Written by Kotryna Klara Martinkutė
I am tired. I feel burned out. I feel depressed. I feel that my mental health is not as okay as it used to be. Or maybe it was never “okay”.
If you have ever felt like this or feel that way right now, trust me – you are not alone in this.
1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder. And these are just statistics of diagnosed mental health disorders, while thousands of people live with some kind of mental health problem every day without it being medically recognized. For this matter, we want to remind you why it is important to talk about mental health without feeling ashamed.
Did you know that May is not only a month to celebrate diversity but also mental health awareness? If not – let us introduce why is it important to remember that mental health matters – not only in May but all the year around.
You may ask a question – why do we talk about this on our page? Simply put – a lot of mental health issues are related to work.
15 percent (!) of working-age adults were estimated to have a mental disorder. It does not matter how a person is working – whether one has an office job, works as a freelancer, or does everything at the same time. Work can be stressful and unpleasant at times, even when it is enjoyable we can still experience burnout from doing what we love. By recognizing the importance of mental health we can make a workplace to be more pleasant for everyone.
And hey, we are everything about -what do people do?, but we also think it is important to know how do people feel! And the best way to do this is to educate ourselves more about the Mental Health Awareness Month.
First, let’s talk about the importance of Mental Health Awareness Month:
It helps people recognize the ways mental illness impacts their lives, educates people about available services, and highlights ways to advocate the importance of mental health
It creates time and space to have open conversations that can help to remove stigmas that are associated with mental health issues. These conversations are especially important for people who are afraid to ask for help.
It provides an opportunity for fundraising, outreach, and awareness events.
Who benefits from Mental Health Awareness Month?
Everyone! It is not just about the people who have mental health issues – it is also about the people that surround them. Spreading awareness about this sensitive topic can help everyone to acknowledge it a little bit better.
May is the month that reminds us that it is okay to not be okay. By raising awareness and talking about it, as well as embracing other people’s problems we spread the message that everyone’s experience is important.
Do not forget to be kind to yourself and others – not just in May but all year round!
