Mental Health Awareness Month
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Mental Illness

Mental Health Awareness Month

Looking for the Light

Mental health is wealth, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month, which is celebrated in May. The stigma around mental health and treatment has long existed, even though this has started to change. Still, people hesitate to seek help or even talk about it with their loved ones for fear of being judged and facing unnecessary backlash. Simple logic dictates that if we are hurt anywhere, we must seek treatment to get better. This applies to both our mental- and physical well-being. While Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated in the U.S., a more universal day is also celebrated by the WHO on October 10, and it is known as World Mental Health Day.

What To Do When You Need Help

When living with a mental health condition or facing a mental health concern, it’s common to feel like no one understands what you’re going through. But many people overcome the mental health challenges they face. You aren’t alone – help is out there, and recovery is possible.

IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS: Text “MHA” to 741741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a trained crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year. Spanish speakers: 1-888-628-9454. Deaf & hard of hearing: TTY users, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255

My Mental Health

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder when I was 19 years old but didn’t take it seriously until my father committed suicide in 1992. After a few doctors who gave me way too much medication to work, I found my current doctor.

He’s a Psychopharmacologist and I’m so lucky to have found him. A Psychopharmacologist goes through additional training on top of being a Psychiatrist. One of the most important reasons to see one is if they understand the brain better and which medicine will interact with the part of the brain affected. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of what type of medication you need for your specific symptoms.

If I could make one parting suggestion, it would be to include a loved one in all of the appointments with your doctor. To make sure my husband understood what I was going through and felt it was best to hear it from the doctor’s mouth. It’s been a lifesaver.

Melinda

References:

https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month#6

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5 thoughts on “Mental Health Awareness Month”

  1. Thank you for sharing this Melinda and your open dialogue of how you have found great support through a rough, sad time. I admire all that you do to share your experiences and what is useful. It’s so great you put phone numbers down as well! 💓

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    1. I agree, it depends in it’s a short-term depression or a mental illness. I suffered for years with depression but it wasn’t until my father died, and I went to a Psychiatrist did I realize how sick I was. I will add that some people know but choose not to take their medication, it usually doesn’t end well. The brain is complex and there’s little we know about it, the more we learn, and new medications will be able to target the area of the brain needed.

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