Mental Health Awareness – It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

Mental health conditions can be debilitating to both those affected and those around them, so it is vital that we raise awareness and educate people about them.

Preconceptions and stigma surrounding mental health disorders may prevent people from seeking help, so educating others can help break down these barriers and encourage people to seek treatment.

It’s okay not to be okay.

People often associate mental health with those suffering from anxiety or depression; however, it’s important to remember that mental wellness involves more than simply the absence of any specific condition; taking small steps towards improving it can help make life more fulfilling and meaningful.

National Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), taking place the first full week in May, this year features “Overcoming Anxiety”. Mental health affects all of us and it’s essential that we discuss it; National Mental Health Awareness Week provides the perfect opportunity to do just that by participating in events and activities at MSU during MHAW.

Some years back, ASMSU Student Wellness Center began an annual tradition of celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week alongside student groups and other MSU departments. This event provides students with resources that may assist with relieving stress and anxiety as part of raising awareness around these topics both on campus and throughout our local communities and within families.

This year, we plan on making this initiative even bigger and better than before! By working alongside various student organizations and MSU departments to host an event that is both informative and enjoyable, we hope that many of you can join us – see you all there!

The K-drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay depicts the relationship between Moon Gang-tae, an employee at a psychiatric hospital, and his older autistic brother Moon Sang-tae as they provide caregiving duties at an autistic treatment facility together. Although its premise may seem unrealistic at times, It still creates an emotionally moving story about family ties between two brothers.

No word yet as to whether It’s Okay to Not Be Okay will continue into Season 2, but should it, we can expect the original cast members like Kim Soo-hyun as Moon Gang-tae, Oh Jung-se as Sang-tae, and Seo Yea-ji as Ko Moon-young will return. It would be interesting to see if their characters can find peace from past traumas and find strength within themselves again.

It’s okay to ask for help.

Mental wellness is an integral component of overall wellness, and it is crucial that everyone recognizes its impact on everyday life. No matter if someone suffers from a mental disorder or not, everyone can gain from practicing self-care techniques and creating a support network.

But it can be challenging and there can be misconceptions around the best way to ask for assistance, with many individuals fearing asking will make them seem incompetent, weak, inferior – something even children as young as seven believe – while others worry about rejection, which can be both embarrassing and painful. Still others fear inconveniencing others or becoming burdensome which, though understandable, should never be the case.

Though such fears are valid and understandable, they shouldn’t keep you from reaching out for assistance. There are various means available to you and it is okay to find what best works for you – for instance if it makes you more comfortable to text someone rather than talk in person, call a hotline or crisis line instead or even go anonymous.

If you are someone struggling with their mental health, seeking professional assistance may feel daunting at first. But remember that everyone deserves happiness and good health; no one should feel ashamed for seeking assistance – any perception that doing so might tarnish their image is false and has no basis in reality.

Mental Health Awareness Month is an ideal opportunity to discuss our own experiences openly and encourage others to do the same. By speaking out about mental illness and encouraging those in need to seek assistance, stigmas related to it will be broken down, encouraging those suffering to reach out for assistance more readily. So if your nerves are frazzled remember they are normal; over time it should ease up; if not be sure to tell yourself so too!

It’s okay to talk about it.

Friends can make an enormous difference for someone suffering mental health issues, but sometimes it can be hard for people to know how they can best assist. Hesitation in discussing mental illness adds further stigmatism that keeps many suffering in silence and fails to seek the necessary assistance.

Though discussing mental health can be uncomfortable, it’s vital that loved ones know they have your support if they ever require it. You could begin by sharing that you’ve experienced mental health issues in the past and that it’s okay not to feel okay sometimes. You might then ask if they would like to discuss their experiences with you; listen if they agree! However, don’t interrupt with advice of your own; that may cause them to feel dismissed and make them uncomfortable.

Mental health disorders can affect anyone – children, teenagers, adults and senior alike. And not just adults are affected; trauma or other external factors may have an impact.

Education on mental health and learning how to communicate about it with friends and family members can have a tremendous effect. You’ll gain more knowledge on various mental health conditions as well as local events happening across the country during Mental Health Awareness Month, such as those hosted by organizations like Mental Health America or NAMI.

Add a #MoreThanEnough frame to your Facebook profile to show support for this cause and show solidarity. For this, simply go into your profile and select the “Add Frames” option on the left side.

Our nation is facing an epidemic of mental illness that spans every community, and now is the time for us to do something about it. Without even trying to discuss it, this crisis cannot be fixed, which makes Mental Health Awareness Month so necessary.

It’s okay to get help.

There are various strategies available for those experiencing mental health problems. Talk therapy (also referred to as counseling), medications, lifestyle adjustments and self-care can all provide invaluable help. While some individuals may feel more at ease discussing their problems with family or friends, finding a therapist specializing in their condition is key. Common conditions include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and PTSD which make daily life challenging; symptoms include headaches or stomachaches as well.

If someone you know is suffering from mental illness, it is crucial that they receive support and encourage treatment. You can do this by listening, validating their feelings, and speaking positively about them. Furthermore, becoming informed on how to recognize signs of mental illness will allow you to better comprehend their struggles while helping them access necessary resources.

One effective way to raise awareness for mental health issues is through hosting an event. Fundraisers and awareness walks are two great options available to you if you want to host such an event; or you could contact local organizations related to mental health for more information on how you can get involved.

As much as mental illness may carry with it an associated stigma, that doesn’t have to restrict you from leading a fulfilling and happy life. Although your mental illness might limit how well you work, live with family and interact with friends, there are ways of managing these challenges while still leading a productive existence.

If you or a friend is in crisis, call 911 immediately or reach out to your local crisis response team for assistance. Additionally, there may be online resources like OK2TALK that provide safe and supportive communities for teens and young adults dealing with mental health problems, where they can share experiences of recovery, tragedy and hope in a confidential setting.

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