Talking about mental health in general encourages us to seek treatment, especially once we realize we’re not alone. Millions of adults live with mental health issues in the U.S, and the more we talk about it, the more likely we’ll feel comfortable seeking care and support.
Remove the stigma
By talking about mental illness on a more regular basis, we as a society will hopefully unveil the false notions that plague this topic. When these myths are debunked, it should help remove the stigma surrounding mental health.
Mental health disorders are growing
The prevalence of some mental health disorders has risen in the past few decades. One study found that the occurrences of Major Depressive Episode in the youth have increased from 11.93% to 12.63% in one year.2 As more people are affected by these issues, it just proves that you are no longer alone in your struggles and talking about mental health should be more acceptable.
Promote treatment and decrease rate of suicides
Of the many reasons why we need to talk about mental health, this is arguably the most important. Because mental health is so taboo, too many people are not getting the treatment they need. In turn, their poor mental health could lead to suicide. One research study found that over 90% of people who commit suicide had symptoms of a mental health disorder.
There is no health without mental health
Although we often distinguish mental and physical health, in practice they’re inseparable. Our bodies and minds are deeply interconnected: poor mental health impacts our immune system, cardiovascular health and digestion, while taking proper care of our bodies can make a big difference to our mental wellbeing.
Mental health has a big global impact
Mental health problems are one of the main causes of the global disease burden. Depression is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting an estimated 264 million, while suicide is the biggest killer of young men under 50 in the UK.
