Welcome to Mental Health Awareness Month! It is the time of year when we make a push to get our community to put down the stigma of mental illness and bring awareness to resources available. In some ways, I struggle to get excited about setting aside this month because the awareness seems to then slide away again. Can we just have ongoing mental health awareness? I truly appreciate the efforts to bring the community together for this month and provide the information but how do we continue to bring the flow and support year-round?
This past year, we heard about mental health issues more than we ever have. The social isolation led to an awareness that humans are social creatures, we need human contact. I was listening to a lecture a couple of weeks ago about mass shooters. The researchers interviewed the mass shooters and found that 100% of the shooters had traumatic childhood trauma. An individual called them and said he had planned a mass shooting but had not followed through. Why? Because someone that day made a connection with him, showed him that someone cared. He did not carry out that shooting.
The research on resiliency is clear. If a child has one caring adult in their life, they can make it through traumatic experiences with more resiliency. When we look at the social isolation of the elderly, research shows us that home systems like Alexa have decreased the sense of loneliness for the elderly. They experience a connection with a voice. When we look at the preventative factors in suicide, social support and connections along with community connections play a tremendous role in preventing suicide.
Clearly, the message is connected. Connect socially, culturally, interpersonally – find your place, your person, your grounding. So instead of a month of mental health awareness, how about a goal of human connectedness year-round. Smile at a neighbor, thank a store clerk, hold the door open. Whatever small gesture it takes to show you care and are connected.
Every problem emerges from the false belief we are separate from one another, and every answer emerges from the realization we are not.
The essential challenge is to transform the isolation and self-interest within our communities into connectedness and caring for the whole.
You Are Not Alone
For 2021’s Mental Health Awareness Month NAMI (National Association of Mental Illness) will continue to amplify the message of “You Are Not Alone.” For mental health resources, you can review our Services page on our website that includes a number of local options for immediate support. And NAMI also has some excellent resources.
Karen W. Malm, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Executive Director
IMAGE CREDIT: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
