What I admire about our generation is that we are innovative. Protesting is something we are not afraid to do, with social media at our finger tips, we are able to capture and see the social injustice in our country. We see evidence of wrongful doings, and no one can lie behind video footage. Seeing how we came out in numbers to shift the narrative in politics was heartwarming. When it comes to society, if there’s a problem that we are faced with, we speak up and do our best to bring awareness. However. it makes me wonder how this effects our mental wellbeing?
Mental health is starting to become a conversation in many homes. While working you may have encountered a webinar about self-care. I know I have heard on the radio and the news about how the pandemic has increased a lot of mental health concerns. There are panels and countless conversations which fills me with joy because mental health is important. There’s a host of facts and statistical evidence that tell you some concerning numbers about mental health. But what’s more concerning is the lack of resources we continue to encounter when it comes to treatment.
Now don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of therapists, and psychiatrists as well as other mental health professionals that are great and willing to work. However when you narrow it down to your insurance, location, and availability the list gets slimmer. It sometimes leaves you with no one at all, especially if you are looking for a black male therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist. When people continue to run into brick walls when looking for treatment, they are not as willing to continue to search for it. Especially after getting answers repeatedly stating they cannot be seen for services due to XYZ and this is why I am speaking up!
1. Support is not a luxury in fact it’s necessary. Outside of mental health, we need a support system just to get through life. You may have a team or group of people in your circle but you have to ask yourself… are they supportive? Can you go to them when you are hit with the “hard stuff” in life? Are your thoughts or feelings minimized, and most importantly do you even feel heard? It’s imperative that we do because that support system, those loved ones you go to for advice can be the reason you make certain decisions. So be sure to have a solid support system because that my friend is what I think is missing.
2. Resouces are dire. There has to be a place where we can go and obtain resources. Especially if we are looking for a mental health professional or while we are in therapy. Our providers are not at our fingertips 24/7 and as some of you may know, therapy requires you to do the work. There’s no magic wand that shows up to the session to make your problems vanish. It takes dedication, just like anything else, however having resources like Helpful Living Magazine can give you the content you need to learn more about mental health. To read stories from people who have done the work, and are still going through the process. No one ever wants to feel alone, so it’s critical we continue to push out resources and make them available to people like you and me!
3. Instant Gratification. We all know that one person that wants to have instant success. You know the microwave method. When we are dealing with quick rich platforms we sometimes miss the mark. We work endlessly for the quick dollar not realize steady pace always wins. We also think likes is what gets us cash, which in all actuality it doesn’t. We can have 10k followers and only an eight is engaged in our content. Likes looks nice but its not a popularity contest. Lastly, we all may have heard this at one time or another but it’s not a race, rather a marathon. This also goes hand in hand with mental health. We have to do the work, be honest, and consistent with our feelings and how others make us feel. Be vocal when things bother you and be that student in the classroom that raises their hand when things don’t seem right.
So now that you know what’s missing what are you going to do about it? Take a moment to reflect on your life and see if you have any of the three things I listed above. If so, then tell me about it. I would love to hear from you. You can mention it below in the comments or you can click here and send me a quick email. I would love to communicate with you. You got this! I believe in you!
Chat soon! ~Jamie