May is Mental Health Month : Let ’ s Celebrate with ‘ Lessons Learned ’
Caring for our Mental Health : Reflections of the Pandemic as We Move Forward into Living
By Sharon Kelly , LCSW , Behavioral Health Clinician , Atlantic Health System
Sharon Kelly
Signs of “ normalcy ” are beginningto emerge , but what that normal looks like may not be the same for everyone , and thatisOK !
We as acommunity , individualsand caretakers have learned many lessonsinscience , health care , education and business . Everyone haslearned something , children andteens , the elderly , couples , frontlineworkers to mentiononly afew .
One important thingweare alllearning is that we have to live with ongoing uncertainty . Beingresilient , hopefuland havinggood mental healthiskey to livingforward well .
We learned how important social connection is and that we need to actively nurture our mental health . Mental healthhas often been something whispered about , or not even discussed . We can no longerdeny how important our mental health is to ouroverall health and we needtotalk about it .
So , what aresomeofthe big lessonslearned for mental health ?
Mental health is partofour overall wellbeing . It needs as much attentionasour physical health .
� We learnedthatgood mental health requires good sleep hygiene , ahealthy diet and some exercise just like our body . They are integrallyconnected . It ’ s not only OK to talk to your doctor about your mood and general mental health , but it ’ s essential . They canhelpmakesure you are gettingthe right mental health care .
We learned how important it is to pay attention to ourmental health and to take steps toward good health .
� You mightneedsomeone to talk to , cry with , vent to . Getting supportfrom family andfriends , or spiritualadvisors , is an important part of supporting good mentalhealth . Sometimes it helps to have a professional mentalhealth clinician . Welearned that this can be apsychiatrist who canguide us in medicationneeds or apsychologist or clinical social worker who can help us learnnew skills to cope , grieve and bounce back from the hard stuff . And we learned that it is OK to get help !
We learned that when we are undertoo much stress , we can turn to things thatcause us more harm than good , likedrinkingtoo much , shoppingtoo much ornumbing ourselves withtoo much social mediaornews .
� Goodmental healthsupportcan get us back on tracktofind healthy ways to cope with thepain andstruggles of life .
We have learnedthat we needtime to grieveall thelossesoverthe past two years . We need to be with each other in safe places to gather .
� Toomuchsocialdistancing is not good for our mental health andcan leadto lonelinessand isolation , sometimes asign of depression . Weare learning creativeways to get connected with technology , but we also need real human connection .
As we learntolive with uncertainty , findingthe lessonswecan take with us is partof human growth and survival . Let ’ s make sure that talkingabout andcaringfor our mental healthisone of thelessonslearned .
Mental health has often been something whispered about , ornot even discussed . But after the pandemic , wecan no longerdeny how important our mentalhealth is to our overall healthand we need to talkabout it . Let ’ s talk out loud about mental health !
Atlantic Behavioral Healthiscommitted to ending the stigma around mental health , substance misuse , and preventsuicide through its No More Whispers campaign .
For more information about the campaignorAtlantic BehavioralHealth Programs email NoMoreWhispers @ atlantichealth . org .
SUPPLEMENT TO WAYNE MAGAZINE