May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental health is a crucial component of our overall well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and act at work and in our personal life. It plays a role in how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Good mental health doesn’t mean that we will feel happy all the time. It means that we can manage our emotions, handle adversity, and function well in our everyday life.
One of the biggest barriers to addressing mental health is the stigma, misunderstanding, and negative connotation that has historically prevented people from talking about their feelings. Humans have survived for thousands of years through our ability to connect, communicate, and cooperate with each other. In fact, connecting among humans is a basic need. It is as important as food, water, and shelter to our ability to thrive and survive.
Why is it so hard for people to connect in a way that makes them feel comfortable sharing their feelings and struggles? The answer seems to be our personal fear of being seen as less than, weak, or damaged. Most of us know the feeling of wanting to appear better to someone else then we think of ourselves. For two people to have the type of connection that encourages open, honest, and full sharing requires the listener to be willing to share the space of another person, without judging, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or impact the outcome. In other words, the listener must provide emotional safety, be genuine and empathetic by resonating with another’s emotions and showing understanding. Above all else, the listener must offer unwavering support and acceptance.
Education and empathy are powerful tools in breaking the stigma. When we treat mental health with the same seriousness and compassion as physical health, we create an environment where everyone feels safe to seek help and support. It is not just the responsibility of an individual but rather a shared responsibility of families, workplaces, schools, and communities by normalizing seeking therapy or counseling.