The Importance
Health
of
Mental
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It’s a given that health is important, both physical and
mental. Both are units in health classes and shown at least
some significance. The problem is that the focus on physical
health overwhelms any attention given to mental health, even
though they are equally important. John Bonnett, a therapist
at Provo Canyon School and Children’s Counseling Center, says,
“Mental health is as important as our physical health, and
works hand in hand to allow us to perform at our peak ability.
Our mental health is at the core of our emotional and social
life. It determines how we deal with everything.” Mental
health goes along with physical health and is essentially part
of it. If mental health is so important, why is it not
addressed as much as physical health? Lexi England, a student
at Orem High, says, “Some think that if you just ignore it, it
will go away and you’ll never have to deal with it, so they
choose not to talk about it.” It can be easy to ignore talking
about mental health because the majority of problems are not
seen physically. Many mental health issues manifest themselves
through thoughts and feelings. Jennifer Brinton, a
pediatrician at Primary Children’s Medical Center, says, “It
may be easier to recognize when someone is physically disabled
than when they are mentally disabled, because brain chemistry
just isn’t as visible.” That is the first step to improving
the view on mental health: actually talking about it and
showing that it is as important as physical health.
But it won’t happen to you so there’s no need to talk about
it, right? When learning about mental health, especially the
illnesses associated with it, many students feel disconnected
with the subject because they have never experienced problems,
or no one they know has. Odds are that everyone knows somebody
with a mental illness; it is a lot more close to home than
most people believe it to be. The National Alliance on Mental
Illness published many statistics that show how prevalent
mental illness is, proving that it needs to be addressed more.
1 in 5 children ages 13 through 18 have or will have a serious
mental illness. According to this, around 240 Orem High
students have or will have a serious mental illness in their
life. Fifty percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness
begin by age 14, and seventy-five percent by age 24. The most
shocking statistic is that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of
death in people ages 10 through 24, and ninety percent of
those had an underlying mental illness. Think we need to talk
about it now?
Take those health and psychology classes, ask lots of
questions, learn as much as possible, and work to end the
negative stigma surrounding mental illness. People with mental
illnesses are not crazy or weird. They are no different from
anyone else besides the fact that their mind is ill. Brinton
says, “When your brain chemistry needs medication to be more
normal, how is that different than someone who needs insulin
for their metabolism of glucose to be normal?” The brain is a
physical organ and like all other parts of the body, it can
get sick too. Nobody judges a person for having cancer, so
there should be no judgement when someone has depression, or
any other illness.
The ways to help someone who is struggling mentally should
also be taught because it is guaranteed that everyone will
come across someone who needs a little more support. Lexi
England says, “The most important thing someone can do for
someone struggling is to simply be there. And not just a text
message saying you’re there for them, and then never talking
to them. But proving to them that you actually mean it and are
willing to do whatever you can to help them through it and
provide them with the things they need.” This new age of
technology has shown that people are connected more through
satellite than through face-to-face interaction. A text here
and there is nice, but it is key to be there for people in
person. It shows true care and concern. Maddie Ybarra, a
student at Irvine High, says, “Always be there to listen and
to talk. Reassure them that you are there for them. Listen and
try to understand that they are going through a difficult time
and just need someone there for them.” Again, the most
important thing that can be done is supporting the person and
not diminishing their feelings and problems. Be a friend and
continually show your love. But don’t be the only person they
talk to and allow what they are going through to cause you
trouble. Take care of yourself as well. Tell them it is okay
to have struggles and direct them to trusted adults, if
needed.
Along with learning about mental illnesses, it is important to
learn how to keep your own mind healthy. This is done through
the standard ways of keeping yourself healthy physically.
Eating right, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep
are the no-brainers. It’s also important to learn healthy ways
to cope with stress and other factors of life, as well as
learning how to communicate well with others and serving them.
Serving others and making them happy is a good way to give
yourself a boost of good feelings. Brinton says, “At times,
though, this is not enough, and counseling with a trusted
adult, or therapy from a professional, or medical treatment
are needed.” There is no shame in getting help with your
mental health, just as there is no shame in going to the
doctor for physical problems. Never be afraid to speak up
about your personal well-being.
Bonnett says, “Having mental health as a teenager is vital. It
is in our childhood and adolescent years where we really learn
the habits and behaviors that will continue to either help or
hinder us throughout our adult life.” All teens can do a
better job of taking care of themselves, both physically and
mentally. Too many interfere with their health by not getting
enough sleep, not eating breakfast, and stressing too much, to
name a few. Do the simple things to keep yourself healthy and
you can improve your mental state.
Remember that mental health is a very important part of our
lives and that anyone can be affected with mental illness.
People with those illnesses are normal. Never contribute to
the existing stigma that they are insane or looking for
attention. Continue to gain knowledge about mental health and
mental illnesses so you can be more understanding of others
and yourself. If you feel that you may need help, ask for it.
Brinton happily states, “Remember, you are not at fault if you
feel depressed, anxious, or have other mental health concerns.
We are fortunate to live in a time when we have proven
therapies and medications that can help us when we need them,
to live full and joyful lives!”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with any mental health
issues, there are resources available. In particular, the
county and nation run 24-hour suicide prevention hotlines.
Call the Crisis Line of Utah County at 801-226-4433 or the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 if you
or anyone you know needs someone to talk to.