World Mental Health Day
It’s estimated that 23% of Missouri adult residents experienced a mental illness in 2020. That makes the likelihood of someone you know silently suffering pretty high!
Mental health needs to become a bigger priority for us all in 2023. Thankfully, October 10th is the perfect day to start to change our mindset.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day!
We hope you will take the time to celebrate this important day by learning more about mental health and mental wellness. If you can identify the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, you will be better positioned to act.
From there, you can help spread awareness about the importance of mental health.
Read on to learn more and empower yourself to make a difference.
World Mental Health Day: Spreading Awareness
We cannot properly celebrate World Mental Health Day until we know more about what mental health means. Mental health is described as our overall mental state. It includes our psychological, emotional, and social well-being.
Our mental health can determine how we handle stress. It can change how we act, think, and feel. It can also determine our emotional limits and boundaries.
There are many conditions, disorders, and diseases that can alter mental health. Take Covid-19, for instance. This virus can alter someone’s mental health by inducing insomnia, anxiety, and even depression into their life. (In many cases, it has affected them significantly.)
Here are a few common mental health problems:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive
- Disorder
- Panic disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Bipolar affective disorder
- Schizophrenia
The more you know about these conditions, the better equipped you will be to spot them.
How to Spot Signs of Mental Health Problems
Since mental health takes into account many factors and the symptoms present in different ways, we can define it as a “spectrum.” That is why it is paramount to identify the symptoms of worsening mental health. Here are some things to watch for:
- Experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety (stomach issues, chest tightness, headaches)
- Feeling overly stressed and anxious to the point it prevents you from daily activities.
- Emotional outbursts
- Weight or appetite problems
- Withdrawing from family, friends, and favorite activities
- Abusing substances
- Experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Engaging in high-risk behavior
- Performing worse at work or school
Finding the right treatment is the pathway forward to better health.
How to Help Someone With Mental Health Issues
If you spot signs that their mental health is getting worse, then act on it immediately.
Encourage your loved one to open up about how they are feeling. Depending on the situation, you might also recommend professional help. A visit with a behavioral health expert could help your loved one change their life.
Celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10
Understanding the impacts of mental health starts with getting informed. We need to be able to identify symptoms and issues. That way, we can help everyone cope by suggesting treatments for mental health issues.
On October 10 and beyond, keep this newfound information in mind.
Now that you know more, it’s time to act. If you are in Missouri or know someone in need, consider consulting with our health network. We can be reached by phone 844-853-8937 or walk in to start an assessment at a Compass Health Network location near you.
If you are in crisis, then call 988 to contact the Missouri lifeline suicide and crisis hotline now.