Mental Health Intersections
May marked the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month. Honestly, after the past year we’ve had, I think we could all use a little support when it comes to our mental health.
The list of mental health disorders is vast, and the statistics are staggering. I don’t think a person could exist in the world without knowing someone who’s struggled with one of the many mental health diagnoses. And yet, we still see a lack of funding and availability for proper mental health treatment. The stigma of receiving help, while it has improved, still keeps many people from seeking the support they need. Unfortunately, this pattern is familiar for another large portion of our population.
Treatment of the neurodivergent community and people with mental health disorders is eerily similar. This is especially unfortunate, given the overlap between neurodivergence and mental health diagnoses. In thinking more about this, I dove headfirst into the Google rabbithole, reading a number of articles that examined the relationship between these two communities.
Brains that function differently than the rest of the population. Thoughts or actions that inhibit someone’s ability to function throughout the day. Patterns or habits that exist to self-soothe. Perceptions that lead us to take in the world through a different lens. We can’t ignore the similarities between the experiences of neurodivergent people and those with mental health disorders. Some researchers have gone so far as to categorize mental health disorders as part of the neurodivergent community. Regardless of your thoughts on this, we cannot ignore the fact that a huge portion of our population are dealing with neurological differences, and we still aren’t doing enough to understand and support them.
A few steps that can be taken to raise awareness this month:
Donate to organizations that educate and advocate for mental health treatment
Promote mental health services and agencies on social media (follow, like, share, etc.)
Read material from the perspective of people with mental health disorders
If you know someone struggling with their mental health, check in with them
More information about ways to promote awareness this month, and all year long, can be found at https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month
Jordann Mason, Community Outreach Director