Summers are typically busy with vacations, events, celebrations, and other ways to fill a calendar. College students are busy planning to see people they’ve been apart from for semesters, and high school students are getting a taste of freedom, spending time with their friends before another school year begins. People are constantly making plans to see each other and catch up during the summer, no matter what stage of life they’re in. But when we’re catching up with others, are we really checking in on how they’re actually doing?
This is an opportune time to check in on your people and see how they’re really doing. Addressing mental health and ensuring others know they can talk about whatever they may be going through are crucial first steps in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. While the stigma around mental health has improved with greater recognition and awareness, there is still room for improvement. For instance, July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental health is not one-size-fits-all. While some approaches improve the mental health of most people, effectively addressing someone’s mental health requires looking at the whole person. For minorities, it is important to account for cultural and social factors. Every community has different views on mental health. Knowing the mental health views someone is accustomed to enables informed support.
Often, mental health is viewed as an individual issue, as if each person must fight an inner battle alone. However, that’s not true. Talking about mental health with others, encouraging them to share, and being willing to listen and support them when they do are among the easiest ways to help. Staying silent and not asking hard questions can make someone feel alone, which can be detrimental. For example, youth suicide is often called the silent epidemic because it’s not widely discussed or addressed. Talking about what most people want to ignore can improve lives and prevent suicides. Speaking up, being willing to listen, and recognizing when someone needs help go a long way.
The Jason Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to preventing youth suicide by providing educational resources to the public at no cost. For more information, visit www.jasonfoundation.com
