How aware are you about your level of mental health and what steps do you proactively take to make sure that you are in the right headspace?
Mental health is a challenge that we all have to take on, on a daily basis. That said, with a global pandemic taking over the globe, mental health has turned into one of the most discussed topics of 2020. All of us collectively are battling the same hurdles, on different levels and in different contexts. So on this week’s blog, we want to give you some insight into mental health awareness that can really help you stay in a good space emotionally and mentally.
What is mental health awareness?
Mental health awareness is when an individual or a community is educated and well-informed about mental health, how to maintain it and what they should avoid doing. It is also when a community as a whole has no negative stigma towards the various mental health issues that all of us can experience. Basically in simple terms, we could say, that this is when we know that depression or anxiety does not define a person and that rather, it is a condition that can be treated and managed.
How to promote mental health awareness
There are many ways in which we can get about doing this and here right now, is the best time. We are facing multiple challenges and promoting mental health awareness is rather timely. This can be promoted in;
- A grassroots level (programmes that are conducted on media that will educate each family and family member, mental health awareness training programmes, mental health courses).
- Educating school children
- Educating professionals
- Educating stay at home parents
- Conducting programmes publicly that will grab attention of people and encourage them to listen and understand
- Through the use of social media
- Providing accredited courses and trainings that will help people study about mental health and if they wish to, build careers out of it.
How to raise mental health awareness in schools
Teachers and teaching assistants along with counselors in schools can actively play a huge role in educating children. The right use of mental health awareness training resources is a great way to do this. There are many different types and levels of mental health training programmes that will allow educators to teach children. Conducting small workshops in school, dedicating a certain period of time each week to have small group sessions will also help. Introduce mental health awareness activities that will allow for the development of empathy and compassion, which is a great foundation to breaking stigma and stereotypes in mental health issues.
Are men at a higher risk for mental health issues?
Because men are socially conditioned on some level to not express emotional turmoil as openly as women are, raising men’s mental health awareness is very important. The kind of emotional and mental turmoil that one goes through has absolutely nothing to do with one’s gender. Everyone has the right to ask for and receive help.
What is the colour for mental health awareness?
Internationally, the colour green is used to signify solidarity with mental health awareness. If a green ribbon is being worn, that would signify that mental health awareness is being commemorated.
How to improve mental health awareness
How to get involved in mental health awareness
For you to get involved in mental health awareness either on a personal or professional level, learning is the first best step. We have a wide range of courses that are fully accredited at Study365, which will help you ensure that you get the insight and training that you need. Here are some of them.
0 responses on "The importance of mental health in a pandemic"