January is Mental Wellness Awareness Month. This is the time to recognize the importance of attending to our mental health, especially seeing the vast prevalence of mental health issues and disorders that exist in our world. Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website illustrate the following:
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 (NAMI, 2021).
As seen on the above report, one out of every five adults experience mental health issues every year, this month of Mental Wellness Awareness intends to bring awareness towards good mental wellbeing.
This first month of 2023 gives us an opportunity to check in with ourself and our loved ones to see how they are doing. New Year’s resolutions often focus on physical fitness, but we should also keep in mind that mental health is just as important as physical health in our life. Maintaining mental wellness is not easy, it is crucial.
Mental Wellness Awareness month is a reminder to take better care of your mental health, release stress and become happier, and improve the quality of your relationships. You can participate by spending more time with your loved ones, being grateful for what you have in life, planning a trip, and becoming skilled at self-care.
Mental Wellness Awareness month began in 1949. Mental health is wealth. The stigma around mental health and treatment has long existed, even though this has started to change. Still, people hesitate to seek help or even talk about it with their loved ones for fear of being judged and facing unnecessary backlash. Seek professional help to improve your mental wellness.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 877-50-SOCIAL or 877-507-6242 for confidential support & treatment options.
