Raise the Alarm for the Importance of Mental Health

Why is mental health important going into 2022?

Thankfully in recent years, there’s been a massive call in aid of mental health, not only from healthcare professionals but society at large who can all help to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues. Health trends have fortunately been navigated in such a way that mental health is now discussed and where people are encouraged to speak about it and to seek help. While we should take care of our bodies, our minds need equal care to ensure we are functioning. Let’s unpack why mental health is important in both 2022 and beyond.

Understand what you are feeling and name it

It is not easy to understand how you are feeling and even to articulate this to another person. Now you can describe in detail how you are feeling. Do you wake up sad every day? Or are you happy for two hours then at once switch to sadness for the rest of the day? A way to name this yourself is to say you are in a sad state. Now, why is naming how you feel important? Often people do not want to recognize their mental health issues for fear of being judged or labeled. But once you recognize your struggles for what they are, it allows you the opportunity to either learn to live with them or seek help. Either way, giving your issue a name and seeking help will be of benefit to you.

People are not coping

No matter what is happening in the world, some people are not coping, and this is having a crippling effect on mental health the world over. It again emphasizes why speaking about and raising awareness of mental health will always remain important. There are always going to be individuals who struggle and who need help with their mental health, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with those individuals. Instead, we need to look at the issues people are faced with and highlight coping mechanisms available to use when you find yourself in a comparable situation. 

Taking a mental health day should be encouraged

If we are going to continue the fight against the stigma of mental health, then we need to enforce taking mental health days. While this is not a quick fix, it does allow for some reprieve and often, a day of doing nothing is all you need to reset. It is important to note that this is in no way a solution or a quick fix, and ongoing therapy is always the solution to manage and cope with mental health issues. Think about it this way, when your body is sick, whether the flu, cold, or a stomach bug, you have to take time off to recover, in fact in many parts of the world it is mandatory to take time off when you are sick, now why don’t we afford ourselves the same opportunity for mental health? Because it is still has a stigma attached to it.

The figures

As outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO), acknowledging and outlining the significant role mental health plays in achieving developmental goals is more important now than ever. In shocking statistics, depression is one of the leading causes of disability, while suicide is the second-highest cause of death among 15 - 29-year-olds. The WHO also highlights that people with severe mental health issues almost always die prematurely and die up to two decades early. Last year for World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10 October, the WHO focused on key messages that require urgent attention for mental health.

This is essentially why mental health discussions are important, and since people who suffer from mental illness experience severe human rights violations, especially in countries where mental health is not a concern, we must continue the fight to remove the stigma and help those in desperate need. Another reason mental health is important in 2022 and beyond, is the access to effective mental health solutions. The gap between people who need mental health help and those who receive it is large. While there are many reasons for this, the three glaring reasons are: access to mental health care, affordability, and seeking help when it is needed. If more priority is given to the above three points we might just be able to help millions to live happy and functional lives.