Mental Health Chat

Introduction by Host: Dr. Gee

The month of May is mental health month, so this is a great time to take a pause and examine your mental health. Mental health, how you feel, how you act, and how you act, is a vital part of your health. It is important to take care of all areas of your health, so let’s take a look at mental health today.

Point 1: What is mental health?

We have discussed mental health a lot here, but here is a summary of mental health. It is the ability to go through life and manage your emotions and thoughts in a healthy way. Are you able to mourn when you need to mourn. Are you able to celebrate when it is time to celebrate? If not, your mental health may be suffering. Are you able to focus on the good things in a good season, or are you always focused on the bad? That is another sign of poor mental health.

Point 2: Depression vs. Anxiety

280 million people in the world have depression. Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for 15–29-year-olds. If we do not take care of our mental health, it has major consequences. It is good to cry when it is appropriate, but if you are constantly crying, it could be a sign of depression. If you are unable to enjoy yourself because you are worried about the future, that is a sign of anxiety.

I do not want to pretend that I am an expert on depression and anxiety. This is a very serious topic, and we have had discussions with experts on this platform, so I would encourage you to check out those resources

Point 3: Perfectionism

We need to watch out for perfectionist tendencies. Who are you trying to be perfect for? Whose standards are you following? It may be the case that you are trying to be perfect for people who do not care about you. Do not put that unnecessary stress on yourself. You can only be who you are, not who people think you should be.

Closing Thoughts

Mental health is always an important area of health, but during the month of May, let’s pay extra attention to this vital area/ Let’s hold each other accountable in our mental health this month. Help is available, you only have to ask. We can only thrive when we work together!

By Dr. Gee, Success and Holistic Wellness Advocate