Highlighting the Taboo: Pushing for Mental Well-being on World Mental Health Day 2023 - by Nidhi Kalta
In a global shift towards prioritizing overall well-being, mental health is now given equal importance as physical health. This year, on October 10th, World Mental Health Day is observed with the theme "Mental health is a universal human right."
Just as we tend to a garden, caring for our thoughts and emotions is essential for maintaining mental health. Negative thoughts, much like weeds, should be removed to allow for a continuous flow of emotions and thoughts that need to be recognized and actively managed. A healthy mind, like a well-maintained garden, can grow and make life awesome.
Mental health problems can make it difficult to function well, but seeking help is a great initiative that requires strength and is a pivotal step towards achieving and preserving good mental health. It is okay to ask for help when dealing with mental health challenges, and embracing help can lead to a more vibrant and fulfilling life.
Mental health professionals possess the expertise and tools to guide us in addressing mental health challenges. Seeking assistance from a mental health professional is similar to consulting a skilled gardener to help restore and maintain the health of our mental garden.
Strategies to break mental health stigma and encourage professional help-seeking on World Mental Health Day include combining education, community engagement, and accessible support initiatives. Organizing community or virtual events that foster open dialogue and emotional safety, such as inviting speakers, hosting wellness activities, or facilitating workshops on stress relief and mindfulness, can help create connection, normalize mental health discussions, and demonstrate support availability.
Educational campaigns that use brochures, videos, and dramatizations highlighting personal stories and positive attitudes towards mental health can result in lasting attitude and behavior changes. These campaigns, particularly when sustained over time, produce significant reductions in stigma related to help-seeking.
Culturally responsive care is critical for inclusive, stigma-reducing efforts. Providing language access and culturally specific therapy improves engagement among diverse populations. Sharing public stories of peers and minority leaders who have sought help can model strength in vulnerability, further normalizing help-seeking.
In workplace settings, leadership can endorse mental health by offering resources, encouraging open conversations, and promoting self-care practices. This signals organizational commitment to employees' mental well-being and counteracts stigma.
Overall, effective strategies integrate education, community involvement, culturally tailored care, digital outreach, and supportive environments all aligned with the principle that mental health is a fundamental human right accessible to everyone. Prioritizing mental well-being is an investment in a brighter and more resilient future for oneself. So, do not hesitate to reach out for the support needed to nurture your well-being.
- In order to promote personal growth, we can invest in education and self-development, learning strategies to manage our mental health just as we focus on physical fitness and nutrition for our overall health and wellness.
- To ensure mental health is universally accessible, we can advocate for nutrition-like approaches, providing a balanced diet of education, community support, and professional help to foster a healthy mental life.
- Embracing mental health as an essential part of wellness, much like fitness-and-exercise routines, can contribute to a positive, thriving, and balanced lifestyle, aligning with the principle that mental health is a human right.
