This year\u2019s theme is \u201cMental Health in an Unequal World\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID gave researchers a plethora of data to mull over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I find it interesting is that they came to the conclusion that I have known for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is an inequality in mental health care based on socio-economic status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The people who are struggling the most are those who already face some serious challenges- people with long term health conditions, or facing discrimination, or parenting on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I would add to the those facing discrimination are facing it on more than one front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Certain groups and cultures still look down on those who seek out help for their mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the survival of your family is on your shoulders without any form of support system, that can be devastating. Everything can be a crises. You try to push on but it can feel like you are Sisyphus pushing the rock up the hill only to have it roll back down and you have to start all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am lucky to be in the white women demographic that mental health can be spoken about and it is almost like we are expected to be at some point in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was at Yale, a fellow student was until psychiatric care. He didn\u2019t want anyone to know because in his culture a man seeking out mental health help was considered weakness. If you were then you were crazy and should be shut away. Women did not fare any better. We knew that each of us were getting help but at his request, I never told anyone. It was his business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The COVID shutdown brought into sharp contrast how bad our mental health system is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number of people who have slipped through the cracks is staggering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will give credit to both New York State and New York City for creating crises help-lines along with general mental heath help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting those in crises to use those lines is a little tricker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now there are a number of PSAs that I love showing what not to say or what is not useful. Some of these I have heard more than once to \u2018help\u2019 me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou just need a more positive attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA smile uses more muscles than a frown.\u201d Sorry I have want my sister in law called resting B**** face. I look harsh and that I am frowning all the time. It is just how my face is shaped. Telling me to cheer up is annoying because I was in a good mood until I hear those sorts of phrases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have to say wearing a mask has helped that since they have to listen to my vocal tones rather than what my mouth looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave you tried not being depressed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou should take up a hobby. It will make you feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou should take up X sport. It is very relaxing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave you tried exercise?\u201d Yes, that has helped me more than I can tell however it is not a total panacea for my mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI bet a massage will help you get rid of all that stress.\u201d No, it won\u2019t. I am a ball of stress. It is how I keep myself together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou need to get over yourself.\u201d Believe me I would if I could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMedication is for wimps.\u201d No, I think those who take medication are very strong. They recognize that they need help so they can function in life. Also, medication is not forever. You may need it right now, but that does not mean you are always going to be taking it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My medication has taken me from being in a pit of despair with putting on a brave face in public, to a functioning adult within society. It is a perfect solution. Not in the least but it does allow me to not feel like I am crouching in a corner trying to figure out if it was a fight or flight situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cultural taboos about mental health can be very damaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those who seek help are thought less of if they are allowed to seek help at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes you do need help and there is no shame in that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We, meaning all the people in the world, have gone through one of the toughest time in our entire lives. For some that battle has not ended. I think it is in the back of our heads whispering into our ears all the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watching the news isn\u2019t helping. It seems that every time we seem to turn the corner, we get slapped in the face and take two steps back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is mentally very tiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have stepped off the Internet more than once. I can tell when I am getting wound up to the detriment of my mental health which effects my physical health very badly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wish those who really need help can get it and that the stigma of getting help can go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our mental health is tied into our physical health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You would take a medicine to get rid of an infection or other physical ailments without blinking. We need to get to that point with medication for mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check in on your friends and family that might be struggling at this point. Let them know that you believe in them. If you can, offer to help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A night off for a single parent is a big thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sympathetic non-judgmental ear is a godsend. Especially when all you want to do is vent rather than get a list of solutions to your problems. Letting off that steam can feel so good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s help those who don\u2019t have the resources to find help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s break the stigma that many have about getting mental health help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am grateful for all those who have helped me get the help I need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This year\u2019s theme is \u201cMental Health in an Unequal World\u201d COVID gave researchers a plethora of data to mull over. I find it interesting is that they came to the conclusion that I have known for years. There is an inequality in mental health care based on socio-economic status. The people who are struggling the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8005"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8006,"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8005\/revisions\/8006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kathwp.malibulist.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}