Times are certainly changing, and what was once a brusque response of “Get over it!” has been replaced by a kinder, gentler response of “What’s the truth?”
Some say our society has become softer, and in some ways that may be true, but we still need a gentle hand when it comes to dealing with mental health issues in ourselves and those around us.
Every family is affected by mental health in some way and with different levels of severity.
Some may disagree with the last statement that every family was affected. If you don’t agree with that statement, you are either blind or deaf.
Ignorance is not bliss
Ignoring mental health issues won’t make them go away, and ignoring that a problem exists won’t necessarily make it worse, but it won’t help the situation at all.
Gone are the days of sweeping mental health issues under the rug. These issues have made the headlines and come to the forefront. Though May is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, such an important issue deserves more attention than just a month every year.
Mindy Ward of Missouri Ruralist and I recently co-authored a series of articles highlighting mental health in May.
If you didn’t check these out when they were first published, I highly recommend you take a look, and if you’ve already read them, I recommend you give them another read.
The three-part series began with Bob Worth and Elizabeth Golombiecki sharing their experiences dealing with mental health issues.
We thank these two for putting their hearts on the line and giving a name and a face to their real struggles.
You may or may not know Bob and Elizabeth, but I bet you know someone with a similar story.
There is hope
Part two of the series focuses on the work that Shanna Mulvihill and Monica McConkey are doing in the field of counseling and support for people with mental health issues. Mulvihill is executive director and CEO of Mental Health Minnesota, and McConkey is a rural mental health specialist with Eyes on the Horizon Consulting in Minnesota.
Not only do they present grim statistics about the prevalence of mental health issues, but they also offer tips on how to best deal with people with mental health issues and how to recognise underlying stressors.
Stress comes in many different forms and each individual responds differently, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution for helping yourself or others.
The challenges this spring can bring many stressors that prompt people to seek help.
So, moving on to part three of our series, Mindy and I have compiled some resources you can turn to to get help when you need it: There are probably many more resources available to help you deal with mental health issues, whether for yourself or a family member.
Remember, you are not alone in facing these battles, and there are other places you can turn.
So what is the reality? There is hope.
Comments? Send us an email [email protected].
