, it seems mental health has had a negative connotation leaving many afraid to seek help and for some resulted in some type of destructive behavior or ended in tragedy.

We wonder why mental health has been placed on the back burner. Perhaps it’s because of the manner in how these types of issues were received or the stigma that has been placed on those suffering with these types of issues. If someone was known to have a drug problem during the middle ages, it was often thought of as a punishment from God. They were often placed in isolation, chained to a bed, and even burned.

Over the years, we’ve become accustomed to using slang terms such as “crazy, nuts, psycho” and the list goes on, into our everyday talk when we are referring to someone who may or may not have acted in a manner we disagree with. Yet, we wonder why so many struggle to come forward with their problems or seek destructive ways to solve them. Who knows why the reaction towards mental health was like that for so long?!?

As terrible as the approach to mental illness has been for quite some time, society as a whole has improved tremendously at recognizing the vulnerabilty of the vast population suffering from the disease and working towards solutions. Mental illness is a real disease that affects 1 in 5 people. Our sanity can affect how we function, take care of our loved ones, and succeed in life. Our mental health determines the direction of life we take and regardless of how we feel, we matter. We matter to our family, friends, and community.

For more information on mental health programming or resources, please contact Shelly Ray @ the Lewis County Extension office at 931-796-3091. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. 1-800-662-HELP(4357)