Mental Health Awareness Month: You are #MoreThanEnough

Mental Health Awareness Month takes place every May throughout the United States. Throghout May, the Lancer Ledger discussed how it aims to emphasize the importance of understanding and caring for our mental well-being, fight against the common misinformation spread around mental health, and ultimately advocate for an increase in support for those impacted by mental illnesses. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the staff decided to research the history of the month and this year’s current theme to bring you the facts and bust the myths, along with sharing ways that you can make a difference for not only others, but yourself as well.

The History of Mental Health Awareness Month

*Warning: Suicide and Death will be mentioned*

Mental Health Awareness Month has long been observed nationwide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the month was established in 1949, and has since become a prominent national movement. The month not only helps to raise awareness, but actively works together as a nation to “fight stigma, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies” that aid those impacted by mental illness, whether directly or indirectly. As the Lehigh Center of Clinical Research explains, mental illness impacts not just the individual themselves, but the surrounding friends, family, and communities as well.

The month was founded by the National Association of Mental Health, which has come to be known as Mental Health America (MHA) today. MHA breaks down just how this month came to be an annual observance, and it can all be credited to one individual: Clifford W. Beers. Beers was a recent Yale graduate and a fresh Wall Street financier, seemingly having it all. But Beers’ brother became ill and passed away, leading Beers to undergo his first episode of bipolar disorder. Beers’ illness worsened and he eventually tried to take his own life, surviving his suicide attempt out of a three story building. Severely injured, Beers found himself in and out of private and public hospitals in Connecticut for the next three years of his life.

It was in his time in these hospitals that MHA explains flipped the switch in Beers’ and made him realize a change in mental health treatment was needed. He experienced and dealt with “horrific abuse at the hands of his caretakers,” and became aware of the many “deficiencies in care” when it came to mental illness treatment. Just how bad was mental health care in hospitals at this time? Beers was placed in a “straightjacket for 21 consecutive nights” upon his time in the hospitals.

When Beers was finally released, he was motivated to expose the abuse in mental health treatment within the nation, and advocate for an improvement in care. In 1908, he published an autobiography, A Mind That Found Itself, reflecting upon his journey, from the beginning of his struggles, to the mistreatment he experienced, to his realization that a change was needed. Beers’ work prompted a national movement for mental health care reform. With the reform movement in action, on February 19, 1909, Beers, alongside “philosopher William James and psychiatrist Adolf Meyer” created the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, which later became the National Association of Mental Health, and has since transformed into the MHA.

After the creation of the National Committee of Mental Hygiene, mental health gradually became a national issue, with laws being passed throughout the states and the federal government convening to address the nation’s advocacy. In 1949, National Mental Health Week was launched, which ultimately evolved into a month-long, annual observance. The Lehigh Center explains that since the month’s formation, the nation has been “making great strides” in increasing education and support, along with expanding treatment and prevention opportunities throughout the years. Numerous organizations within the United States Department of Health and Human Services have passed legislation in an effort to promote the “understanding…, acceptance, support, prevention, and [recovery] of mental health conditions.” Examples of these efforts include the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, which “eliminated the practice of unequal health treatment” while improving access to mental health and substance use disorder treatments, and The Garrett Lee Smith State/Tribal Suicide Prevention Program, which coordinated “government agencies and the private sector” in the “development, implementation, and evaluation of youth suicide prevention,” along with incorporating intervention plans into youth institutions.

You Are #MoreThanEnough

Every year, there is a theme that the month is centered around. For the 2023 Mental Health Awareness Month, the theme is More Than Enough. The mission of this year’s theme is to remind every person, no matter who they are or what their lifestyle looks like, of the “inherent value we each hold,” as explained by the NAMI. Whether you won a competition or aced a test, or simply woke up today or made yourself a meal to eat, “that’s more than enough” and you are just as loved as the next person.

Learning how to support the mental well-being of yourself and those around you is an effective way in remembering how we are all more than enough. Mental health should be taken just as seriously as our physical health; if our bodies are sick or injured we treat them properly, so if our mental health is suffering it needs to be treated properly as well.

On an individual level, there are various ways you can care for your mental health and remember on a daily basis that you are more than enough. Practicing gratitude, as explained by the National Institute of Mental Health, is a great way to remember what you are grateful for and what in your life brings you great joy. Setting goals and figuring out what your priorities are is an effective way to grasp the importance of balance, learning when to push yourself versus when to say no and give yourself grace. Working on your mindset to have a more positive outlook in life is another great way to always remember that you are more than enough. Now, this does not mean that you should be happy and optimistic 100% of the time, but rather it means that when hard times do arise, understand that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and your worth is never defined by your setbacks.

Supporting those around you and reminding them that they are more than enough is an effective way to make strides in breaking the mental health stigma. Oftentimes, mental health issues go unnoticed. In fact, according to NAMI, one in five American adults experience mental health issues each year, but only 47.2% of these adults received treatment in 2021. Mental health issues have also become prominent in younger generations, with 17% of children aged six through seventeen experience a mental health disorder. Another statistic from NAMI showed that 50% of all lifetime mental health issues start at age 14, and 75% begin by age 24. Therefore, by simply complimenting your family and friends and staying connected with them is a great way to help them feel loved. Because at the end of the day, you never know what anyone is going through; your loved ones could be struggling without you realizing. Showing kindness, offering unconditional support, and socializing with those around you are all great ways to benefit the mental well-being of your loved ones, helping to decrease the overall impacts of mental health issues in people.

Breaking The Stigma

While mental health awareness has gained much recognition over the past few decades, several myths still exist and contribute to the negative stigma mental health advocates are trying to combat. So what exactly are some of these myths, and what is the truth that lies behind them? Medical News Today highlighted some of the most prominent mental health misconceptions, and revealed the statistics that proves the myths otherwise. Here are some of them:

Mental health issues are not common; According to the World Health Organization, 450 million people currently struggle with mental health issues, making it among one of the top “causes of ill health and disability worldwide.” One of the most common mental health disorders is depression, with studies revealing that the number of adults who suffer from this illness has tripled since the pandemic, rising well above the 264 million adults affected in 2017.

Mental health issues are a sign of weakness; Medical News Today says it best, saying poor mental health is a sign of weakness is “no more true than saying that a broken leg is a sign of weakness.” Mental health issues are illnesses, not a reflection of one’s character or personality. They do not define us, but rather affect us. Just like an adult with a broken leg cannot just heal overnight, one suffering with mental health issues will not just vanish with the snap of a finger. Patience and recovery is vital, just as it is in physical injuries.

Mental health illnesses never go away; while everyone is on a different journey and will experience different symptoms, the idea that mental health illnesses are for life is a myth. No matter who may be struggling, they have the ability to make great strides in their recovery and healing to become less affected by their illness. Some may partake in therapy or taking medications to ease their symptoms and some may experience “episodes between which they return to their ‘normal’”; but at the end of the day, all can find a better balance where their mental illnesses do not control their life.

Your Mental Health Matters
Just because Mental Health Awareness Month is over that the fight to break the stigma and continue to advocate for better support will not persist. No matter what time of the year it is, your mental health matters always. If you were injured or dealing with the flu, you would prioritize your physical well-being to feel better; so why would you not care for your mental state in the same manner if your mental health was suffering? From the staff of The Lancer Ledger, we see you and we support you. You are always more than enough.