As a certified clinical traumatologist, former police officer, and a military spouse with a doctorate in Marriage and Family therapy I have worked with several individuals from different walks of life. Most have stated that wanting to speak to and/or even speaking with a therapist makes them feel like they are “crazy” or “going crazy” but they are not.  They just want to talk to someone in a safe environment.  Hearing this is upsetting, because people should not feel like they are “crazy” or “going crazy.” This is a product of the stigma around mental health.

In this day and age, with social media very present, you can see that mental health concerns do not discriminate.  Just like any other health condition, it is not a matter of race, how good of a person you are, or what your social economic status is. Everyone’s wellbeing is affected by their mental health, even more so after experiencing a traumatic event. 

Every year one in five individuals will experience some form of mental health concern. These can include having anxiety to an upcoming event, struggling to adjust to new life changes, school or work stress, and/or addiction. These are just a few without including traumatic or painful past experiences and chronic mental health issues. 

A few things you should know:

1. Everyone’s mental health is impacted by all aspects of their life, and; all aspects of one’s life are impacted by their mental health.
2. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, physiological, and social well-being. 
3. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone in a safe environment.
4. Wanting and getting help is a sign of good health.  It is when you deny that you are in need of help, that it becomes a problem. 

This list is not an exhaustive one about what you should know about mental health.  The point is that every aspect of our lives is impacted by our mental health.  Wanting to talk to someone is a sign of good health, and most of all, mental health needs to be taken seriously.