Talk About It
I hope you all enjoyed and learned a lot throughout this week. It was a pleasure for me to be able to provide you all with the basics so some of the mental illnesses that could affect any one of us, whether it was directly or indirectly. To start the week off I put up a blog post, The Importance of Awareness, where I talked about the necessity to bring awareness to mental health and mental illness. If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to click the title in blue and give it a read.
Today’s article will talk about how to start the conversation about mental health within your life whether it be in your home, at work, or with friends and why you should have these conversations.
Before we get into how to have these tougher conversations with loved ones, let's address why they need to be had. According to several articles, talking about mental health/ illness helps to rid the stigma of having a mental illness and it helps promote the importance of maintaining a healthy mind. By having this open dialog with someone you care about it shows that you are invested in them and that you support them through all their endeavors. It might also help them be more aware about their mental health as well.
By starting the conversation you are helping to promote a healthy lifestyle for not only those you love but for all. As for how to start how to have this talk, it can vary depending on who you are talking to, I’m going to give you some tips, as well as links to other sites with good information depending on who you might be talking to.
Talking With A Significant Other:
Ask them what they know about mental health
Inform them on what you know about it
Talk about ways to better your mental health together (15 minute brain dumps together Try a meditation together Set aside to help build each other up )
Make it clear that if they ever had an issue you would be there to support them without judgement
Talking to Children
Explain to them what mental health is and why it is important
Depending on the age of the child, just give them basics
Allow for them to ask questions, give the whole truth when answering
Make sure to explain that it is important that they share when they are mentally not feeling ok
Reinforce your support for them always
Talking to a Friend
Ask them if they’ve ever experienced any mental health issues
Explain to them what you learned
Offer support for if they ever needed it
Ask them to share your conversation with other, to help promote awareness
I hope these tips help you to start sharing the importance of your own mental health, but the mental health of others as well. Together we will be able to get rid of the stigma behind mental illness and promote healthy, happy minds for everyone.
Thank your for reading, and thank your for your participation in Mental Health Awareness Week. I hope you all have a great day and remember to stay positive!