World Mental Health Day 2021
This weekend our awareness will turn to World Mental Health Day. WMHD was created in 1992 with no specific goal other than raising the awareness of promoting mental health advocacy. Annual themes were established in 1994 and every year since a dedicated focus has been chosen to educate the importance of normalising mental health themes. In 2020 the focus was how to increase investment in mental health services, this year title is Mental Health in an Unequal World.
Despite the events of the last two years, there are still people who dismiss mental health as a weakness; the sad irony is that a large proportion of these people may benefit from some support. Support is more than counselling – everyone can make a difference. Empathy, positive regard and non-judgement all contribute to helping someone navigate through difficult times. Even simpler, being available to listen could be the difference between a good and bad day for someone who may not have had the opportunity to talk freely in a while.
Lately, there have been many circumstances where differences of opinion have divided society. While healthy debate is important to consider all sides of the situation, when it becomes nasty and personal any positives are lost. There is nothing wrong with being steadfast in your opinion, but not everyone will share – or even understand your position. This doesn’t make other people wrong, it doesn’t make you right, it just means there is a difference – and when we embrace difference as a positive quality the opportunity for conflict is greatly reduced.
It is so easy to make a judgement. Young people can be very judgemental as they haven’t yet established a mechanism for balance – and issues such as body image, social status and family circumstances are often exacerbated by disapproving, intimidating and personal comments made with little consideration to circumstance. As adults, when we compare ourselves to others, it is easy to make judgements which are hurtful; a good example is why someone you know is living in a bigger house, or driving a better car than you. In this instance jealous thoughts can become intrusive. It is easy to feel this way but what if the money for the material items were left in a will? Would the other person prefer to have a big house, or the comfort knowing loved ones are still alive? The reality is being jealous of someone else’s trauma or loss is futile…
The reality is everyone is trying to overcome their own battle. True, the size and intensity of the battle will differ from person to person but so will the ability to deal with it. While one person appears to be robust and in control, it may not be a true reflection of how they are feeling; inside they may be crushed with fear, anxiety or grief. Equally, the smallest of problems may trigger intense emotion for someone who is less resilient. For these reasons, being aware of the people around you is of paramount importance. If you are aware of everyone around you, you can be assured that someone is thinking of you too.
