Mental Health Month 2020
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re working to destigmatize mental health and provide you with resources for understanding mental illness. We also want to stress the importance of maintaining your mental health, especially now. #mentalhealthmatters!
As we traverse unknown waters during COVID-19, celebrating Mental Health Month and spreading awareness about the prevalence of mental illness is even more important than usual.
During times of extreme duress, such as a global pandemic, our mental health needs to be prioritized and understood now more than ever.
*Please recognize that this article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat mental illness. If you need immediate help, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 24 hour hotline. If you would like to explore managing your mental health through therapy, please contact AICC to learn more about how we can help you.*
What is Mental Illness?
The American Psychiatric Association defines mental illnesses as “health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.”
What is crucial to note about this definition is that it categorizes mental illness as a health condition. In the past (and in some communities today), mental illness has had the negative stereotype of being “all in the mind”or made up by the person suffering.
But times have changed, thankfully, and organizations like the American Psychiatric Association specifically note that “mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a medical problem, just like heart disease or diabetes.”
And, just like heart disease or diabetes, mental illness can be treated with therapy and a medication if necessary.
Two Broad Categories of Mental Illness
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “mental illnesses are common in the United States. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.” One in five! That’s an awful lot of people living with mental illness, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of these people are deeply struggling.
Mental illness is an umbrella term and can be broken down into two main, broad categories: ANY Mental Illness (AMI) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI). The NIMH defines AMI as encompassing all recognized mental illnesses; while SMI is a “smaller and more severe subset of AMI.”
People who suffer from Any Mental Illness (AMI) can have mild to severe mental illness (this category is a broad spectrum).
Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is a more restricted category encompassing patients whose mental illness “substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities” (NIMH).
Mental illness can range from mild anxiety to depressive disorders and also includes disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia, among many others. As such, treatment for mental illness is as broad as the illness itself. For a longer list of mental disorders, treatments, and related topics, see the NIMH’s list.
The first step toward getting better is to reach out to a healthcare provider in order to receive a diagnosis. Once your healthcare provider has diagnosed your mental health concern, it’s important to establish a treatment plan to help you move forward with your life.
If you are interested in more information about what a diagnosis and treatment process looks like for mental illness, we recommend this comprehensive article from the Mayo Clinic.
Living With Non-Severe Mental Illness
If your mental illness can be categorized as non-severe, living with mental illness doesn’t have to be a struggle (although we know that it often feels like an uphill battle).
Severe mental illnesses can require strict oversight from physicians and caregivers and might require a hospital stay. For more information about living with a severe mental illness (or supporting someone diagnosed with one), we recommend the National Alliance on Mental Health as a repository of information and support.
The American Psychiatric Association states that “mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, resilience, and self-esteem. Mental health is also key to relationships, personal and emotional well-being, and contributing to community or society.”
This definition helps us understand just how important our mental health is, as it affects almost every aspect of your daily life!
Tips for Making Your Mental Health a Priority:
Make YOURSELF a priority. We know it might be difficult to make yourself a priority in your own life when work, children, and your relationship might require more from you that you’re able to give. It’s easy to put yourself on the backburner, which is why carving out time for yourself is critical. You can’t take care of others unless you take care of yourself first, which means that if you have to get up 20 minutes early to have coffee alone and check in with yourself, do it! If you need to get up from your desk and take a short walk around the block to relieve stress, go! Your mental health will thank you.
Control what you can. There are so many things that are out of our control (especially right now!) that it’s important to control what you can (within reason). If you know that sleeping eight hours and eating healthily help you maintain a good attitude and ultimately help your mental health, then set a bedtime and keep to it. Cook healthfullyand engage in meal prep. If you know that the next morning will go more smoothly if you pick up the house now and do the dishes, then do those things. Consider this a way to control what you can and let the rest go.
Find joy in the everyday. Unfortunately, life can’t be one long, joyous event (wouldn’t it be awesome if that was the case?!). There is suffering and hardship everywhere we look, but the good news is that there is also joy and happiness. So take some time to look for small moments of joy throughout your day. Try and see your children as they are: wonderful little humans whose imaginations are brilliant and unstoppable. Be vigilant about looking for lovely clouds or flowers in your neighborhood, and when your stress and anxiety blossoms within you, return to those moments. Banking moments of joy helps us cope and endure hardship.
Seeking Help
Of course the three tips mentioned above are not a cure-all for non-severe mental illness, but they can help ground you on your journey of living with mental illness. Use them in tandem with consulting your healthcare provider and therapist.
AICC is committed to your mental health and recognizing that there is no shame in admitting that you need support. We know it can be a vulnerable act, but please reach out for help.
Our licensed therapists can help guide you as you navigate mental illness or as you support someone in your life who struggles with it. We offer Telemental Health services for working with you online or by phone. We are here for you!
More Mental Health Resources from AICC
AICC’s blog has several more articles on mental illness that might be of service to you: